How does spring weather change pest activity?
Two things happen at once in a Nashville spring: it warms up and it gets wetter. The National Weather Service in Nashville puts the average last freeze at March 31, and normal rainfall climbs from 4.52 inches in March to 4.72 in April and 5.02 in May. Warmth ends the winter slowdown for insects that spent it in soil, wall voids and leaf litter. Rain fills every bucket, clogged gutter and plant saucer with breeding water, and swarming termites take flight on the warm days that follow it.
Which pests become active in spring around Nashville?
- Ants. Foraging trails show up along counters and baseboards. UT Extension calls the odorous house ant the most common house-invading ant in Tennessee (UT Extension W473). Carpenter ants are the ones that damage wood, though they don’t eat it: UT explains that they hollow it out for nest space while termites actually eat the wood (UT Extension PB1599).
- Termites. Spring is swarming season. UT Extension says the eastern subterranean termite often flies between March and May, typically on a warm day after a rain (UT Extension PB1344). Swarmers have straight antennae, a thick waist and wings of equal length; winged ants have elbowed antennae and a pinched waist. Swarmers inside the house mean a colony is close.
- Mosquitoes. The EPA notes that they can breed in water as small as a bottle cap (EPA), and that the trip from egg to adult typically takes about two weeks but can be as short as four days (EPA, mosquito life cycle).
- Spiders. They follow their food, so more insects means more spiders. Most are harmless, but UT Extension reports the brown recluse in every Tennessee county except possibly a few at the far eastern edge (UT Extension PB1191).
What can you do to keep spring pests out?
- Inspect and seal. Check for gaps around windows, doors, vents, eaves, utility lines and the foundation, and seal them before the pests find them.
- Keep the kitchen tight. Sweep and vacuum often, store food in sealed containers, and wipe up spills and crumbs the same day.
- Dump standing water weekly. The EPA recommends emptying birdbaths at least once a week (EPA, integrated mosquito control); do the same for plant saucers, toys and tarps, and clear clogged gutters.
- Tidy the edges of the house. Keep mulch and shrubs pulled back from the siding, stack firewood away from the walls, and clear out leaf piles and clutter where pests nest.
When is it time to call a professional?
Call when ants keep returning after a cleanup, when you find termite swarmers or their shed wings indoors, or when the yard is unusable at dusk. When you call with a pest issue, we do all that we can to be there within 2 days, and our specialist walks around the outside of your home before treating to find how the pests are getting in.
Our PestWise home pest control packages start with Premium: 40+ pests covered, quarterly exterior service and free service calls. Premium Plus adds 24/7 termite monitoring, and Complete adds active and preventive termite protection. For an existing infestation, our termite control services cover inspections, baiting systems, barrier treatments and annual monitoring. For mosquitoes, our mosquito control visits start in May or sooner and repeat every 30 days through September.