Different seasons bring out a variety of pests throughout the year in Memphis. That’s why it’s vital to know what you’re up against in advance.
Here, you’ll discover:
- The different pest types for each season
- Why whether is important to pest populations
- How to identify the various kinds of pests
- Which pests are the worst during each season of the year
What Summer Pests Are the Worst in Memphis?
Mosquitoes
Memphis is one of the worst areas for mosquitoes in the U.S. That’s because the Mississippi river slows to a crawl and backs up into Mud Island. Other tributaries cause a slowdown, also.
In the summer, warm rains awaken sleeping eggs, sparking a huge population increase in these biting insects.
There are over 200 species of mosquitoes in the Memphis area alone, and all of them have a unique way of adding to their numbers. Some rely on open water, while others deposit their eggs in grassy marshes.
Ticks
The dog tick is the most common species found in the Memphis area, and late summer is when it tends to latch onto human hosts.
This can be a bad thing since dog ticks are carriers of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. This uncommon disease shows up with these symptoms:
- Fever
- Headache
- Rash
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Muscle pain
- Lack of appetite
Very seldom do patients present with worse symptoms. And only about three to five percent of tick populations throughout the U.S. carry the disease.
Still, it helps to be vigilant. That means inspecting dogs, children, and those susceptible to ticks on a regular basis.
What Fall Pests Are the Worst in Memphis?
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are reddish-brown insects that feed on humans and animals. They nest in mattress seams and within cracks and crevices located throughout a bedroom.
During summer travel many people bring them home. This is especially true of foreign travel where pest control is not as valued.
However, scientists are discovering that bed bugs are spreading domestically, also. That means, if you stay in a hotel in the U.S., it’s becoming increasingly likely you will bring them home with you.
The best way to avoid that is by using inexpensive bed bug monitors. You can also inspect your hotel room with a flashlight. And while both of these methods may seem extreme, they could save money on pest control later on.
Stink Bugs
Stink bugs have the uncanny ability to know when the cold weather is about to hit. That’s why they invade homes before it happens. For that, you have to credit them for their intelligence.
However, they’re called stink bugs for a reason. If you step on one, you’ll definitely notice. That’s because they give off an offensive odor when squished.
What Winter Pests Are the Worst in Memphis?
Mice
The common house mouse is much smaller in size than the roof rat. However, the coloring between the two species is similar. That’s probably why some people get them confused.
The house mouse is about three to four inches in length, with small, black eyes and a long tail. Its ears are exceedingly large compared with its body. And it tends to stand on its hind legs – with supplemental support from its tail – when staunchly defending its territory.
Roof Rats
Roof rats climb trees, telephone poles, and walls to get away from predators. They also get their food from fruit and nut trees.
Roof rats are brown to black and have narrow bodies compared with their cousin, the sewer rat. Their ears are large, they have a pointed snout, and their tails tend to be about the same length as their bodies.
Roof rats become pests when they nest in attics. And the problem becomes worse when they chew through electrical wiring. In addition, they can cause a lot of work for the homeowner when it comes to keeping them outside where they belong.
What Spring Pests Are the Worst in Memphis?
Flies
Most fly species show up in the late spring after eggs have had time to hatch. Adding to that, each female can lay up to 500 hundred eggs in her lifetime. So, fly populations can increase rapidly.
The problem becomes worse as warm weather sets in. An increase in animal activity means more waste products to lay more eggs in.
Snakes
Several snake species emerge throughout the Tennessee Valley during the spring months, and their activity is noticed by humans well into the fall. Although there are venomous species in the Memphis area, bites are typically rare.