The impact of weather and climate change on common household pests

As a tropical country, Indonesia only has two main seasons throughout the year, which are dry and rainy seasons. Each year, the dry or summer season generally lasts from June to August, followed by the wet or rainy season which usually occurs from December to February.

However, recently, the weather in Indonesia has often been unpredictable and erratic. This raises the question, "What caused the unpredictable weather changes lately?" Here is the answer!

What causes the unpredictable weather changes lately?

Recently, it's common to encounter abrupt and dramatic shifts in weather throughout the day. For instance, a day that starts with clear, sunny skies can quickly transform into heavy rain by the afternoon or evening.

Typically, the rapid shift from dry to wet weather within a single day is referred to as the transitional period. This transitional phase, also known as the inter-monsoon season in Indonesia, is marked by dramatic weather fluctuations preceding the transition from the dry season to the rainy season, or vice versa.

The recent unpredictable and extreme weather patterns have had a detrimental effect on humans. Aside from leading to various illnesses due to significant temperature swings and high humidity, these unstable weather conditions - turns out also contribute to the presence of household pests.

How does the transitional period in Indonesia influence the presence of household pests?

Once we understand the primary factors behind the recent unpredictable weather in Indonesia, homeowners might now ponder another question: Does the unpredictable weather changes in Indonesia affect the presence of pests in our homes? The simple answer is yes.

Certain pests are typically more prevalent in either rainy or humid conditions, while others thrive in dry, hot weather. However, some pests are resilient and can be found in homes regardless of the season, appearing during both rainy and summer periods. Curious about these pests? Let's explore them together in this article!

Here are 5 pests that often appear in the home related to weather changes:

1. Mosquitoes
2. Rats
3. Cockroaches
4. Flies
5. Ants

Choose one of the 5 pests above to find out what causes their occurrence based on the weather.

1. Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are pests that appear indiscriminately against the weather, becoming a major problem in homes both in the hot and rainy season in Indonesia.

In the rainy season, stagnant water left behind by heavy overnight downpours provides an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water, such as in plant pots, old tires, and other containers that can collect rainwater.

After the larvae breed for a few days, they will turn into pupae before finally becoming adult mosquitoes and ready to bite your family members at home.

On the other hand, summer brings hot and dry conditions that mosquitoes also thrive in. The warmth and aridity make mosquitoes more active in seeking out hosts for blood meals. Moreover, during summer, people engage in more outdoor activities, further increasing the likelihood of mosquito bites.

2. Rats

In addition to mosquitoes, rats are another common household pest that is frequently found during both the rainy and hot seasons.

During the rainy season, rats seek shelter in drier locations and construct nests to avoid rainwater. They gain entry into homes through various means, such as small cracks in walls, damaged roofs, or by using water and power lines. Additionally, rats are attracted to easily accessible food sources, which become more abundant during the rainy season due to standing water bringing organic waste and other food sources closer to homes.

On the other hand, summer brings warm and dry conditions - making rats more active in their search for food in outdoor areas. In addition, plants that thrive in summer are also potential hiding places for rats.

The presence of rats, whether in the rainy or summer season, can have negative consequences for humans. Firstly, there are health concerns, and secondly, there is the potential for property damage. Rats can transmit dangerous diseases to humans through their faeces, urine, and saliva. Some examples of diseases that rats can carry include Leptospirosis, Hantavirus, and Salmonellosis.

When rats are able to enter your home, they are known to potentially damage things due to their gnawing habits, such as electrical wiring that can cause short circuits or fires, household appliances such as cooking utensils, clothing, and furniture to contaminating and damaging your foodstuffs in the kitchen.

3. Cockroaches

Who doesn't hate cockroaches? Apart from being known as a disgusting animal, cockroaches are also known as potential carriers of many diseases and harmful bacteria.

Unfortunately, these disgusting creatures can almost certainly "appear" throughout the year in or around your home without being too affected by the weather. However, there are certain factors that can affect the activity and appearance of cockroaches in your home.

When the rainy season arrives, the high humidity creates ideal conditions for cockroaches to breed more quickly. The rainy season also makes them more active in searching for places to nest and food sources in various areas inside the house that have higher humidity levels than others, including bathrooms, kitchens, and warehouse / storeroom.

Meanwhile, in the summer season, the warm and dry temperatures can also affect the activity of cockroaches. They may become more active at night when the air is cooler, searching for food and shelter around the house.

Looking at the above facts, it can be concluded that cockroaches are one of the most troublesome pests for every homeowner throughout the year. This is due to their ability to survive in various environmental conditions, whether in wet or dry weather.

4. Flies

Unlike the three pests above, flies are a type of household pest that is more commonly found in the summer. This is mainly because in the rainy season they tend to seek shelter from the rain and the humid conditions they dislike.

Flies require dry and warm air to reproduce effectively. Higher temperatures in the summer accelerate the fly life cycle from egg to larva, and their larva matures into adult flies compared to winter or rainy seasons.

Summer also provides more food sources for flies, such as piles of organic waste or rotting foliage. In contrast, during the rainy season, food sources for flies become more limited because the humid environment can reduce the amount of food available to them.

Berbeda dengan tiga hama diatas, lalat merupakan jenis hama rumahan yang lebih banyak ditemukan di musim panas karena di musim penghujan mereka cenderung berlindung dari hujan dan kondisi lembab yang mereka tidak sukai.

5. Ants

In essence, ants are one of the pest types that remain active throughout the year regardless of the weather or season. However, it is known that more species or types of ants are more active in the summer. Why is this so?

Summer is the ideal time for ants to search for food because the warm and dry weather makes food sources easier to find. They typically enter homes in search of open or uncovered food.

Moreover, summer is also a fertile reproductive period for ants, during which ant colonies will reproduce rapidly to optimize the abundant resources available during the summer season.

How to prevent household pests during the rainy and summer season?

There are several ways you can prevent household pests during the summer and rainy seasons, making your home less attractive to pests.

How to prevent household pests during the summer season?

• Maintaining cleanliness – Regularly clean the house of leftover food and trash, as well as clean areas that are vulnerable to becoming nests for pests such as cracks and crevices in the walls.
• Sealing food tightly – Use airtight containers to store food so that it is not easily accessible to household pests, like cockroach and ants.
• Closing windows and vents – Install mosquito nets or screens on windows and vents to prevent pests from entering the house.
• Tidying up the garden and yard – Maintain cleanliness in the garden and yard, and ensure there are no piles of trash or foliage that can become hiding places for pests, including rats.

How to prevent household pests during the rainy season?

• Maintaining cleanliness – Just like during summer, keep your home clean such as cleaning up puddles and removing water sources that can serve as breeding grounds for pests, like mosquitoes.
• Fixing building damage – Repair any cracks or holes in walls and windows to prevent the entry of pests that like to take advantage of this damage, such as rats and cockroaches.
• Cleaning drains regularly – Cleaning drains, gutters, and sewers prevents stagnant water that can be a breeding ground for pests.
• Controlling humidity – Using a dehumidifier to reduce humidity in the home is a great solution, as high humidity can be an ideal condition for house pests to breed.

The best way to get rid of pests in your home in all seasons

Dealing with pests in your home on your own during the rainy season or summer can be quite challenging. Therefore, the best way to get rid of pests at home is to ask for help from a trusted pest control company near you.

Rentokil is a trusted pest control company for more than 50 years in Indonesia to deal with various pest problems at home such as rats, mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches and ants. With the use of effective materials and techniques, Rentokil's pest control services can efficiently and safely help you address pest problems at home.

Call Rentokil today at 150808 or fill out the online form to schedule pest control services at your home.