These pests may infest MS homes more than normal this spring. Here’s why, what to expect
Pests could appear earlier than usual this spring across Mississippi and much of the United States, according to experts.
“This winter was about as extreme as it gets, and those conditions can create a domino effect that impacts pest activity well into spring and summer,” Jim Fredericks, senior vice president of public affairs at National Pest Management Association, said in a Feb. 23 news release. “We’re expecting heightened activity from a number of pests that can threaten both property and health.”
The NPMA’s Bug Barometer, a tool that analyzes weather patterns, long-term forecasts and pest biology to predict pest activity, anticipates elevated activity from several pests this spring and summer, experts said.
Here’s what the Bug Barometer says about the South Central region, which includes Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas:
More pests for MS and South Central
With weather forecasts showing a mild, damp spring, more termites, ticks and mosquitoes can be expected earlier, according to the Bug Barometer. Heavy rain and tropical storms leading into the summer will also lead to an increase in flies, pest experts said.
What about the rest of the country?
Here’s which pests are expected most in other regions of the country, according to the Bug Barometer:
Southeast (including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida): more termites, mosquitoes and ants in the spring. More flies, cockroaches and mosquitoes in the summer.
Great Lakes, Ohio Valley & Midwest (including West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota): More flies, ticks, ants and cockroaches in the summer.
North Central (including North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Montana and Wyoming): Early tick season, more flies and cockroaches later in spring. Yellowjackets and wasps in the summer.
Intermountain & Southwest (including New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Nevada and California): More cockroaches and flies throughout the spring and summer. Scorpions and spiders in late summer.
Northwest (including Idaho, Washington and Oregon): More ants, stinging insects, cockroaches and rodents early spring. Mosquitoes, flies, yellowjackets and ants in the summer.
How to protect your home
Here’s how to keep pests away from your home this spring, according to pest experts:
- Seal any cracks and gaps around your windows, doors, pipes and foundations with caulk or weatherstripping
- Eliminate standing water found in birdbaths, gutters, flowerpots and other containers around your home
- Keep your grass trimmed and shrubs pruned away from your home’s exterior
- Store food properly
- Repair any leaky pipes and clogged drains
- Schedule a pest inspection
