Seasonal Pest Activity in Late Summer and Early Fall

How Seasonal Pest Activity Affects Highlands Ranch, CO

The late summer and early fall seasons in Highlands Ranch lead to an increase in pest activity as certain pests begin to overwinter near and within homes. Backyard landscaping, mature trees, and local parks create areas where pests can thrive and transit into local yards and homes. 

Mosquitoes and ticks remain strong during these months as the heat and rainfall provide ideal nesting grounds. Mosquitoes are drawn to areas of dense vegetation, backyard gardens, and underneath porches where they can be protected from the wind, sun, and nest within humidity caused by rainfall and decaying vegetation. Mosquito activity tends to heighten during these times as female mosquitoes prepare for final moments of egg laying before the hard freeze arrives. For ticks, the combination of wildlife movement and fallen brush creates expansive networks for questing for a host. As rodents and deer move throughout the area, they can carry ticks into backyard spaces where they nest within leaf litter, fall brush, and tall grasses.

Boxelder bugs feed on Boxelders, Maples, and Ash trees during the spring and summertime and head indoors as the temperatures cool. These crawling insects are known to enter homes through window cracks, door gaps, and attic spaces in order to overwinter within wall voids and reemerge during the spring. Rodent activity increases as mice, rats, and voles attempt to enter indoor spaces for winter shelter. Many rodents are able to enter homes through a hole as small as a quarter or dime, with some species having the ability to chew through wood and stone. As a result, rodents begin to seek food, shelter, and can cause destruction to insulation or wiring.

Reduce Pest Activity at Your Highlands Ranch Home

While the variety of pests may seem overwhelming, there are steps you can take to reduce the presence of mosquitoes, ticks, rodents, and other common pests in Highlands Ranch.

For pests that enter homes to overwinter, exclusion methods are the best first step. Seal small gaps found around external pipes, ensure that mesh screens are replaced if torn, and reduce the amount of gaps found underneath garage doors or attic spaces. Use botanical oil sprays to help repel crawling insects such as spiders and boxelders bugs, and use mesh wiring and steel wool to create limitations for rodents that chew through stone and wood. Trim vegetation along the edges of your property that borders parks or areas of dense brush. This will help to limit easy transition zones for pests such as mosquitoes and ticks. 

Dump standing water from covered patio furniture, children’s toys, and flower saucers after recent rainfall. These overlooked areas can quickly become mosquito breeding grounds and result in a spike of mosquito activity. Ensure drip irrigation is functioning properly and take note of areas where water tends to pool after recent waterings. Trim the lawn, backyard shrubs, and promptly dispose of leaf litter to reduce areas of nesting and hiding for ticks, rodents, and mosquitoes. 

Interested in learning more ways to reduce pest activity at your property in Highlands Ranch? Head over to our dedicated East Denver blog for tips and pest insights.

Professional Pest Control Services in Highlands Ranch

Mosquito Squad Plus offers multiple pest control solutions for residents of Highlands Ranch. With our Yard Defender plan, our technicians will use your tailored plan to target areas where ticks, mosquitoes, and other common pests typically nest. The combination of liquid and granular products allows us to create a defense around your yard which repels and reduces pest activity for up to 21 days at a time. For homes in Highlands Ranch, we offer our Home Shield package. This home defense plan is designed to create a perimeter around the exterior of your home to reduce and repel pest activity. Through this pest control plan, we will use a combination of barrier treatments, exclusion methods, and monitoring to limit pest entry and reduce your need for indoor foggers and sprays.

For Reliable Pest Control in Highlands Ranch, CO Near You

Looking to get ahead of the late summer and fall pest seasons? Call Mosquito Squad Plus of East Denver at (720) 500-8064 or contact us online for a free quote.