Common Summer Pests in Burlington

Summer is one of the best times to enjoy everything Burlington has to offer. Whether you’re relaxing in the backyard, spending time by the lake, or hosting family barbecues, warm weather brings people outdoors. Unfortunately, it also brings a noticeable increase in pest activity.

As temperatures rise, insects and rodents become more active in search of food, water, and shelter. Many of the pests that remain hidden during the cooler months begin reproducing rapidly, making infestations more likely if problems aren’t addressed early.

Understanding which pests are most common during the summer can help Burlington homeowners protect their property before a small issue turns into a much larger one.

Why Pest Activity Increases During Summer

Summer provides nearly perfect conditions for many pests. Warmer temperatures speed up breeding cycles, while longer days give insects more opportunities to forage. Gardens, lawns, outdoor dining areas, and overflowing garbage bins all provide easy food sources.

Rainfall also plays a role. After heavy rain, ants, earwigs, and other ground-dwelling insects often move indoors to escape saturated soil. During dry periods, pests look for moisture inside homes, making kitchens, bathrooms, and basements attractive places to settle.

Burlington’s mix of mature neighbourhoods, wooded areas, parks, and waterfront locations creates an ideal environment for a wide variety of insects throughout the summer.

Ants

Ants are one of the most common summer pests in Burlington. As colonies grow, worker ants search constantly for food, often entering homes through tiny cracks around windows, doors, foundations, and utility lines.

Kitchen counters, pantries, pet food, and sugary drinks are common targets. Once ants discover a reliable food source, they leave scent trails that attract hundreds of additional workers.

Carpenter ants are especially concerning because they tunnel through damp or damaged wood while building their nests. Unlike termites, they do not eat wood, but their excavation can weaken structural components over time if left untreated.

Professional ant treatment targets the entire colony rather than simply eliminating the ants that are visible.

Wasps

Few pests interrupt summer activities like wasps. Paper wasps and yellow jackets become increasingly active throughout June, July, and August as their colonies expand. Early in the season, nests are relatively small and easier to remove. By late summer, they can contain hundreds or even thousands of wasps.

Common nesting locations include:

• Roof overhangs
• Soffits
• Deck railings
• Sheds
• Trees and shrubs
• Outdoor play structures
• Fence posts

Wasps become especially aggressive when they believe their nest is threatened. Attempting to remove a nest without proper equipment can lead to multiple painful stings. Professional wasp nest removal safely eliminates the nest while reducing the risk of future activity.

Spiders

Many homeowners notice an increase in spider activity during the summer months. While spiders themselves are beneficial predators, large numbers around the home usually indicate an abundant food supply. Exterior lights attract flying insects, which then attract spiders looking for an easy meal.

Common places where spiders build webs include:

• Window frames
• Porch ceilings
• Deck railings
• Garage doors
• Outdoor lighting
• Eaves and soffits

Exterior spider treatments help reduce webs while also controlling many of the insects that attract spiders in the first place.

Earwigs

Earwigs thrive in damp environments and often appear after periods of heavy rainfall. Although they rarely cause damage indoors, finding dozens crawling across basement floors or bathrooms can quickly become frustrating.

Outside, they hide beneath:

• Mulch
• Flower pots
• Landscaping stones
• Leaf piles
• Deck boards
• Firewood

Reducing moisture around the foundation and sealing entry points can significantly reduce indoor activity.