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Home maintenance is a year-round endeavor. While some tasks, like leaf raking and gutter cleaning, are highly seasonal and can be done on the spot, others require advance planning on your part to be effective. Backyard pests, despite not being a nuisance until the warmer months of spring and summer, need preventative measures to be taken ASAP to keep them at bay after their dormant season. Of course, mosquitos and flies will always be present, but pest expert Emma Grace Crumbley, an entomologist at Mosquito Squad Plus, warns of four invasive species to keep an eye on this summer.
Thanks to climate change, each summer is hotter than the last, and the temperature creeps up much earlier than in years past. These accelerated climate schedules are causing bugs to be out longer and in higher numbers. “We’re seeing a shorter cold and a longer warm season,” Crumbley explains. “This mirrors a tropical environment rather than our traditional one of a long cold season.” The environmental markers that signal bugs and pests to emerge from their dormant seasons lead to a longer life cycle for these critters. To learn more about these invasive species, as well as how to protect your home and garden from them, read on for Crumbley’s advice.
Japanese Beetles
A true garden menace, the Japanese beetle is an invasive species that is currently present in 42 of the 48 continental United States, according to Crumbley. While they pose no threat to humans, these beetles can devastate gardens and crops. “Adult beetles eat the leaves, flowers, and fruits of many plants, which can ruin crop yields or distress home gardeners,” Crumbley explains. “The beetle grubs are even more problematic, eating and severing plant roots and leading to total plant death.” To control these bugs, it’s important to monitor your garden and look out for plants that are in poor health. Repotting plants in new soil and physically removing the beetles can help, but Crumbley recommends calling a professional pest control technician to get rid of an infestation.
Joro Spider
Having made the trip over from Asia in the early 2010s, the Joro spider is more of a nuisance than a true health or damage concern. Crumbley notes that this pest is known for building incredibly strong and large webs—they feel like thread or string rather than typical spider silk and can be several feet wide—and no matter how thoroughly you knock them down, they can be rebuilt overnight. “These orb weavers thankfully don’t pose a human threat nor a threat to your vegetation or gardens, which is good, but it is something to keep an eye out for as they continue spreading,” she says. The spiders themselves are also quite large, with bright yellow stripes. The peak time for the Joro spider is October, especially in the southern United States in areas like Georgia and Alabama. Standard spider repellants should work against these persistent architects.
Asian Longhorned Tick
The most dangerous bug on this list, the Asian longhorn tick can make people and large farm animals, like cattle, sick. Like other types of tick, this variety likes to hang out in tall grass and other dense vegetation. Relatively new to the United States, Crumbley says, the Asian Longhorn tick can spread human diseases like the Poasen virus and anaplasmosis among people, but it’s better known for spreading bovine diseases among cattle. Luckily, standard tick prevention measures work. “In terms of homeowner control, it’s the exact same tick protocols you would follow,” Crumbley says. “So if you’re in long grass, wearing long clothing so that you’re not revealing exposed skin it makes it harder for the tick to bite you.” The same thing goes for household animals like dogs and outdoor cats. Make sure to check them for ticks, and keep using whatever tick prevention methods have been working best for your animal.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Finally, Crumbley warns against the brown marmorated stink bug, aka BMSB. Primarily an agriculture risk to everything from eggplants to hazelnuts, the BMSB is a problem even for those outside the food industry. For homeowners, these stink bugs behave similarly to other varieties, overrunning home interiors when the weather gets colder and infesting warm, dark areas like attics and basements. To tell the difference between a regular stink bug and this kind, focus on the strength of the smell. “They emit a stronger chemical odor than our normal stink bugs do, so it can be a little problematic, and they’re pretty adamant and somewhat aggressive in terms of getting into a structure,” Crumbley says. To keep them out, seal any minor crack or crevice that could serve as an entry point. Even a loose weather strip on the front door could let pests inside.
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Emma is an entomologist at Mosquito Squad Plus, where she offers expert insight to homeowners and pest control technicians. She is a University of Georgia-trained entomologist who is passionate about insect education, scientific communication, and public, urban, and environmental health awareness. During her time at UGA, she earned two Bachelor of Science degrees in Applied Biotechnology and Entomology and served as the President of the Undergraduate Entomology Club. She was also the Head Zookeeper at the UGA Insect Zoo.
