Fall Bugs 101

What do the changing seasons mean to pests?  Are pests affected by cold weather?  How about the length of daylight in each day getting shorter?  If you hate mosquitoes, are they more or less prevalent in Fall?

Welcome to Fall Bugs 101 - a quick overview of how, or if, bugs are affected by the change in season.

Fall brings shorter days and cooler nights.  So what?

That means if it rains in the cooled-down Fall, any rainfall will take longer to evaporate.  Hotter days of Summer provide all the energy needed for evaporation, and longer days mean there is more energy from the sun to facilitate both absorption and evaporation.  The more water there is in the environment, the better the growing environment for bugs!

So you may think the Summer - full of hot weather and long days is perfect for bugs, but alas - it is not!  Fall provides ample opportunities for bugs to have moisture, shelter (hello - falling leaves!) and much more inviting temperatures that won't fry eggs or larva.

Length of day? Well, many bugs are nocturnal and travel at night.  Shorter days mean longer nights - and more opportunities to breed, move to new places, and wreak havoc on people that hate bugs,

Let's talk about mosquitoes - they need water to breed.  Back to the fact that Fall rains don't go away, it means MORE opportunities to breed.  It is no coincidence that instances of mosquito-borne illnesses skyrocket in Fall.  Clearly, summer is NOT the best time for bugs and Fall is!

Fire Ants may burrow deeper in cooler weather - but they are still there ready to pounce with no change to the volume in your yard.   Fleas LOVE the cool moist environment of Fall.  Roach populations grow exponentially in Fall.  And then there are the No-see-ems!  

No-see-ems - the bane of Southerners within 60 miles of the coastline - absolutely THRIVE in Fall.  As a matter of fact, they are nowhere to be seen in summer as the temperatures are too high for No-see-ems to breed.  But when the daytime temps cool enough to where you are thrilled to be outside again - well, so are they!  No-see-ems nest in moist soil which is prevalent in Fall and they need cooler temperatures.  Yep, Fall is party time for No-see-ems!

Fall Bugs 101 makes the case that Fall is the best time for bugs.  To keep bugs away for yourself - Greenbug for People/Pets.  To keep them off of your property, a Greenbug System will control bugs in the yard.  All-natural Greenbug products to control Fall Bugs!

Bugs are here.  Are you ready?