2015 Fall Pest Forecast: Above-Normal Mosquito Populations to Agitate More Than Two-Thirds of US
With the start of autumn comes more unwelcome pests seeking shelter in our homes. The size of these pest populations depends largely on the weather patterns of the spring and summer seasons.
The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) recently released its Bug Barometer Forecast, indicating what Americans in each part of the country can expect from pest populations this fall and upcoming winter.
"From the extreme heat and humidity in the Southeast to record rainfall in the Midwest and an ongoing drought in the Pacific Northwest and on the West Coast – the National Pest Management Association's (NPMA) Bug Barometer takes into account the weather patterns of the summer season in every region of the country," NPMA stated in a press release.
NPMA added that although spring and summer are typically the most active seasons for the majority of pests, autumn does not necessarily mean an end to pest activity.
Dr. Jim Fredericks, chief entomologist from the NPMA, said that a team of entomologists at NPMA looked at what has happened in the past and based on that try to get an idea of what the pest populations might look like in the upcoming months based on what is already known about their biology and behavior.
"For instance, insects and arthropods (such as spiders and ticks) are cold-blooded so their activities and biological systems are highly dependent on temperature," Fredericks said. "When temperatures are higher, their activity, metabolism, their physiological processes increase. They grow and move more quickly when temperatures are higher. When temperatures get too cold, two things could happen: they may die or go into a state of hibernation."
From this, the NPMA creates what they call the "pest pressure index" for each region of the United States during the fall season.
JUMP TO: Northeast | Southeast | Midwest | Pacific Northwest | West Coast | Southwest
Consistent warmth in May across the Northeast followed by periods of record-setting rainfall and exceptional humidity has provided ideal conditions for pests to remain active.
"Mosquitoes, especially, are expected to take advantage of an increase in areas of standing water and remain active until temperatures consistently dip below 50 degrees," NPMA said in a press release.
NPMA added that the summery conditions have set the stage for tick populations to remain at average levels well into the fall.
