Rainy Florida Summers: Why the Bugs Won’t Stay Outside
If you’ve lived in Florida for any amount of time, you know exactly what our summers feel like. It’s hot, it’s sticky, and sometime in the afternoon, the sky just opens up and dumps buckets of rain like clockwork. Then, the sun pops back out like nothing ever happened, a random rainbow may appear, and we all go back to our outdoor activities. We all talk and joke about it, but this type of summer cycle can really impact outdoor critters. This is because all that rain that makes your backyard a swamp also floods out the places where bugs and critters normally live. When their little homes turn into swimming pools, they decide to take shelter and run straight toward your door! In this blog, we’re going to talk about why rainy summers in Florida are like an invitation for pests to cozy up inside your house, and what to do about them.
Florida Weather
In other parts of the country, rain usually dries up after a day or two, but in Florida, we can have rain every day, sometimes twice a day! This means that days later, the grass is still soggy, the air is still humid, and the bugs are all swarming. That’s why pests don’t just show up once after a storm; they hang around all summer long. If you’ve ever noticed more pests in your house than usual after a storm, you’re not alone in this. In fact, a lot of homeowners see a big jump in ants, roaches, and even mosquitoes right after heavy rain. The constant moisture gives them what they need to survive, and when the ground outside is too wet, they’ll head straight to your indoor area looking for dry shelter and food. It’s one of the main reasons pest problems in Florida peak during the summer months.
What You Can Do to Keep Them Out
Since we’ve now established that weather changes influence if pests are going to swarm inside your house, what can you actually do to keep them out?
Let’s go over some simple but effective steps:
- Seal Up Everything– Check around doors, windows, and your home’s foundation for cracks. Even tiny gaps can be a front door for ants and roaches. Seal off with sealant, or use towels and other fabric items to block doorways if extreme measures need to be taken.
- Keep Dry – Just like water outside your home draws pests inside, moisture inside your home invites pests too. Fix leaky pipes, wipe down sinks, and don’t let damp towels pile up!
- Check Yard – Get rid of standing water (bird baths, buckets, clogged gutters); that’s mosquito heaven.
- Food Storage – Summer storms may send pests in, but it’s your snacks that make them stay. Store food in airtight containers (don’t forget pet food too)!
- Regular Pest Control – Preventative treatments create a barrier that helps keep the invaders out, even when it feels like nature is basically working against you. This is where you can call us at Country Boy Pest Control to take care of any of your pest needs!
At Country Boy Pest Control, we’re very familiar with the afternoon thunderstorms, the damp yards, and the swarm of pests that come crawling into your home right after. When the rain floods pest colonies out of your mulch beds, they start looking for higher, drier ground, most likely meaning your home. We’ve spent years helping people in Polk County and the surrounding areas deal with exactly this problem. Our treatments don’t just chase pests away for a day; we focus on creating a protective barrier around your home so those bugs don’t get the chance to become permanent residents in your house.
We also understand that every home and yard is different. That’s why we don’t just spray pest control and go. We take the time to look at where the pests are coming from, check for things like standing water, entry points, and moisture issues, and then build an individualized plan that works for your situation. With the right plan in place, you can enjoy the rain without worrying about what’s moving in with it! Call us today at Country Boy Pest Control, and we can get you through these rainy skies to brighter days ahead!