Climate shocks are also providing ideal conditions for pest populations to boom in the heart of the Midwest. Residents across Illinois are facing an invasion of insects like they have never seen before, and many tried and proper pest control remedies have lost their potency. The changing climate is transforming the pest landscape in ways that will affect your home and property as temperatures rise, precipitation patterns shift, and extreme weather events alter the terrain. Due to the pest behavior being highly unpredictable, it has become necessary to work with experienced people from Reliable Pest Solutions for adequate long-term safety from pests.
Warmer Winters and the Rise of Overwintering Pests
Instead of a harsh winter keeping pest populations in check, Midwest winters are becoming much warmer, and this trend has led to more pests surviving the winter months. The National Weather Service says that winter temperatures in the Great Lakes region have been 3.2°F above average since 1900, and the most rapid warming occurred in the past few decades.
Chilling spell durations that used to account for high pest and pathogen mortality are declining in duration and intensity. Across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, many homes now face pest activity year-round instead of the seasonal breaks they used to get. The emerald ash borer was once limited by the cold, but has spread throughout the Midwest as winter lows no longer dip down to this threshold. Those overwintering populations come out in the spring population with greater numbers, creating the compounding effect that makes each season progressively worse for homeowners.
How Drought Conditions Are Driving Pests Indoors
Long dry stretches throughout the Midwest are driving bugs and rodents indoors in search of water. As Mother Nature draws a blank on green thumb action around the area and local borders to her natural water sources vanish, your yard becomes a one-stop shop for pests searching for sustenance. With the rising temperatures, cockroaches, ants, and mice become bolder in seeking moisture and establishing nests close to plumbing fixtures, basements, strategies, and air conditioning components.
Perfect conditions for widespread outbreaks of pests occurred during the 2023 drought, affecting 60% of Iowa and parts of Illinois, which concentrated pests around human habitats. As outdoor wood sources became too dry to support colonies, carpenter ants, who are usually comfortable living outside, started to come inside more often. Even spiders and silverfish, which are generally happy with outdoor humidity levels, are heading indoors to find moisture. The migration of these pests, however, means that they are not just seasonal household problems, but year-round management concerns.
The Ripple Effect on Homes, Health, and Agriculture
Structural Damage: With our more southerly regions experiencing warmer, wetter conditions that are extending the active season and expanding the range of these pests northward, termite activity has increased 40% across Indiana and Ohio
Health Effects: Tick populations that carry Lyme disease have extended into parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin that were previously too cold in the winter to support tick populations
Damage to Agriculture: Corn rootworm and soybean aphid are experiencing extended reproduction cycles, leading to millions in damages in crops across the Corn Belt
Real estate prices: Prices of homes with perennial pest problems are plummeting as buyers start to recognize climate-related pest threats
Treatment Expenses: Families are paying 25% more each year on pest control treatment as outdated seasonal treatments fail to protect homes from year-round populations
Proactive Pest Management in a Changing Climate
The difficulties in Midwest homes are evolving, and so are the traditional spray-and-pray methods with which they are treated. This has led professional pest management companies to develop climate-adapted strategies to address these new realities. For example, Reliable Pest Solutions has been adjusting its treatment protocols in preparation for longer active seasons and changes in pest habits across the area. They understand that effective modern pest control means knowing precisely how climate change is impacting local ecosystems and the pest lifecycle.
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