5 Pests That are Already Active in Early Spring

5 Pests That are Already Active in Early Spring

It is evident that spring and summer are the most active months for pests of all varieties. It takes just a few steps into the backyard to notice how many insects are buzzing and flying around, frequently stopping to visit the blooming flowers. But in early March, many of our favorite flowers and plants have not fully recovered after winter just yet. Plus, the steadily rising temperatures do not seem to have taken effect yet on the mornings that are cold enough to warrant a thick jacket. Insects are also affected by the cold since just about all of them are ectothermic, or cold-blooded. This is why they are most active when the temperature is warmer, as the heat gives them more energy. However, there are some critters that begin laying eggs and searching for food now as we head towards true spring. 

Clover Mites

Since clover mites actually thrive in the cold, they are still at their peak during early March. The weeks of early spring are the busiest for the tiny clover mites. They search for an egg-laying site for the late summer, but this time of year is when these pests stock up on food. Clover mites eat the most in colder weather, which is why they can be seen crawling on plants during the early morning hours. Their favorite foods are clovers, grasses, and flowers, but they will eat from dozens of different plant species. These tiny pests are able to survive by being active when their predators are not, which is not too difficult considering how much clover mites enjoy the cold. 

If any eggs are laid in cracks and crevices during the fall, they will hatch in early spring. But many clover mites also lay eggs in summer as their only exertion of energy during the heat wave. As creepy as it is to have the possibility of clover mite hatchlings invading a home, the times of changing weather are even more common for clover mite invasions. They will seek out shelter once their food sources begin to wither, and may wander into a home that has blooming plants right outside the structure. Though they are not dangerous, clover mites will stain any surface red if they are squished. Adding pops of color in the spring is a common decorating practice, but these red spots are not what we had in mind!

Gypsy Moths

The eggs of these moths are found more often than the adults this time of year, but that will change if the eggs are not removed soon. They do not hatch until April on average, but there is a chance of them hatching sooner if the weather is warm enough for multiple days. Gypsy moths lay their eggs in masses that are tan and about two inches across. These can stick to most surfaces outdoors, and are frequently found stuck under branches or in stacks of firewood. They lay eggs in early fall since the masses are strong enough to withstand the winter, especially if the female moths place them in sheltered spots.

While the eggs themselves don’t do any harm, the gypsy moth caterpillars certainly will. Young gypsy moths feed on leaves, and they are known to gradually destroy large trees if they can stay on them for long enough to drain the tree’s life. Leaves that have multiple holes in them cannot come back to full health, so preventing these caterpillars from pillaging your yard is crucial. It is easiest to control the gypsy moth population when they are still eggs, as removing the egg masses is a doable DIY project. Many sources recommend scraping the mass off of the surface and then placing it in soapy water for at least a couple of days. But considering the fact that their egg masses can have anywhere from 500 to 1,000 eggs, it is not a bad idea to contact pest control services for professional assistance. 

Slugs

Speaking of destructive garden pests, slugs are some of the worst pests to have in the yard. They love warmth and moisture, so an area with lush landscaping in the spring and summer is perfect for slimy slugs. Any of their eggs that were laid in the fall will hatch in early spring, and the young slugs will get right to work on devouring every part of a plant. But the adults can overwinter as well, since they live in the soil anyway. This is how they stay protected from any potential predators, as well as during the chill of winter. Slugs can also lay eggs in the early spring, and these will hatch much sooner due to the warmer temperatures.

Slugs are usually brown and other dark colors, so they can blend in with their surroundings until they venture up a plant to munch on the leaves. An additional reason why slugs are such a dreaded pest is because they are nocturnal, so they feed the most at night. It’s quite common to visit the garden or backyard one morning and find that the previously-perfect plants are now riddled with holes and jagged marks from the late night feeding of slugs. They can easily hide under the natural debris that lies under trees and larger plants, and be difficult to spot unless you sift through the leaf litter. Slugs will eat most varieties of plants, but their favorites include fruits, vegetables, and salad greens. Since these types of crops begin growing earlier in the year, depending on the species, slugs can begin their destruction as soon as the frost melts. 

Aphids

There seems to be a trend with the most dreaded garden pests beginning their most active times in early spring. Aphids get a head start on their reproducing and feedings, since their main predator, the ladybug, is not active until late spring. These small green pests come from eggs laid in late summer that overwinter on plants and hatch in early spring. Since they live on the underside of leaves and blend in with most plants anyway, aphids can steadily grow their population without much attention drawn to them at first. 

The aphid’s method of reproduction is unique in that they are not always born as eggs. When they begin reproducing in the early spring, aphids stop laying as many eggs and start producing tiny aphids. Female aphids can birth up to 100 female aphids that can repeat the same process, and so on throughout spring and summer. Aphids are sometimes even born already pregnant with their own tiny aphids, which will be born once the mother grows. As if aphids were not already a problem on their own, they can be helped by another pest that also resumes its activity in early spring. Ants are actually known to farm aphids and assist them in searching for food! Any ants in the same area will guide aphids to their favorite plants and protect them from predators. It is interesting that even ants have hobbies on top of their daily work, but it’s not comforting that this hobby is helping the pests that can ruin a garden.

Ants

On the topic of ants, they also resume their activities in early spring. They spend the winter inside their nests, conserving body heat and living off of the nutrients they consumed in autumn. But once the sun begins warming the earth more consistently, they regain their usual energy and venture out from their secure shelter. The minimal food they consumed in late fall is enough to get them through the idle winter, but ants need much more food than that if they are to maintain their productivity levels in the spring and summer. The workers will begin by cleaning the nest and removing any debris that may have piled around the entrance during winter. Despite being dirty pests, ants like their homes to be clean as well!

This time is also when the queens and male ants mate so the queen can continue to build out the colony’s population. As the spring season progresses and the temperature continues to increase, ant colonies grow at a faster rate. As the worker ants grow into adults, they are sent out to forage for food and feed the growing colony throughout the year. Ant invasions are most common in summer, since they want to both escape the heat and get to our food, but they can invade in any season of the year in order to get the food their colony craves. Since they begin this foraging this time of year, you may notice more worker ants marching along the sidewalks and lawns, leading their fellow foragers to food through their pheromones. 

Pointe Treats for Every Generation of Pest

Pest eggs and hatchlings may be generally harmless, especially since many spend the chilly winter as eggs. But once those eggs hatch, they cause plenty of problems in gardens and yards during the warmest parts of the year. The pest treatments used by the pros typically cannot penetrate the eggs, but if the areas around them are properly treated, the hatchlings generally will not last long. At Pointe, we treat for all generations of the most common pests. We complete a thorough inspection at the beginning of every visit to find any signs of pests, and this information dictates which treatments we use and where we apply them. If eggs of the more stubborn pests, like fleas and carpenter ants, hatch after we complete a service, we will return to treat all of the new pests immediately. Contact us to learn more about how our services can make this upcoming spring the best one yet!

Citations

Botts, B. & Arboretum, M. (2020, March 5). How to identify insect eggs early and head off springtime garden pests. Chicago Tribune. Available at https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/ct-home-garden-morton-0305-20200305-uhrqsfw4eferxj7fgiq2rwj5m4-story.html (Accessed on February 9, 2023).

Clover mites flourish in early spring. (n.d.). Pest World. Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://www.pestworld.org/news-hub/pest-articles/clover-mites-flourish-in-early-spring/ 

Control slugs now as they lay eggs to hatch in spring. (2020, October 9). Oregon State University: Newsroom. Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/control-slugs-now-they-lay-eggs-hatch-spring 

Farmer, P. (2021, July 28). Controlling aphids in early spring. Sustainable Market Farming. Available at https://www.sustainablemarketfarming.com/2021/07/28/controlling-aphids-in-early-spring/ (Accessed on February 9, 2023).

McNee, B. (2020, March 30). Prepare for the return of gypsy moths in spring. Wisconsin DNR Forestry News. Available at https://forestrynews.blogs.govdelivery.com/2020/03/30/prepare-for-the-return-of-gypsy-moths-in-spring/ (Accessed on February 9, 2023).

Waterworth, K. & Saddler, L. (2022, September 26). 7 common spring pests and how to control them. Forbes Home. Available at https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/pest-control/common-spring-pests/ (Accessed on February 9, 2023).

Why do ants come back every spring?. (2022, April 4). Maggie’s Farm. Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://maggiesfarmproducts.com/blogs/bug-help/ants-every-spring