This chart shows the pests you should worry about in the coming months
Gird your loins, people. Cold weather is setting in. And while for some of you this simply means it’s time for cute boots, holiday music and hot cocoa, for others, it means just one thing: Bugs are coming.
It’s that time of year when all of the pests who normally live outside seek shelter in our warm, cozy homes. Want to study up on what you can expect? The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has made it easy with a handy chart.
Check out their Bug Barometerâ„¢ forecast for the coming months. Based on where you live, you can see which bugs and critters you are most likely to find in your home this winter.
As you can see, our recent weather has led not just to hurricanes and other natural disasters, but also to an increase in bug and rodent activity. Extreme heat and flooding mean an uptick in the number of pests you could see in your home.
People in the Midwest should know that the rodent population has grown thanks to the warm, muggy summer, and heavier rains also mean an increase in critters like earwigs and millipedes.
If you’re in the Pacific Northwest, beware that mice may be “stronger in numbers” according to the NPMA.
For those in the Southwest and on the West Coast, the NPMA says to expect an increase in “cockroach and ant pressure in buildings this fall.”
If you live in the Northeast, you can expect an increase in ladybugs, ticks and stinkbugs.
And if you’re in the Southeast, beware that mosquito populations will explode thanks to heavy rains and flooding. Great for bats and other creatures that eat skeeters, but bad news for us humans.
What do you think about the NPMA’s Bug Barometer? Are you worried about an upcoming insect invasion, or are you braver than me?
[h/t: Lifehacker]