Everything You Need to Know About Mosquitoes This Summer

What you should know about mosquitoes this summer

Mosquitoes are a fact of life in Michigan during the summer time. If you live in Michigan during the summer, you are going to contend with mosquitoes at some point. There’s just no getting around that.

You can’t avoid mosquitoes, but you can protect yourself against them. The best way to do that is to understand how they work. We’re here to help with that. Here are our answers to the mosquito questions our customers ask us the most. If you want to make it through summer even relatively unscathed, here’s what you should know:
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When does mosquito season start?

When does mosquito season start?The primary factor that determines when mosquitoes reach peak activity is the outdoor air temperature. Air temperatures consistently around 50°F or higher are ideal for Michigan 60-odd mosquito species. When it gets warm enough, mosquitoes either awaken from hibernation or hatch from their eggs.

Usually, mosquitoes start emerging in Michigan around mid-May. On years when we experienced an early or abnormally warm spring, however, mosquitoes have emerged earlier than usual. Mosquitoes also reproduce throughout their season, so the earlier they get started, the more mosquitoes we have to worry about. As you’re no doubt aware, mosquito season is well underway in Michigan this year.

Why are mosquitoes so bad in the summer?

Heat affects how quickly mosquitoes grow at every stage of their life cycle. External temperatures determine the incubation period of mosquito eggs. The hotter it is outside, the faster mosquito eggs hatch. Hot weather allows mosquitoes to remain active longer, so they eat more and grow faster.

Mosquitoes that grow faster reach reproductive maturity faster and lay eggs faster… you see where this is going. Michigan’s summers tend to be humid as well as hot, which is even better for mosquitoes. Michigan’s mosquitoes rely on humidity to stay hydrated while they hunt. They also lay their eggs in sources of standing water. Mosquitoes populations are always highest during summer, but they’re particularly huge during wet summers. Expect more mosquito activity than usual the day after a rainstorm.

Where are mosquitoes most active?

Where are mosquitoes most active?Although they can live just about anywhere, mosquitoes prefer to live near water. Mosquitoes require a water source to reproduce and lay their eggs. Most mosquitoes prefer stagnant, standing sources of water like swamps or bogs. They’re not picky, however, and they don’t need much water either. Virtually any quantity of stagnant water is sufficient for a mosquito to lay eggs in.

Mosquitoes also prefer living in dark, damp areas. Like any living thing, mosquitoes can become dehydrated and die. Though they thrive in heat, sunlight overheat and dehydrate too quickly. Living in dark, damp areas allows mosquitoes to stay active longer and reproduce more frequently. The ideal mosquito hot spot is a still pool of water located in a relatively heavily-forested area. If you live near water and/or sources of thick vegetation, expect a heavy mosquito presence near your home.

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When are mosquitoes most active?

Mosquitoes are active all the time, but they’re most active at dawn, dusk, or nighttime. Mosquitoes don’t hunt quite as aggressively during the middle of the day because they don’t want to dry out in the hot summer sun. When the sun isn’t beating down at full strength, mosquitoes feel much more comfortable. They’ll stay out hunting longer and range much further from their usual, dark and humid haunts.

Keep in mind, however: mosquitoes are always active somewhere, even if you can’t see them out in the open. If mosquitoes can keep cool and hydrated enough to manage it, they’ll happily hunt and swarm all day. If you’ll be near a shady forest, lake, or swamp, prepare for mosquitoes no matter what time it is.

How do I keep mosquitoes away from my home?

How do I keep mosquitoes away from my home?Mosquitoes can hunt anywhere, but they only live where they have a reliable source of water. If you can keep them from getting that water, you won’t have to deal with mosquitoes reproducing and laying eggs near your home.

Look for and clean up any sources of stagnant, standing water both inside and outside your home. Outside your home, fix leaking faucets, hoses, and other plumbing fixtures. Look for places where puddles may naturally form on your lawn after rain or while you’re sprinkling. Remember: mosquitoes don’t need much water at all. Even tiny puddles left behind in drainage ditches, planters, storm drains, or plant baskets provide more than enough. Inside, make sure your sump pump works, fix plumbing leaks, and consider investing in a dehumidifier.

How do I keep mosquitoes away while I’m outside?

Apply bug spray whenever you’re going to spend time outside, especially in areas where mosquitoes may be prevalent. Apply the spray as often as its label specifies to any uncovered areas of your body except your face. If you’re going to spend time in an area where mosquitoes will be prevalent, wear long clothing. Cover vulnerable areas such as your armpits, knees, elbows, and ankles as much as possible.

Avoid spending an extended period of time outdoors after dark, especially in mosquito-prone areas. If you’re camping or participating in a similar outdoor activity, bring appropriate mosquito barriers. Make sure you have enough bug spray at all times, and continue to apply it regularly. Sleep and, if possible, eat under a mosquito net. Keep your campsite clean and clutter-free, and make sure there’s no standing water nearby.

 

If the mosquitoes around your home have become intolerable, don’t hesitate to give Griffin a call. We’ll help keep the bloodsuckers away so you don’t have to be afraid to walk outside your own home.

Rainy Day Pests to Watch Out For

Rainy day pests to look out for

Rain is a welcome change of pace in spring time, especially since it helps push away the winter grey. As you might expect of any meteorological change, however, rain can also be disruptive. Spring is a already a transitional time of year. Flora and fauna are struggling to adapt to the changing season. When rain disrupts this process, it can create some awkward circumstances.

The most unwelcome of these awkward circumstances would have to be the pests. When rain disrupts their behavior, all kinds of pests may end up in places where they wouldn’t normally be. Places like your home. Here’s what to expect from pests after a long rain, why, and how to react.

Cockroaches

cockroachCockroaches need moisture and humidity to stay alive, so they’re naturally attracted to moist and humid places. The problem is, the moist and humid places where they naturally congregate also tend to be vulnerable to flooding. Millions of cockroaches live in sewers, gutters, or drain pipes. When we get heavy rainfall in the spring, these places flood. Flooding forces cockroaches out of their homes and into new places – like your home!

After periods of heavy rain, it’s common to find cockroaches in your kitchen, bathroom, or basement. These roaches are probably flooding refugees that snuck up your drains or through cracks in sills or frames. Once inside, roaches look for food, shelter, and moisture. They love to squeeze under tight hiding places like boxes and furniture, where they can hide until night time. Unfortunately, once cockroaches get inside, they’re in no hurry to leave. They’ll stick around as long as they have access to food and shelter.

Snakes

snakeSnakes tend to come out after rain for several reasons. First, most snakes naturally live close to water. When rainfall floods the banks of rivers and streams, the snakes are forced to seek higher (and drier) ground. Snakes also have to come out after rain to warm back up. As cold-blooded reptiles, snakes rely on sunlight to keep their internal body temperatures up. After days of clouds and rain, snakes get desperate to get warm.

Particularly severe rainy conditions may even force snakes into your home. As dry shelter becomes less and less available, snakes have to get creative if they want to survive. They’ll twist and contort themselves to fit through small cracks and crevices to enter basements and attics. They may even follow other pest-refugees while they’re hunting and stumble into your home inadvertently. Unlike cockroaches, snakes don’t typically stick around after the rain stops, but you might find them in your yard nearby.  

Spiders

spiderFor most pests, heavy rainfall is a nuisance. While it can be a nuisance for spiders, too, it can also be an opportunity. The busiest insect hunters in the world aren’t about to stop their grind for a little rain. After all, the itsy bitsy spider wins out in the end, even in the nursery rhyme. They go where their prey goes, no matter what. That means, when it rains, they’ll follow their prey into your home.

Spiders want to build their webs wherever they think they can catch prey. They’ll find the places where other pests get into your home – window sills, baseboard cracks, etc. – and set up shop there. Often times, spiders already living nearby during rain will move inside to follow prospective prey. Other times, their homes will get wiped out by flooding, just like their prey. Either way, expect to see more spider activity when it rains.

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Termites

TermitesEveryone knows termites eat wood. What fewer people know is, ironically, termites are more attracted to moisture than they are to wood. When you think about it, it makes sense: eating wood has to be thirsty work. Termites need moisture to survive, just like everything else. If they get too dried out while they’re munching away at wood, they’ll die. Termites prefer to strike at wet food, so they can keep hydrated while they work.

Obviously, all wood is wet when it’s getting rained on. During rainy periods, termites may seize the opportunity to attack wood sources that are normally dry. The wetter the wood, the easier it is for termites to chew through it. Rain is a great deal for termites–as long as they can survive it. Just like other pests, termites can easily drown in flooding. They may also target wood that lets them avoid this danger.

 

We know this is probably kind of a bummer. You were just looking forward to being done with winter, and now you have all this to worry about? Maybe April really is the cruelest month! Well, the good new is you don’t have to deal with it alone.

Give Griffin Pest Solutions a call any time you’re worried about a pest infestation. We can make sure your home stay pest-proof this spring and beyond. Rain or shine, Griffin has your back.

The Most Common Pest Problems in Michigan

The Most Common Pest Infestations in Michigan

Every human-populated region on earth deals with its own host of pest problems, and Michigan is no exception. Many of the same features that make Michigan so great–our forests, our interconnected metro areas, our proximity to water–also bring pests from far and wide. Some of these pests comprise a serious, long-lasting threat to the health of the local ecosystem. Some are just out to ruin your day.

We’ve talked at length about the first variety before, so now we’re covering the problems a bit closer to home. These are the four varieties of pest that you’re most likely to encounter in your home. Chances are, you’ve dealt with at least one of these ne’er-do-wells before–even if you didn’t realize it. Here are the Michigan pest “usual suspects”, and how to keep them from bothering you.

Stink bugs

stink bugThe brown marmorated stink bug is Michigan’s newest nemesis, but it’s more-than made up for lost time. The stinky pests are mostly a problem for farmers, since they’re notorious for eating crops. They really only bother households during the fall and spring, when they’re either looking to get warm or trying to get back outside. Even if they infest homes, they don’t reproduce indoors, inflict property damage, or eat human food or fabrics. If you’ve never had them before, you’d be forgiven for thinking stink bugs don’t sound like “pests” at all!

Then you remember what they’re called. When crushed, threatened, or congregated, stink bugs secrete a gross-smelling liquid from specialized glands. The more of it there is, the stronger the smell. Stink bugs often congregate around sunny perches by the hundreds. The best way to deal with stink bugs is by vacuuming them up and throwing out the vacuum bag. Afterward, wipe down surfaces stink bugs walked over to remove the scent and pheromones they may have left behind.

Rodents

rodentsAdmittedly, mice and rats aren’t just the among the most common of pests in Michigan. Anywhere people live, chances are mice and rats are scampering around trying to live alongside them. They’ve been at it long enough, in fact, that rodents have evolved into the ultimate human-home infiltrators. Mice and rats use their sense of smell and amazing ability to sense minute air currents to find ways into homes. They don’t need to find much either; mice and rats can squeeze through unbelievably tiny openings.

Mice and rats may live in your home all year, but they’re particularly prevalent in early to mid fall. As soon as they sense the season begin to change, they’ll start looking for a warm shelter. Rodents use small openings around foundations, utility lines, or window and door frames to get into homes. Finding cracks and gaps like these and sealing them up is the best way to prevent future rodent problems today.

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Carpenter ants

carpenter antsDespite being equally prevalent, carpenter ants are often mistaken for their cousins the sugar, pavement, or field ants. Unfortunately, though carpenter ants may look like their less-distressing cousins, they don’t behave like them at all. Most ants may be content to pursue your home’s food, but carpenter ants have another prize in mind: your home itself. Specifically, the wood your home is made of. Carpenter ants are second only to termites in terms of their wood-destroying, property-damaging potential.

Unlike termites, carpenter ants don’t eat the wood they destroy. Instead, they simply tunnel through it to build their ever-expanding colonies. The ants infest wood that’s moist and easy to bore through, so the best way to prevent them is moisture control. Ensure your plumbing isn’t leaking and your attic, basement, and crawl spaces aren’t too humid. Dispose of any water-damaged wood as soon as you find it, so that carpenter ants won’t.

Bed bugs

bed bugsAs we’ve explained before, everyone’s least-favorite bedfellows have had quite the renaissance in recent years. After developing resistances to the chemicals used to kill them, bed bugs began repopulating at a startling rate. Even worse, the bed bugs’ natural inclination to hide in cramped, dark, and warm places means they are nature’s ultimate hitchhiker. Before we knew what hit us, Americans had transported bed bugs all over the country by plane, train, and automobile. Unfortunately, Michigan wasn’t spared even a little.

Contrary to name and reputation, bed bugs don’t just infest beds. Instead, they gravitate toward any location that’s dark, sheltered, cramped, warm, and near food. It just so happens that beds tend to satisfy those requirements–you’re the food! Find bed bugs by looking for bloody or dark patches on sheets and linens. Prevent them by changing and washing your sheets frequently, and by thoroughly inspecting luggage you bring into your home.

We realize it can’t be comforting knowing that your home state plays host to such a rogue’s gallery. That’s why we’ve decided to end on a bit of good news. Griffin Pest Control has been fighting these common pests right here in Michigan since 1929. As you might suspect, all that practice has made us pretty darn good at it.

Next time you need help clearing out an infestation, or making sure you never get one, give Griffin a call today. We’ve helped thousands of Michigan residents before, and we’re always happy to help you too.

How Do Spiders Survive Winter?

How Do Spiders Make It Through Winter?

Spiders are mysterious creatures. How do they know how to build those webs so perfectly? Why do they have so many legs? Most importantly, where are they coming from and how can you get rid of them? This time of year, you may have noticed that your leggy pals don’t seem to be around as much.

First, you probably felt relieved… then, you started to feel suspicious. Where’d they go? What are they planning?! We can’t promise to make you feel better, but we can provide you with an answer. Different spider species cope with winter in all kinds of different ways. If you can’t find your spiders this winter (and you want to, for some reason), here’s where they’ve probably gone.

Nests During the Winter

spider nestsSpider eggs can’t survive freezing temperatures, so spiders that want their eggs to survive winter have to get creative. Many spider species mate and produce their eggs starting in early fall. As temperatures begin to fall, many spider moms begin carefully choosing the places they lay their eggs. Spiders prefer to lay eggs in hidden, dark, and secluded locations like chimneys, downspouts, or burrows. These sheltered areas keep the eggs warm and alive until spring.

In many cases, spiders construct special, nest-like webs where they lay their eggs. Usually, these webs incorporate sheltered surroundings. A spider might create a wall of webbing to cover an exposed corner or fill in a crack. Young spiders inside the nest eat their way out as soon as it’s warm enough to survive exposure. Many of the spiders that build nests for their young die after they finish. Now that’s motherly love!

Insulation from the Cold

spider insulation sacIf it wasn’t obvious already, spiders are quite resourceful! Some spiders survive winter by building themselves a cozy little pod to hunker down in until things warm up. These pods are quite similar to spider egg nests. The spider finds an enclosed, secluded area, and seals themselves within the space by covering openings with their webbing. The webbing blocks cold air, hopefully creating an environment that’s warm enough for the spider to survive in.

Some spiders build their sacs near the ground and let snow build up over them for an added insulating layer. Others build onto the high corners of roofing or siding on buildings. If you look closely, you might see small webbing sacs affixed to the sides of sturdier shelters in winter. On warm days, spiders break through their web sacs in order to hunt for food. When temperatures cool again, they’ll return to their sac and re-seal it.

Spiders Natural Antifreeze

spiders can produce antifreeze inside their bodiesSpider species native to cold climates have been developing adaptations to freezing temperatures for centuries. When these spiders sense dropping temperatures, they begin accumulating glycol compounds in their bloodstream. These compounds function very similarly to the antifreeze commonly used in car engines. They allow the spider’s tissues to “supercool” and remain unfrozen even when exposed to below-freezing temperatures. While this trick keeps the spiders from freezing completely, it won’t save them forever on its own.

After building up glycol compounds, the spider seeks out a shelter where they can hide for the winter. Many antifreeze-producing spiders work their way through the top layer of snow and soil, reaching the “subnivean zone”. The subnivean zone insulates the spider from the worst cold while letting them move around and even hunt prey. Spiders stop producing their biological antifreeze when the air temperature begins rising again in spring.

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Spiders in Your Home During the Winter

spiders may infiltrate homes to keep warmWithout the ability to survive freezing temperatures, spiders need shelter to make it through winter. What better shelter could there be than your home? After all, it works for you! Like many pests, some spider aggressively attempt to enter enclosed shelters in fall and winter.

When spiders choose where to overwinter, they’re looking for a warm, humid place where they can build a web in peace. If your home provides them with a place like this, they’ll be all over it. Spiders are excellent climbers, so they often infiltrate homes by climbing through gaps in windows, siding, or roof shingles. Attics, basements, closets, and dark pantries are all favored spider haunts. They also like any place where they can continue catching prey. If you have other pest problems this winter, spiders will come looking to capitalize on them.

As you can see, there’s no need to feel sorry for spiders that get locked out this season. Something tells us they’re going to be just fine. Maybe it’s the fact that they can make antifreeze in their bodies!

If you don’t have to feel sorry for spiders outside, then you really don’t have to worry about kicking spiders out of your home! If you have a couple of problems with eight legs, give Griffin a call anytime. We’ll make sure your spiders use all eight of those legs to step out of your life.

What Are Those Bugs in Your Basement?

Bugs in your basement

Bugs LOVE a basement. They’re dark, quiet, warm, and usually pretty humid to boot. If you have a bug infestation in your home, chances are they’re hanging out downstairs. Basements are a little spooky even under better circumstances, so we’re guessing you’re not terribly pleased to hear this.

There’s more bad news. Some bugs like basements more than others. The ones that really like basements are some of the freakiest-looking bugs around. Before you burn your house down, however, consider: these bugs are mostly terrifying because you don’t understand them. They aren’t the most dangerous pests in Michigan, or the scariest, or even the most stubborn. They’re just the freakiest ones that are here. This is everything you need to know about the monsters in your basement. The more you know, the less afraid you’ll be (we hope).

Earwigs

earwigWe’ll grant you: earwigs look like they crawled directly out of a nightmare. They’re about two inches long, with dark brown, reddish bodies, creepy light orange extremities… and GIANT PINCERS ON THEIR BACKSIDES. Earwigs are actually harmless to humans (and definitely don’t crawl into people’s ears) but… yeah, we get why you’d want to give them a wide berth. These insects love basements because they’re attracted to darkness and humidity. They feed on decaying plant material and sometimes hunt other insects.

Earwigs can’t fly or climb very well, so if they entered your home, they did it from the ground level. They usually find cracks near window wells and frames, or cracks in the foundation of the home. Earwigs often end up behind wallpaper or crammed into basement insulation after they sneak through low gaps. If you have earwigs in your home, it’s probably because your basement has a humidity problem. Consider investing in a dehumidifier and look for leaks.  

Silverfish

silverfishSilverfish are those tiny, silver-grey insects that really look more like shrimp than fish or bugs. Their long, thin bodies wiggle back and forth when they crawl, making it look like they’re swimming. “Silver” because of the color. “Fish” because of what they look like. Like earwigs, silverfish love moisture. They’re also attracted to warm and dark places where they can move around without being bothered. Silverfish are nocturnal, so chances are you’ll only see them at night.

Silverfish eat the starch naturally found in materials like paper, cotton, glue, carpeting, and other common household materials. They may also destroy clothing. Silverfish make use of their tiny size and thinness to get into homes. Usually, they sneak through narrow gaps in baseboards or flooring. They may even live inside walls if they can find a wide enough pathway. Humidity control is important for controlling silverfish, as is temperature control. Silverfish need temperatures of over 60℉ to breed.

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Pillbugs

pillbugPillbugs are very small, black bugs that are about as wide as they are long. Their backs are made up of seven overlapping, segmented plates that look hard and shiny, like a beetle’s shell. Pillbugs roll into a ball to protect themselves when threatened. These “bugs” (they’re actually related to crabs!) are a common sight in gardens. They consume decaying vegetable matter beneath the top layer of soil. Most pillbugs live bury themselves several inches under soil, because they’re very temperature sensitive.

Pillbugs can’t climb sheer surfaces, so they only enter basements via the ground level of the home. Usually, they’ll find gaps under the soil, around baseboards, foundations, or siding. Once inside, pillbugs generally cover themselves by hiding under furniture, boxes, or other clutter. Pillbugs can only survive in a basement if they have a source of moisture. Check for plumbing leaks, condensation, or puddling, especially around corners and the bottom of the wall.

House Centipedes

house centipedeIf basement pests are monsters, then you probably think of this guy as the “big bad”. House centipedes are inch long, tan-yellow bugs with very long longs. Those legs enable the bug to move very quickly, often in a rapid, darting motion. House centipedes are nocturnal predators that use their speed and venom-injecting claws to hunt other insects. These centipedes are capable of using these claws to “sting” humans too. The venom injected isn’t serious, but it hurts like a bee sting would.

House centipedes commonly follow their prey into homes through gaps near windows or cracks in the flooring or siding. Once they’re inside, they spend their days hiding and their nights hunting. Like most of the pests on this list, house centipedes love moist environments. Check for leaks and puddles in your basement, and consider a dehumidifier. Patching gaps may help with the humidity problem and deprive bugs of their access points at the same time.

 

We hope this blog helps you feel less afraid of venturing into the dark abyss that is your basement at night. Even if it doesn’t, however, at least now you can take action? Remember: your basement is your turf, not those bug’s. Even if house centipedes are just about the scariest things ever.

If you ever decide you need a little help with your basement monster slaying, feel free to call Griffin Pest Control anytime. We’re always happy to lend you our sword.

Which Bugs Come Out at Night?

Mosquito at Night

Numerous common household pests are most active during the night. Bed bugs, house centipedes, crickets, and even mosquitoes fall into this category. They emerge in the dark to forage for food, search for mates, and seek sources of moisture. Mosquitoes, in particular, thrive during cooler nighttime temperatures.

It’s no surprise that these “children of the night” can be quite unsettling, especially when they decide to feed on you while you’re trying to sleep. But despite their creepiness, these nocturnal creatures are, in the end, just another type of pest. And like any pest, they can be prevented, controlled, and eliminated. Let’s explore the most common nighttime household pests and what you can do to address them below.

Why Do Bugs Come Out at Night?

Bugs come out at night for a variety of ecological reasons related to temperature, predation, sensory adaptations, food sources, and reproduction. These adaptations allow them to thrive in their respective environments.

Bed bugs feed on their prey at night - Which pests become more active at night?

Are Bed Bugs Nocturnal?

No surprise here, right? Yes, bed bugs are nocturnal, which means they come out at night. Bed bugs can neither extract the blood they need quickly nor latch onto people forcefully. Instead, they wait until their prey is immobile–like when they’re sleeping–so they can gorge themselves at their leisure. Bed bugs become more active at night both because it’s when their prey is vulnerable, and because the darkness gives them cover.  

How to Protect Yourself From Bed Bugs 

We’ve covered preventing bed bugs a couple of times before. The best thing you can do is to make sure you inspect everything you bring home after traveling. Make sure you don’t bring any unwanted hitchhikers home. Wash and clean your bedding and the bed itself frequently, and inspect it for fecal matter or eggs. Heat kills bed bugs, so if you suspect you have them, throw contaminated items in the dryer. If you have an existing bed bug problem, contact your local exterminator for a professional bed bug treatment.

Centipedes hunt at night- Which pests become more active at night?

Why Do Centipedes Come Out at Night?

Centipedes are sneaky daytime hiders who venture out at night for hunting. You might spot them in damp spots or kitchens. They’re drawn to humid, dim, cozy places where they can stay moist and soak up warmth. 

How to Prevent House Centipedes 

Even though they don’t pose any severe harm to humans, they can in fact sting with their two front legs, and they’re just freaky! That’s why preventing them is a good idea. 

To keep them away, reduce indoor moisture, close windows at night, and seal off entry points like gaps between utility lines and walls.

Crickets become active at night - Which pests become more active at night?

Why Are Crickets Most Active at Night?

The reason why crickets are most active at night is because it offers them favorable conditions for feeding, temperature regulation, and mating while minimizing their exposure to daytime predators. With that said, crickets may sound pleasant when they’re outside, but when they’re inside your walls they sound less than pleasant. Crickets are loud, and they love to start chirping right around the time you want to go to sleep, which can get very annoying. They simply do not belong inside your home! 

How to Keep Crickets Away From Your Home

Crickets are attracted to light, heat, humidity, and moisture. Turn off your house lights at night and draw the blinds. Look for and patch up plumbing leaks and other sources of moisture, such as puddling or condensation. Like most other pests, crickets sneak in through gaps in foundations, siding, and window and door frames. Look for places where your noisy foes might squeeze in and seal them up.

Mosquitoes tend to become more active at night - Which pests become more active at night?

Are Mosquitos Most Active at Night?

Mosquitoes are most active during the evening and at night, making them nocturnal or crepuscular insects. They tend to be most active around dusk and dawn, with their activity increasing during the early evening and into the night.

Several factors contribute to their nighttime activity:

  • Temperature: Mosquitoes are cold-blooded insects, and they become more active in the cooler evening hours. Warm temperatures are conducive to their activity.
  • Light Sensitivity: Mosquitoes are attracted to light, and their vision is adapted for low-light conditions. They are less active during daylight when the sun is bright.
  • Feeding Time: Many mosquito species feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals, including humans. These animals are more accessible when they are active, which often coincides with dusk and nighttime when people are outdoors or asleep.
  • Predator Avoidance: Mosquitoes have numerous predators, such as birds and bats, which are more active during the daytime. Being active at night helps mosquitoes avoid some of their natural enemies.

It’s important to note that while mosquitoes are more active at night, there are some species that are active during the day. The behavior of mosquitoes can also be influenced by environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity.

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How You Can Prevent Mosquitos in Your Home

To prevent mosquitoes from invading your home, take a few proactive measures. Ensure that all windows and doors have properly fitted screens to keep them out. Remove any standing water sources around your property, as mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water. Using mosquito nets over beds and applying insect repellent on exposed skin can help reduce bites indoors. Also, consider using mosquito traps or citronella candles to deter these pests from entering your living spaces. Regularly maintaining your yard, keeping it well-trimmed and free of debris, can also minimize mosquito breeding grounds.

Other Common Insects That Come at Night

In Michigan, as in many other regions, you can find a variety of common nocturnal insects. Here’s a list of some nocturnal insects you might encounter in Michigan:

  • Moths: Michigan is home to numerous moth species, and they are particularly active at night, often drawn to outdoor lights.
  • Fireflies: Fireflies are a familiar sight in Michigan during the summer evenings, with their bioluminescent displays.
  • Mayflies: Mayflies are common near Michigan’s freshwater bodies, and their adults are active in the evening.
  • Katydid: These relatives of crickets are known for their distinctive calls and are often heard at night.
  • Nocturnal Ants: Some ant species in Michigan are more active at night, like pavement ants and field ants.
  • Beetles: Various beetle species can be found in Michigan, and some are nocturnal, including ground beetles and June beetles.
  • Stoneflies: Stoneflies can be found near clean, cold freshwater streams and rivers in Michigan, and they are active at night.
  • Earwigs: Earwigs are nocturnal insects that seek shelter during the day and come out at night to forage.
  • Silverfish: These small, wingless insects are often active at night and can be found in dark, damp areas.
  • Nocturnal Termites: Michigan has termite species that are known to be active at night.

Want to Protect Yourself and Your Home from Nocturnal Pests? We Can Help!

If you’re dealing with nocturnal pests in Michigan and want to safeguard your home against these bothersome intruders, the pest control experts at Griffin Pest Solutions can help. Our experienced pest control experts are well-versed in addressing a wide range of nighttime pests, ensuring you can enjoy peaceful, pest-free nights. Call us today for a free no-obligation quote. 

Ask us about PestFree365+, our preventative pest control program!