The year in pests
Seasonal pest calendar
Pest pressure in Arkansas River Valley follows a predictable rhythm. Knowing what is coming is worth real money — prevention started a month early is dramatically cheaper than treatment started a month late.
Fall invaders and brown recluse in the house
October is when most households first notice a spider problem that has been developing all year. Stink bugs and Asian lady beetles gather in enormous numbers on sunny walls and find their way inside. Rodents begin moving in.
The whole year at a glance
When each pest is at its worst
Pressure levels across Arkansas River Valley, rated from none to peak. Read down a column to see what is active in a given month; read across a row to see one pest's year.
| Pest | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Termites March – May | Low | Low | High | Peak | Peak | High | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Low | Low | Low |
| Brown recluse September – November | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High | High | High | High | Moderate | High | Peak | High |
| Mosquitoes May – September | None | None | Low | Moderate | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | High | Low | None |
| Fire ants May – September | None | None | Low | High | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | High | High | Low | None |
| Rodents October – February | High | High | Moderate | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Moderate | Peak | Peak | Peak |
| Stink bugs & lady beetles September – November | Moderate | Moderate | Low | None | None | None | None | Low | High | Peak | Peak | High |
| Cockroaches June – August | Low | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High | Peak | Peak | Peak | High | Moderate | Low | Low |
| Ticks April – August | None | Low | Moderate | High | Peak | Peak | Peak | High | High | Moderate | Low | None |
| Wasps August – October | None | None | Low | Moderate | High | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | High | Low | None |
| Bed bugs Year-round | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Ants April – August | Low | Low | Moderate | High | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | High | Moderate | Low | Low |
| Wildlife October – February | High | High | Moderate | Low | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High | Peak | Peak |
| Lawn pests August – October | None | None | None | Low | Moderate | High | High | Peak | Peak | High | Low | None |
- None
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Peak
How to read this. A pest rated "peak" is at maximum activity — that is the month you will see the most of it, and usually the month before is when treatment does the most good. A rating of "none" means no meaningful activity, which is why winter is the best time to schedule preventive work.
Four seasons, four jobs
The year in quarters
Each quarter has one job worth doing well. Do that and the rest of the year is markedly easier.
Spring
March – MaySwarm season and the start of everything else
Termites swarm, ants emerge, mosquitoes begin breeding in spring rains and ticks start host-seeking. This is the highest-value quarter for preventive action — everything you do now compounds through the summer.
Key pests
Priority —Book a termite inspection and start the mosquito program before May.
Summer
June – AugustPeak biting season and lawn emergencies
Mosquitoes, ticks and fire ants reach full strength in the heat and humidity. Armyworms can strip a lawn in days and yellowjacket nests reach dangerous size. Consistency of treatment matters more than intensity.
Key pests
Priority —Keep treatment intervals short and eliminate standing water weekly.
Fall
September – NovemberEverything moves indoors
Brown recluse, stink bugs, Asian lady beetles and rodents all move toward shelter. This is when most households first notice a problem that has been developing all year, and when prevention is cheapest to act on.
Key pests
Priority —Seal the building and book spider treatment before October.
Winter
December – FebruaryIndoor pests and preventive work
Rodents, wildlife and brown recluse are the concerns. Termite colonies remain active below the frost line even when nothing is visible above ground. Winter is the cheapest and easiest time to schedule preventive work.
Key pests
Priority —Complete exclusion work and book inspections while demand is low.
Month by month
What is active and what to do about it
The detailed calendar. Each month lists what is active and the actions worth taking right now — nothing more complicated than that.
- January01
Rodents indoors, termites dormant but present
January is the quietest pest month in the River Valley, but it is not a quiet month for damage. Rodents are fully established indoors by now and termites continue feeding in the soil beneath the frost line. It is a genuinely good month to schedule inspections while demand is low.
Active now
What to do
- Schedule a termite inspection — winter bookings are easy to get and prices are often softer.
- Seal the openings that let rodents in this autumn, before next year.
- Check stored items in attics and garages with gloves on.
- Look for condensation and moisture problems in the crawlspace.
- February02
Rodent pressure peaks; plan the spring termite inspection
February is the last full month of rodent season and the time to get ahead of it. Termite colonies are still active underground and swarm season is only weeks away. Booking now puts you ahead of the spring rush.
Active now
What to do
- Book the termite inspection before the spring rush begins.
- Complete exclusion work while the weather is still workable.
- Clear leaf litter and brush away from the foundation.
- Inspect attics and crawlspaces for wildlife signs before they begin nesting.
- March03
Termite swarm season begins
March is the month everything starts. Subterranean termites begin swarming, usually after the first warm spring rains, and ant activity resumes in earnest. If you have never had a termite inspection, this is the month to book one.
Active now
What to do
- Watch for swarmers indoors and discarded wings on windowsills.
- Have a termite inspection completed if you have not in the last year.
- Move firewood and stacked lumber away from the structure.
- Start the mosquito program before populations build.
- April04
Peak termite swarm; ants and mosquitoes begin
April is the busiest month for termite swarms and the month the mosquito and tick seasons begin in earnest. Spring rains leave standing water everywhere and the first generation of the year establishes the summer population.
Active now
What to do
- Treat fire ant mounds with broadcast bait while colonies are actively foraging.
- Begin the mosquito barrier program — April suppression cuts the whole season.
- Empty standing water weekly from the first warm week onward.
- Apply permethrin to outdoor clothing before time in timber or tall grass.
- May05
Full spring: termites, ants, mosquitoes and ticks all active
May is when the River Valley pest population is fully awake. Termites are still swarming, fire ants are building mounds after every rain, mosquitoes are biting and ticks are host-seeking in the grass. This is the month most homeowners first call for help.
Active now
What to do
- Confirm the mosquito program is running on a 21 to 30 day cycle.
- Treat fire ants across the whole yard, not by individual mound.
- Check pets and children daily for ticks.
- Clear gutters and downspouts after every heavy rain.
- June06
Mosquitoes, ticks and fire ants at full strength
June brings the heat and humidity that drive everything to full strength. Mosquitoes, ticks and fire ants are all at or near peak. Armyworm scouting should begin in lawns and hay ground.
Active now
What to do
- Keep the mosquito program on schedule — heat and rain break down residuals faster.
- Mow at a higher setting to shade out new fire ant mounds.
- Scout turf at dawn and dusk for armyworm caterpillars.
- Run fans on covered porches and seating areas.
- July07
Peak mosquito and tick season; watch the lawn
July is peak biting season. Mosquitoes are worst at dawn and dusk, ticks are aggressive in the grass, and fall armyworms begin appearing late in the month. It is also when yellowjacket and wasp nests start becoming noticeable.
Active now
What to do
- Empty and scrub water containers weekly — this is the single highest-value action.
- Check for wasp nests under eaves, decks and porch ceilings while they are small.
- Continue tick precautions on every outing into timber or tall grass.
- Water deeply and infrequently rather than lightly and often.
- August08
Armyworms, wasps and late-summer biting insects
August is the month fall armyworms strip a lawn in days and yellowjacket populations reach their peak. Mosquito and tick pressure remains high and the first early stirrings of autumn spider movement begin.
Active now
What to do
- Scout turf for armyworms at dawn and dusk — act at the first sign of caterpillars.
- Treat wasp nests at night while they are still small.
- Keep trash and recycling bins lidded and clean.
- Book the autumn spider treatment for early September.
- September09
Spiders move indoors; fall invaders begin
September is the transition month. Brown recluse begin moving toward indoor space, stink bugs and Asian lady beetles start gathering on the sunny sides of houses, and rodent pressure begins its climb toward the winter peak.
Active now
What to do
- Book the autumn spider treatment before the end of the month.
- Start sealing gaps around windows, siding, soffits and vents.
- Install door sweeps and fine mesh over attic and gable vents.
- Reduce exterior lighting near doorways or switch to yellow bulbs.
- October10
Fall invaders and brown recluse in the house
October is when most households first notice a spider problem that has been developing all year. Stink bugs and Asian lady beetles gather in enormous numbers on sunny walls and find their way inside. Rodents begin moving in.
Active now
What to do
- Vacuum fall invaders with a bag vacuum and empty outdoors — never crush them inside.
- Shake out stored clothing, shoes and gloves before use.
- Move stored items away from walls so they can be inspected.
- Set snap traps along wall runways before rodent pressure peaks.
- November11
Rodent season begins in earnest
November brings the first real cold and the rodents arrive with it. If you hear scratching in the ceiling or walls, this is the month it starts. Wildlife is also seeking winter shelter in attics and outbuildings.
Active now
What to do
- Seal every gap larger than a quarter inch — steel wool and caulk, not spray foam alone.
- Inspect the roofline, soffits and gable vents for wildlife entry points.
- Keep firewood off the ground and away from the structure.
- Store pet food and birdseed in sealed metal or hard plastic containers.
- December12
Indoor pests: rodents, spiders and wildlife
December is about the pests already indoors. Rodents, brown recluse and wildlife in the attic are the concerns. It is also the cheapest and easiest month to schedule preventive work for next year.
Active now
What to do
- Inspect the attic and crawlspace while access is easy and demand is low.
- Schedule next year’s termite inspection and mosquito program.
- Confirm chimney caps and vent screens are intact.
- Check under sinks and behind appliances for rodent signs.
Planning ahead
The three deadlines worth keeping
- Before April
Book the termite inspection and the mosquito program
March is swarm season and the busiest month for termite work. Mosquito programs starting in April suppress the first generation and cut the whole summer's population. Book in February and both are easy.
- Before September
Book the spider treatment and start sealing the building
Brown recluse move indoors and fall invaders gather in enormous numbers. Getting treatment and sealing done in August makes October dramatically more pleasant than waiting for the first indoor sighting.
- Before October
Complete rodent exclusion
By the time you hear scratching in the ceiling, the population is already inside. Every autumn they find the same openings. Sealing in September is the only thing that changes the outcome.
One more worth noting
Winter is the cheapest and easiest time to schedule preventive work. Demand is low, scheduling is easy, and providers often have more flexibility on price. If you can plan ahead at all, plan for January and February.
Get ahead of it before November
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