Why Pest Problems Spike in the Summer (And How to Stay Ahead of Them)

Posted on Jan. 20th, 2025

As the weather warms up, so does pest activity. Summer is peak season for bedbugs, ants, roaches, and other unwelcome guests, as they thrive in the heat and take advantage of increased human activity. Whether you’re traveling, hosting guests, or simply leaving doors and windows open more often, these tiny invaders find countless ways to make themselves at home. Many homeowners don’t realize how quickly an infestation can take hold, and by the time they do, pests have already spread. The good news is that with a little preparation and the right pest control strategy, you can keep your home protected before the problem gets out of hand. Let’s take a closer look at why pests are more active in the summer—and what you can do to stop them.

Warmer Temperatures Speed Up Pest Reproduction

Pests don’t just become more active in the summer—they multiply faster than ever. Many insects, including bedbugs, roaches, and ants, reproduce at an accelerated rate when temperatures rise. Heat speeds up their life cycle, meaning eggs hatch quicker, larvae develop faster, and colonies expand before you even realize there’s a problem. Bedbugs, for example, can go from egg to adult in just weeks, leading to a full-blown infestation in no time.

The sooner you act, the easier it is to stop pests before they take over. Scheduling a professional inspection at the first sign of trouble can prevent infestations from spreading beyond control. Rather than waiting until you notice bites, droppings, or damage, taking a proactive approach ensures that pests never get a chance to settle in. With our expert pest control services, we can break the breeding cycle before it becomes a bigger issue.

Increased Travel Leads to More Bedbug Infestations

Summer means vacations, road trips, and overnight stays, and unfortunately, that also means a greater risk of bringing home bedbugs. Hotels, short-term rentals, and even public transportation are prime spots for these pests to hitch a ride on luggage, clothing, or personal belongings. Many people don’t notice them until they start waking up with bites, at which point bedbugs have already spread to bedding, furniture, and carpets.

One of the best ways to avoid a bedbug nightmare is to inspect hotel rooms before settling in. Checking mattress seams, headboards, and furniture for tiny black spots or live bugs can help you avoid bringing them home. When you return from a trip, washing and drying clothes on high heat can kill any stray bedbugs before they have a chance to infest your home. If you suspect you’ve been exposed, scheduling a professional inspection can give you peace of mind and prevent a full-blown infestation.

More Outdoor Activity Means More Open Entry Points

With warmer weather comes more time spent outside, whether it’s grilling in the backyard, enjoying the pool, or simply letting fresh air in. But open doors, windows, and screen gaps create an open invitation for pests to sneak inside unnoticed. Ants find their way to kitchen counters, flies hover around food, and even bedbugs can be carried in on guests’ belongings.

Sealing up entry points and keeping doors closed when possible is one of the simplest ways to prevent pests from wandering in. Checking window screens, door gaps, and foundation cracks ensures that pests don’t have an easy way inside. Keeping outdoor trash bins sealed and cleaning up food spills quickly reduces the attraction factor, making your home less appealing to insects. A little prevention now can save you from major pest headaches later in the season.

Humidity Creates the Perfect Breeding Ground for Pests

Hotter weather doesn’t just mean more activity—it also means more moisture, which pests love. High humidity creates ideal conditions for roaches, mosquitoes, and bedbugs, all of which thrive in damp environments. Standing water from summer storms or leaky pipes can attract mosquitoes looking for a place to lay eggs, while roaches often seek out humid areas like basements, bathrooms, and kitchens.

Managing moisture levels in your home can make a big difference in controlling pest activity. Fixing leaks, using dehumidifiers, and eliminating standing water around your home can help reduce pest-friendly environments. Regularly inspecting dark, damp spaces like under sinks and behind appliances ensures that infestations don’t take hold in hidden areas. By reducing moisture, you’re taking away one of the key conditions that pests need to thrive and multiply.

Food Sources Are More Accessible in the Summer

With more cookouts, fresh produce, and outdoor dining, summer provides an abundance of food sources for pests. Ants, flies, and roaches are drawn to crumbs, spills, and open food containers, making your home a buffet for hungry insects. Even bedbugs are more likely to spread in the summer, as they’re attracted to human body heat and carbon dioxide, both of which increase when people are more active and traveling.

Being extra mindful of food storage and cleanliness during the summer months can keep pests at bay. Sealing food in airtight containers, taking out the trash regularly, and wiping down counters and floors after meals reduce attractants. Outdoor dining areas should be cleaned immediately after use to avoid drawing pests closer to your home. Simple habits like these can go a long way in preventing an infestation before it starts.

Roaches and Rodents Seek Shelter From the Heat

While some pests love the heat, others seek out cool, shaded areas to escape rising temperatures. Roaches and rodents often move indoors in search of relief, using small cracks, vents, and gaps in doors to get inside. Once they find a comfortable hiding spot, they start breeding, turning a few pests into a full-blown infestation before you know it.

Keeping entry points sealed and decluttering storage areas like attics and garages can reduce hiding places for pests. Regularly inspecting crawl spaces, basements, and behind appliances can catch early signs of an infestation before it worsens. If you start noticing droppings, gnawed items, or strange smells, it’s time to schedule professional pest control before the problem gets worse.

DIY Pest Control Can Backfire in the Summer

With pests more active in the summer, many homeowners turn to DIY solutions, thinking they can handle the problem themselves. But store-bought sprays and home remedies often fail to address the root cause, leaving pests free to multiply. Bedbugs and roaches, in particular, can become resistant to over-the-counter treatments, making them even harder to eliminate.

Rather than wasting time and money on temporary fixes, a professional inspection and targeted treatment plan ensure that pests are eliminated at the source. Our expert pest control services use industry-leading techniques to stop infestations before they spread. Instead of dealing with constant reinfestations, let us handle the problem right the first time.

Summer brings sunshine, vacations, and outdoor fun—but it also brings a surge in pest activity. Warmer temperatures, increased travel, and easier access to food all contribute to the rise in infestations. The best way to protect your home and family is to take proactive steps before pests become a problem. At Rest EZ Pest, we specialize in bedbug heat treatments, detailed inspections, and general pest control to keep your home pest-free all summer long. Call us today at (210) 672-9422, and let’s make sure your summer is spent enjoying the season—not battling pests!