Record Amounts of Rain Increase Pest Pressure on Your Yard

This April we saw 21 days of rain. That’s a lot of precipitation—the most Boston has seen since 1872. New Englanders are no stranger to the term “April showers bring May flowers” but rarely do we consider how April showers also bring major pest problems. The record amount of rain in April and a cool, damp May create the perfect conditions for increased pest activity, including ants, termites, and springtails – but especially Massachusetts mosquitoes and ticks.

Heavy rainfall is sure to make mosquitoes and ticks problematic during the spring and summer. Wet leaves, tall grass, damp wood, and standing water all make for ideal breeding grounds for these pests. Because of the risk of contracting diseases such as Lyme and EEE, it is easy to see why controlling mosquito and tick populations in your yard is so crucial.

Mosquitoes breed in standing waters and only need about an inch of water to lay eggs. A female mosquito can lay up to 300 eggs at a time, about 3 times in her life. While you can’t control the weather, you can ensure your property is as free of standing water as possible. Oftentimes water can stagnate in places we would not often think of-- watering cans, buckets, kiddie pools, gardening equipment, and even tire swings and tarps, to name a few. Objects intended to hold water such as pet dishes and bird baths should be emptied and refilled periodically.

More rain means more plant growth, and ticks use this growth as a ladder to reach a host’s body. Ticks can only travel upward on vegetation when there is enough humidity in the air for them to absorb sufficient amounts of water; rain protects them from the risk of drying out or lacking food sources. The increased moisture can also bring an increase of host animal activity, and people tend to be more active outdoors in the springtime as well.

Pest control measures and lawn maintenance are the most effective ways to control populations of ticks and mosquitoes on your property. At Burgess Pest Management, we take the well-being of your family members, pets, and home to heart. That’s why we offer a number of resources, services, and treatments that help reduce current populations as well as keep next season’s activity under control.

Click below to learn more about how we can help you take back your property from wet-weather pest pressure, including a free estimate for mosquito and tick control treatments. We look forward to helping you protect your outside pad.