With parts of the Southeast recently rocked by Hurricane Ida, we thought it was the perfect time to talk about what type of pests you can usually see after heavy rains, especially hurricanes.
As we know, with rain, wind, and environmental damage, many things get rustled up. While you are cleaning up debris from your own home, it is important to keep a lookout for pests that may have made their way into your structure finding safe haven from the storms or, for most pests, a cool moist area to thrive.
The top pests that we find after disasters like Hurricane Ida are cockroaches, ants, and termites. These pests are always looking for a way in your home, and when it rains that drives even more inside.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches thrive in humid, wet conditions. They also enjoy unhygienic areas and rotting garbage, both are things we typically see after a massive storm. The American cockroach thrives in areas that have massive amounts of water, so you are likely to see these come around after a hurricane.
Ants
Ants are another pest that will move inside after rain. Like humans, ants need food and shelter to survive. Since they build their homes underground, you could see why rain is unsafe for them. These pests will essentially attempt to relocate their entire colony, including their eggs into your home!
Termites
Termites also love the debris a hurricane leaves behind. An article ABC News wrote after Hurricane Katrina has a great quote about termites after Katrina – “the area has become termite heaven — a virtual termite buffet — packed with moist debris, including soaked homes and downed trees. This material provides the insect with its main food: cellulose.”
We know there are several things you are doing to your property to clean up from disasters like Hurricane Ida, but it is extremely important to keep an eye out for cockroaches, ants, and termites, as these could cause infestations, quickly!
