A heavy rainstorm can do more than flood your yard, it can drive pests straight into your home.
As underground nests fill with water and outdoor hiding spots disappear, insects and rodents search for dry, protected spaces. Unfortunately, those havens are often your walls, basement or kitchen.
“Rain creates two problems: displacement and opportunity,” says Ed Dolshun, the vice president and technical director at Catchmaster, a 70-plus-year pest control brand used by professionals and sold at retailers nationwide. Rain forces some pests inside to look for dry ground; others rely on the aftermath of the rain for food, breeding and even shelter.
Your home is not defenseless: There are plenty of strategies you can use to keep pests out of your home after a storm. Here are what pest experts say are the most common pests to come in after rain and how to stop them in their tracks.
The Pests Most Likely to Show Up After Rainfall
Pests like ants and rodents easily get displaced during a storm and turn to your home for a dry, warm place to go. Other pests, like mosquitoes and flies, thrive on what the rain leaves behind: standing water, wet debris and soggy trash.
Ants — appear within hours
Once the rain is gone, ants are among the first to appear. You might notice them mere hours after the sun comes out. “Ants are usually one of the first pests people notice after heavy rain,” says Dolshun. “Their colonies can flood quickly, and workers start looking for dry ground, often inside the home.”
Smaller ant infestations can be handled with simple DIY options like store-bought baits or sprays, but persistent problems may need professional pest control.
Rodents — move in within a few hours and stay
Heavy rain can lead to floods, and even minor ones push rodents out of their hiding spots and into your home, particularly into your basement, crawl spaces, walls and garage.
A single mouse coming in from the rain is not a cause for concern and can be taken care of with a mousetrap from your local hardware store. The real problem emerges when mice and rats turn your home into their permanent residence.
If rodents become a persistent problem, calling a pest control company is your best option to get rid of them and prevent them from coming back in.
Mosquitoes — appear a few weeks after the rain
Mosquitoes are not an immediate invader post-rain, but a delayed threat.
“Mosquitoes are different; they might not come inside right away, but rain leaves behind standing water, and that can turn into a mosquito problem within a week or two because they lay as many eggs as possible in water accumulations,” says Dolshun.
To get rid of mosquitoes, remove standing water from anywhere outside, including buckets and kiddie pools. Even these efforts might not cull the swarm. “Anything holding water can easily become a mosquito problem,” says Dolshun. “Clear wet trash, leaves and debris quickly and keep food sealed indoors.”
You can also set up mosquito repellents around your yard to keep them away. However, a professional pest control company may be needed to eradicate them for good.
Flies — appear a few days after the rain
“Flies can also spike after storms if wet trash, debris or organic matter is left sitting,” says Dolshun. Like mosquitoes, these pests may not be immediate, but they can show up in hordes.
Significant rain can leave open trash cans soggy and soak any outdoor debris to the point of decay. Flies are drawn to anything deteriorating, so cleaning up your yard and closing garbage bins can go a long way. If you do get flies in your home, DIY options are abundant and affordable.
Why Rain Drives Pests Indoors
Rain drives pests indoors for two main reasons: displacement and opportunity.
Heavy rain can lead to flooding, and even minor floods can destroy outdoor habitats, like ant hills and rodent burrows. When water gets in, these pests get out and seek a new home.
On the flip side, rain creates ideal conditions for some types of pests to thrive, like mosquitoes. Damp foundations, clogged gutters, wet mulch and standing water act as beacons, welcoming unwanted pests to your home.
How to Keep Pests Out Before and After a Storm
Prevention is your best defense against rainy-day pests. “The best time to act is before the storm,” Dolshun says. “Check for gaps around doors, windows, utility lines and the foundation, because those are the same openings pests use when they get pushed out of their outdoor hiding spots.”
- Seal entry points to stop pests like rodents from coming in.
- Eliminate standing water so mosquitoes can’t breed
- Clean up debris quickly before pests have time to move in.
- Store food properly so flies and ants aren’t attracted inside.
- Monitor for early activity so you can catch it before pests become a bigger problem
Homes Most at Risk after Wet Weather
Moisture is the main driver, and older homes with poor drainage are especially vulnerable. “If water pools near the foundation, pests are being drawn right to the part of the home where entry points are most common,” says Dolshun. “The more water sits around the house, the more pests have to work with.”
Some things make homes much more attractive to pests, including:
- Poor drainage near the foundation
- Older homes
- Damp crawl spaces
- Clogged gutters
- Wood-to-soil contact
- Landscaping risks (wet mulch, for example)
- Firewood stored near your home
- Damp siding
How Long Does Pest Activity Last after Rain
The extent and length of pest activity depend on the pest, but it can last anywhere from a few hours to several weeks, especially if the rain comes and goes over the course of a few days or weeks.
However, the end of the rain doesn’t mean the pests will stop. The rain itself is the catalyst; the pest activity that follows may continue despite the weather being dry. “Rain starts the problem, but the activity usually continues until the conditions are fixed,” says Dolshun. “Waiting it out is not a great strategy.”
Surprising Pests That Appear after Heavy Rain
The usual suspects aren’t the only invaders; other pests (some even more destructive) can also make an unwanted appearance.
“Millipedes are one of the most common post-rain invaders,” says Dolshun. “They live in moist soil and leaf litter, and when those areas get saturated, they can migrate indoors in large numbers.” You may also see springtails (a bug that looks like fleas), earwigs, and worse, termites.
“Termites are the ones homeowners should take most seriously,” Dolshun says. “Heavy rain can spur on termite activity and trigger swarming. Any winged termites or discarded wings near windows and doors after wet weather should not be ignored.”
If you see any signs of termites, call an exterminator immediately.
When to Take Pest Activity Seriously
Try DIY pest control tactics first, but if those don’t work or you see signs of a more serious infestation, it’s time to bring in the pros. If any of the following are true, you should consult your local pest control provider:
- Repeated sightings indoors
- Structural risks (termites, rodents)
- Persistent moisture problems
Reporting by Alora Bopray, USA TODAY / USA TODAY. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.
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