The Enid Pest Calendar: What Shows Up Each Season

Enid weather swings hard. July averages a high near 95 degrees, January's average high is under 50, and June is usually the wettest month of the year. Pests follow those swings pretty closely, so the same few calls come up at the same times every year.

Here's the year as most Enid homeowners live it, with the dates and details pulled from OSU Extension and the state health department.

March Through May

OSU says March, April and May are the months subterranean termites swarm in Oklahoma. If winged insects come out inside the house, read the termite or flying ant guide and save a few for an inspector.

Ant trails start showing up in kitchens and bathrooms as it warms. Spring storms also leave standing water in yards and gutters, which is where the mosquito season starts.

• Rake mulch at least six inches back from the foundation
• Clean gutters and fix spots where water pools
• Put out ant bait early instead of spraying trails

June Through August

OSU says ticks are most active from late spring through the end of summer. OSDH says Culex mosquitoes, the main carrier of West Nile virus in Oklahoma, build up in mid to late summer when it's hot, especially when it's dry. Paper wasps get more defensive as their colonies grow. Fleas do well in warm, humid weather.

Scorpions also tend to come indoors in summer, according to OSU, mostly into crawl spaces and attics.

• Dump standing water after every storm
• Mow fence lines and field edges for ticks
• Keep pets on a flea and tick product from the vet

September Through November

Yellowjacket colonies peak in fall, OSU says, and they stay active late into the season around trash cans and fallen fruit. Termites can swarm again in September or October, less reliably than in spring.

Fall is also when mice look for shelter. OSU's advice is to seal the openings before cold weather arrives. Door sweeps, gaps around pipes and wires, and foundation vents are the usual spots. Rodent control covers trapping and sealing.

December Through February

Outdoor bugs slow down, but the pests already inside keep going. Mice stay busy in walls and attics, German cockroaches don't care about the weather, and brown recluse spiders sit quietly in closets and stored boxes. It's a good time to clean out storage areas, which the brown recluse guide explains.

See also: Termite Control, Mosquito Control, Rodent Control