The rain moved out. The heat moved in.
Then came the bugs.
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From swarms of mosquitoes rising from neighborhood puddles, to ants climbing countertops and caterpillars chewing through lawns, pest activity has exploded across North Carolina in the wake of recent storms.
Michael Connors, director of field operations at Moxie Pest Control, said the calls started pouring in almost as quickly as the rain itself.
“All that flooding—we’re seeing a huge uptick,” Connors said. “Rain and moisture always bring pests, but this kind of extreme weather accelerates everything.”
The company is fielding complaints about mosquitoes, ants, roaches, mice and even fall armyworms. With the heat index reaching into the triple digits this week, conditions are ideal for pest populations to grow quickly.
Connors said he is finding standing water in unexpected places: inside trash can lids, mulch beds, shaded gutters and low-lying areas where the ground is too saturated to absorb more. That stagnant water becomes the perfect breeding ground.
“Everything becomes a puddle,” Connors said. “And pests know how to survive in it.”
From bite to risk
It is not just about itchy bites and brown lawns. State health officials are tracking an uptick in disease-carrying mosquitoes—particularly in the Triangle, where West Nile virus has become a growing concern.
“Last year, we had the highest number of West Nile cases in state history,” said Michael Doyle, state public health entomologist with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. “The early rains this year are showing that those species are on the rise again.”
Doyle said the risk comes in waves. First, a large group of mosquitoes hatches within a week after a storm. Then, as standing water lingers, another generation lays eggs—causing the population to swell even further over the next several weeks.
In addition to West Nile, state officials are monitoring La Crosse encephalitis in western North Carolina, which primarily affects children, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis near the coast, which can impact people of all ages.
“All mosquito species need water to reproduce,” Doyle said. “That can be a puddle in the woods, a toy in the yard or even just a gutter that’s not draining right. We’re especially concerned about the places people forget to check.”
Heat and moisture: A dangerous combo
Entomologists say the weather is working in the insects’ favor.
“Most insects, in order to grow and develop, need two things: heat and moisture,” said Dr. Terri Billeisen, a turfgrass entomologist at NC State University. “And we’re seeing more of both.”
That environmental pairing speeds up the development cycle for many species—including mosquitoes and fall armyworms.
“We usually see a spike in activity one to two days after a significant rainfall event,” Billeisen said. “That’s when they really explode.”
Armyworms, which are caterpillars that feed on grass, have already caused extensive damage across the state. After Tropical Storm Debby last year, NC State received thousands of reports of lawn destruction.
“The whole system of the storm kind of catalyzed everything,” Billeisen said. “We’re not quite there yet this season, but another big rain or two could set it off again.”
Her lab tracks armyworm outbreaks using an interactive map and collects live specimens for research. She recommends homeowners monitor for egg clusters on fences or siding and watch for fast-spreading brown patches in their lawns.
“By the time you see the damage, it’s often too late,” she said.
Pest pressure grows with the climate
Connors said the pests he sees most—ants, mosquitoes and armyworms—have always been around. What has changed is the speed and severity of their return.
“Extreme weather changes everything,” he said. “Something that used to take a week to develop might take three days now.”
The recent pattern—heavy rain followed by intense heat—is creating longer-lasting infestations and more persistent pressure on homeowners. Though pest populations vary from year to year, Connors said one constant is ants.
“Everyone deals with odorous house ants, or sugar ants, in North Carolina,” he said. “And the more rain we get, the more they show up inside.”
According to Connors, some pests can even sense changes in barometric pressure and enter homes ahead of a storm.
“They’re survivors,” he said. “They know where to go before we even know it’s coming.”
What you can do
Experts agree that prevention is key. Dumping standing water remains the top recommendation for mosquito control, followed by wearing insect repellent and protective clothing—especially at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
Doyle also encourages residents to support community mosquito control programs and to treat hidden water sources such as gutters, irrigation tubing or plant trays.
For other pests, Connors recommends inspecting your home’s perimeter, trimming overgrown vegetation, and working with a licensed professional before pests take hold.
“By the time you’re reacting, the damage is already done,” Connors said. “You have to think of pest control the same way you think of storm prep. You don’t wait until it’s already here.”
Billeisen agrees, adding that North Carolinians should expect insect pressures to continue rising as the climate changes.
“We’re seeing longer seasons and earlier activity,” she said. “And that’s not going away.”