All living beings sustain on three things: food, water, and shelter. And pests are no different. Pests who have wandered into or colonized a human space are looking for at least one of these three must-haves. When our clients call us for a pest problem, the first step of Urban Junggle professionals is to look for that source.

Pests can be very stubborn when it comes to invading your houses and infrastructures. Even in the tidiest spaces with clean surroundings, pests can lurk in corners and crevices waiting to take advantage. Interestingly, moisture is enough to attract many insects into a space, and the availability of shelter from bad weather and predators is just a bonus. Since the monsoon has knocked on our doors, we must be vigilant and identify any potential pest invasion. The abundant availability of water, which is combined with other factors and pests’ preferences, propels the pests to build their nests around human dwellings.

Some of the most common household pests attracted to monsoon moisture include:

1. Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are one type of common pests that are incredibly annoying as they buzz around the space and bite to produce large, itchy red welts. During the monsoon season, when water is stored in buckets, pots, and terraces or outside in the roads and drains, it becomes a breeding space for mosquitoes to settle down. Generally, mosquitoes lay eggs in still water and their larvae attach themselves to the surface water as they mature. Only one mosquito is enough to find the right source of water to jump-start the mosquito infestation in your space.

• Termites

Termites are irritating pests that are destructive and cause billions of dollars worth of damage to infrastructures each year. Termites are usually referred to as wood-eating pests that build their entire colonies inside or underneath homes that provide food, water, and shelter during the monsoon season. Termites build mud tubes or “exploratory” tunnels where there is enough moisture and air.

• Ants

The flock of ants tends to build their homes near the sources of moisture and food which makes the transportation back to their colonies to feed their queens and larvae easy. Anyone can locate ants where there is the availability of food and ample water. Ants have a waxy exoskeleton that repels water because of which they can easily carry droplets of water on their back to their colonies. Thus, in rainy weather, one should be vigilant about any potential ant invasion.

• Drain flies

Drain flies are considered to be unhygienic pests that love the most and dark areas that are found in pipes and garbage disposals. They lay eggs in gelatinous masses on the walls of drains and other wet surfaces near water sources. Their eggs hatch into small larvae which are known as sewer worms and drain worms which feed on organic matter such as decaying debris and sludge within drains. During the rains, the water-filled drains and pipes act as the perfect shelter for them. The presence of drain flies is an indication of upcoming sanitation and drainage problems and hygiene issues.

• Silverfish

Silverfish are like cockroaches that prefer dark, warm, moist environments, so you are most likely to see them in large numbers during the monsoon season. As they are fond of darkness and moisture, silverfish are most commonly found in sinks and tub drains. Interestingly, silverfish are not solitary insects, so the appearance of one is likely to indicate the infestation in your space.

• How to keep your home dry and pest-free?

Property owners with moist surfaces face several risks to their health and the value of their infrastructure. Moreover, the high moisture in the atmosphere during the monsoon season contributes to the high humidity which makes it uncomfortable to live and a perfect opportunity for pest invasion. Hence, it is important to be extra careful during the rainy season and keep the infrastructure dry to avoid any pest infestation.

If you are confused and don’t know where to start, don’t worry, we are here to help you.

Urban Junggle is a well-known pest control service near you. We have a team of talented and certified pest control professionals who have an understanding of monsoon pest behaviour and how moisture control and pest management go hand in hand. We start by inspecting every nook and corner of your property to locate sources of moisture and use our cutting-edge technology to eliminate and redirect moisture coming into your space that will keep you and your property safe and comfortable.