oct-2017

16 17 OPENING LINES HEAVY RAIN, HEAT WAVES DRIVE HIGH PEST PRESSURE IN FALL ANDWINTER T he National Pest Management Association (NPMA) released its bi-annual Bug Barom- eter, forecasting what pest pressure will look like across the U.S. this coming fall and winter.After analyzing recent weather patterns –from substantial flooding in some regions, to ex- treme heat in others–and considering pest biology, NPMA’s staff entomologists are expecting high pest pressure from the summer to persist. “Ticks and mosquitoes will continue to thrive later into the fall due to ongoing heat and floods,while usual fall pests, like rodents,will also join them in stronger numbers,” said Jim Fredericks, Ph.D., the Chief Entomologist and Vice President of Technical and RegulatoryAffairs for the NPMA.“The extended summer pest activity, combined with the high pres- sure expected from fall pests,will make the upcom- ing seasons particularly pest heavy.There’s also an added health concern given that ticks,mosquitoes, and rodents are all capable of transmitting diseases to humans.” The NPMA’s Bug Barometer is forecasting the following pest patterns across the U.S. this fall and winter: n Pacific Northwest: The region experienced severe heat waves and dryness, increasing rodent populations and driving these pests into residential areas for water.Mice are expected to be a bigger problem this year, as they’ll stay indoors when tem- peratures cool in the fall. n Southwest &West Coast: Exceptionally hot temperatures will increase cockroach and ant pressure,moving them into buildings as the heat persists into fall.Outdoors, expect to see more spi- ders and stinging insects with food still abundant in these warm conditions.The combination of flooding and heat can also increase mosquito populations until drier weather returns. n Midwest: The mild spring and warm summer boosted rodent populations, and mice will invade homes in the fall for food and shelter. If rainfall continues, greater numbers of crawling pests, such as earwigs and millipedes,will seek higher ground indoors. n Southeast: Mosquito populations will persist well into the fall, as the standing water from the summer’s heavy rainfall in many areas provides ide- al conditions for mosquito breeding grounds.Higher termite and ant activity in the fall will also result from the warm,wet weather. n Northeast: Areas with consistent rainfall and warmth allowed stink bugs and ladybugs to flourish. Expect a higher number of these insects to move indoors as temperatures cool in the fall.Tick pop- ulations,which spiked this summer,will continue to stay high until temperatures drop, and the cool- er weather will also drive rodents indoors for the winter.