Hot and muggy weather in San Diego County may be contributing to increased activity from ants, mosquitoes and other insects, according to local experts.<\/p>\n
Eric Middleton, an entomologist with UC Cooperative Extension, said higher temperatures and humidity can affect insect behavior. Mosquitoes reproduce faster when temperatures are hot and humidity is high, while ants may head indoors as outdoor food and water become harder to find.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have things like ants where when it gets hot and then it gets dry, so especially, you know, about this time of year, they run out of food and they run out of water outside. And so people are most likely to really notice ants when they start coming inside,\u201d said Middleton.<\/p>\n
The activity could continue into the coming months if warm weather persists, entomologists said.<\/p>\n
For homeowners dealing with mosquitoes, Middleton said reducing standing water can help prevent them from reproducing.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo with mosquitoes, one of the biggest things, they need water. in order to reproduce. So making sure that you empty out sources of standing water in your backyard,\u201d said Middleton<\/p>\n
When it comes to ants, keeping a home tidy and limiting their access to food can help. Middleton also recommended checking for possible entry points.<\/p>\n
“You want to make sure that they don’t have easy access into your house. You want to check, you want to call or seal areas like around window sills or places where the ants might be coming in. You also just generally want to stay tidy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ants and mosquitoes are not the only insects showing increased activity. Leah Taylor, A UC Master Gardeners of San Diego County<\/a> representative said beetles are also appearing later in the year.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re seeing a lot of beetles later in the year than we have before. Look for those green fig beetles because our fruit is on the trees and it\u2019s falling off. It\u2019s hot, it\u2019s ripening fast, so that attracts insects,\u201d said Taylor.<\/p>\n People with questions about insects or other pests can contact the UC Master Gardeners of San Diego County through its hotline at 1-858-822-6910<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are able to provide you with all sorts of strategies, if you\u2019re dealing with insects, dealing with pests,\u201d said Taylor.<\/p>\n