You’re sitting inside on a rainy day and you’re wondering, “does rain wash away the pests?” The short answer is: maybe. Just like how some people like and others dislike the rain, different pests are affected by rain differently.
Pests who love and loathe rain
Some pests hate the rain. Ants’ complicated tunnel system quickly floods, leading them to search for higher ground and new shelter, preferably somewhere warm and dry and with easy access to food. Rodents, too, seek shelter that is safe and dry, and even insects who like dark, damp places like earwigs or springtails retreat indoors if the rain becomes too much.
Other pests thrive in rainy conditions. Some insects like mosquitoes breed when it’s wet. While they require standing water to lay their eggs, anything the day after from puddles, flower pots, bird baths and clogged gutters encourages them to breed. Additionally, ticks and fleas love warm, humid weather, leading to population explosions during rainy periods.
How rain affects treatments
In short, pests get more pesky and may even actively seek out your home in the rain. Even if you’ve decided to call in pest control, you may be wondering how the rain affects our treatments. For the most part, rain is not a problem. Many insecticides are water insoluble, meaning they won’t wash away in the rain. Furthermore, eaves and guttering overhanging wall edges shield the base of your home. If it’s been raining heavily for several hours or several days, we may reschedule your appointment, but we typically don’t require rescheduling.
In fact, some treatments benefit from rain! As mentioned, rain forces many critters to leave their nests and homes in search of dryness, meaning that we can directly hit pests instead of seeking out their nests, and because pesticides dissolve and absorb into the ground easier in damp conditions, damp ground allows the treatment to sink deeper into the soil.
With over 45 years of experience and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, Hart Pest Control is the proven pest control company to rid your home or business of mosquitos, rodents and more. Moreover, our 5/5 star average customer rating reflects our values of being affordable, honest and reliable. If you want some help with your pest control problem, contact Hart Pest Control today.