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created 10 months ago | Tagged: |
2martens
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If you're feeling extra mosquito-bit this summer, you're not alone. According to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), record hot summer temperatures are bringing out the bugs. Ants, fleas, ticks, earwigs and black widow are among the pests that are making a strong showing this year, according to the NPMA.
"Insects are cold-blooded, which means that their body temperatures are regulated by the temperature of their environment," NPMA public affairs officer Missy Henriksen said in a statement. "In cold weather, insects' internal temperatures drop, causing them to slow down. But in warm weather, they become more active. Larvae grow at a faster rate, reproduction cycles speed up, and they move faster."
Drought across the country's midsection can also exacerbate pest problems, Henriksen said. When insects and arachnids can't find moisture outside, they often head indoors. Areas where rain is more frequent are likely to see increased mosquito breeding, she added.
