Common pests in the Southeast
The hot, humid conditions, and relatively mild winters in the Southeast make it an ideal place for many pests to be active for longer in the season before going dormant (or moving indoors!) once cooler weather does hit.
The most active and problematic pests will depend on the season:
- Spring (February-April): ants, mosquitoes, and fire ants
- Summer (May-October): fire ants, mosquitoes, and ants
- Fall (November): mosquitoes, fire ants, and crickets
- Winter (December-January): indoor nesting ants, overwintering pests, and American cockroaches
Sunday Tip:
What’s an overwintering pest? These are the bugs that may be active outdoors on warm winter days, or may find themselves indoors to escape the cold—things like boxelder bugs, stink bugs, ladybird beetles, elm leaf beetles, and kudzu bugs.
Pest prevention in the Southeast
When it comes to pests, the best offense is a good defense. Sticking to Integrated Pest Management principles will help prevent and reduce general pest issues:
- Remove or reduce habitat and food and water sources.
- Scout for pests regularly around the home and yard.
- Identify pests if one does emerge.
- Practice pest prevention and change the environment to be less pest-friendly.
- Use chemical control as a last resort.
For more specific guidance, follow these tips for preventing and managing the top pests in the Southeast during their active seasons:
How to prevent mosquitoes
- Dump and prevent standing water around the yard, which can serve as breeding habitat for mosquitoes.
- Reduce shade- and moisture-rich mosquito habitat:
- Use Sunday’s Mosquito Deleto to treat your protected zone (patio, outdoor dining area, swingsets, etc.).
How to prevent ants
Outdoor ants
- Store trash, compost, and recycling bins away from the areas of the yard you use the most, and clean up any garbage or spilled food.
- Only treat with Sunday’s Ant Adios if ants are causing damage to the lawn or landscape or as a barrier to prevent ants from entering the home.
Indoor ants
- Clean spilled food, crumbs, or liquids to reduce ant food sources.
- Seal entryways to the home where you see ants coming inside.
- Treat with Sunday’s Bug Doom only if indoor ants remain an issue.
Fire ants
Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to prevent fire ants. If you identify fire ants in your yard, avoid the area and treat the mounds with an appropriate fire ant insecticide as soon as possible.
Sunday Tip:
Many ants are actually beneficial for the environment. Ants aerate soil, prey on other pests, and are even one of the lesser known pollinators. Treat ants only if their nests damage the lawn or they start to enter the home. Notable exceptions are harvester ants and fire ants, due to their potential for stings.
Southeast pest control
Deciding what practices and products to use to help you manage pests in and around your home can be tricky. Start by narrowing in on the specific pest issues you’re facing. Then, modify the environment to be less welcoming to that pest, and then determine if pest products are necessary to help prevent or manage your pest problem.
Here are some of our go-to products for the Southeast that you can get shipped to your door from Sunday!
Total Home Pest Medium Protection Plan
- Protects your home against unwanted bugs, inside and out
- Kills ants, centipedes, cockroaches, crickets, spiders, and more
- Active ingredients include pyrethrin and canola oil
Mosquito + Ant Pest Control Pack
- No synthetic pesticides
- Mosquito Deleto and Ant Adios
Mosquito Control Pest Plan - Medium
- Contains yard spray, personal insect repellent, mosquito dunks, citronella candle
- Mosquito Deleto kills and repels mosquitoes, ticks, and ants
- Plan includes 4-6 months of protection
Resources for Southeast pest management
Ants
Ants are common indoor and outdoor pests—learn more about identifying, preventing, and treating ant problems.
Mosquitoes
Use this handy guide to help you identify, prevent, and control mosquitoes in your backyard.
Natural Ways to Prevent Pests
Follow these pest prevention tips, to help keep pests from becoming a problem in the first place.
Indoor Insect ID Guide
Have a critter that worked its way inside the home, but not entirely sure what it is? Use this indoor insect ID guide to help identify your pest and get some quick tips on how to prevent and control it.
Outdoor Insect ID Guide
Got a backyard bug that’s really bugging you? Our outdoor insect ID guide can help!
