7 common summer pests to watch out for – and how to keep them out of your home

Warmer weather brings barbecues, garden parties and picnics. Unfortunately, it can also mean pests. 

Higher temperatures often mean bugs breed faster, and some may make their way indoors in search of food, water and shelter.

And while opening your windows can let in a cool breeze, it may also let a few unwanted visitors into your home.

With the help of a pest expert, we've gathered tips on how to get rid of ants, wasps, fruit flies and more to make your home less inviting to intruders this summer.

Paul Blackhurst, head of technical academy at Rentokill Pest Control, says: ‘Summer is the peak season for many household pests. As temperatures rise, insects become more active, breeding cycles speed up and colonies begin to grow.

'That's why homeowners often notice an increase in pests, from ants and fruit flies in the kitchen to wasps in the garden during the warmer months. However, there are a few preventative steps you can take.’

1. Ants

You're bound to find more ants in the summer, as they often enter kitchens in search of sugary foods.

Watch out for

• Hotspots such as larders, kitchen worktops, cupboards and areas around pet food as they offer easy access to moisture and nutrition.

Help prevent them by

• Regularly wiping up crumbs and spills.
• Storing food in sealed containers.
• Sealing gaps around doors and windows.
• Keeping bins closed and removing uneaten pet food.

Paul says: ‘Seeing one or two ants indoors isn't usually a cause for concern. However, if you notice a continuous trail of ants returning to the same area over several days, it's often a sign a nearby colony has established a reliable route into your home.

'Nests are commonly found beneath patios, in wall cavities, under floors or around the property's foundations, where they can remain hidden from view. If ants are a persistent problem, then professional help may be the best option.’

Spritz your surfaces clean with our best cleaning sprays.

2. Wasps

Wasp nests can grow rapidly in the summer, so keep a watchful eye on gardens, lofts and sheds.

Paul says: ‘Queen wasps emerge from hibernation in spring and look for warm, sheltered and undisturbed places to build their nests.'

Watch out for

• Nests in sheds, lofts and roof spaces.
• Increased activity in warm weather.

Help prevent them by

• Sealing gaps around eaves and vents.
• Keeping sheds tidy.
• Removing sheltered nesting spots.

Paul adds: 'The earlier a nest is identified, the easier and safer it is to manage.

'However, you shouldn't try to remove active nests yourself. Disturbing a wasp nest can cause the colony to become aggressive, putting you at greater risk of getting stung. So, it's best to bring in the professionals. 

Find out how to keep Asian hornets out of your home this summer.

3. Fruit flies

These tiny black flies are drawn to ripening fruit, recycling, food waste and even kitchen drains.

Although they're spotted year-round, warmer weather shortens their life cycle – meaning they breed more quickly and multiply fast. In summer, a couple of flies can turn into a full-blown infestation.

Watch out for

• Hovering flies around fruit bowls, bins and sinks.
• Numbers increasing very quickly.

Help prevent them by

• Throwing away overripe fruit.
• Rinsing recycling.
• Cleaning bins and drains.
• Storing soft fruit in the fridge.

If these tips fail, you can try a targeted chemical insecticide made for kitchen use.

Paul says: 'A homemade trap using apple cider vinegar and a few drops of washing-up liquid can help catch adult fruit flies.

'The vinegar attracts the flies by mimicking the smell of fermenting fruit, while the washing-up liquid breaks the surface tension, causing them to sink and drown.

'However, traps only deal with the adult flies, so it's equally important to remove the breeding source to prevent the infestation from returning.'

4. Fleas

While you might spot fleas on your pet, most of an infestation is actually found in the home, in places such as carpets and soft furnishings.

Regular flea treatment for your pet is important, but if fleas have already taken hold, treating your pet alone won’t get rid of the problem. You’ll also need to thoroughly clean and treat your home to remove eggs and larvae before they can develop.

Watch out for

• Pets scratching.
• Bites around ankles.
• Fleas jumping from carpets or bedding.

Help prevent them by

• Treating pets regularly.
• Vacuuming thoroughly.
• Washing pet bedding on a hot wash.

Discover how to identify and treat different insect bites and stings.

Even after treatment, Paul said it's not unusual to continue seeing fleas for a short period of time.

He explained: ‘Regular vacuuming is one of the most effective ways to reduce flea numbers, particularly around skirting boards, under furniture and in areas where pets spend most of their time.

'Vacuum contents should be disposed of in an outside bin immediately after cleaning, and pet bedding and blankets should be washed on a hot cycle to help kill flea eggs and larvae.

'Flea pupae can remain dormant for weeks or even months before emerging, which is why infestations can appear to return even when treatment has been carried out correctly. If flea activity continues despite treating both the pet and the home, professional pest control may be required.’

Popular products to help with cleaning your home

• SharkNZ780UKT SQUIRREL_TEXT_50020091
• Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner SQUIRREL_TEXT_12879549
• Karcher SC3 EasyFix SQUIRREL_TEXT_50019525 

Protect your pooch and home with our best vacuums and pet insurance providers.

5. Clothes moths

Like fruit flies, warmer weather speeds up the reproductive cycle of clothes moths.

This means that while they can be a problem year-round, summer is when people are more likely to notice them.

Watch out for

• Holes in wool and cashmere.
• Larvae or cocoons in wardrobes.

Help prevent them by

• Storing clothes clean.
• Vacuuming wardrobes.
• Washing or temporarily freezing affected items.

If you discover an infestation, carefully inspect your clothes for signs of larvae and vacuum the area. Severely damaged clothes may need to be thrown away.

Clothes moths are attracted to natural fibres such as wool, silk and cashmere as they contain keratin, a protein their larvae feed on. Keep a watchful eye on valuable clothing, especially when it's stored for long periods over summer.

You can use pheromone traps which – although they won't eradicate an infestation – will help to monitor, locate and reduce flying adult moth numbers. 

 Popular moth deterrents

We've rounded up some popular moth deterrents – including vacuum storage bags and cedar wood rings. Please note we have not tested these products.

• Zidina Cedar Wood Rings (pack of 50) – SQUIRREL_TEXT_50026738
• Amazon Basics Vacuum Compression Zipper Storage Bags – SQUIRREL_TEXT_50026767

Paul explains: 'It's the larvae, not the adult moths, that cause the damage. Adult clothes moths don't eat because their mouthparts are no longer functional. Their primary role is reproduction, with females laying eggs on suitable fabrics for the larvae to feed on once they hatch.

'To reduce the risk, always store clothes clean rather than worn, as moths are attracted to sweat, body oils and hair left on fabrics. Washing clothing above 55°C can help kill eggs and larvae, while freezing affected items in an airtight bag for several days can also be effective.

‘If you're regularly seeing five or six adult moths in the same room, it's likely to indicate a more established infestation.'

See our detailed guide for getting rid of clothes moths.

6. Flying ants

Despite the name, flying ants aren't a different kind of ant. They're ordinary ants in a winged reproductive stage, which is why they suddenly appear in large numbers on warm summer days. 

While they may appear alarming, they're a normal part of ants' breeding cycle and usually disappear within a day or two.

Watch out for

• Large swarms of winged ants on warm, humid days.
• Flying ants gathering around windows, doors or outdoor seating areas.

Help prevent them by

• Sealing gaps around windows, doors and rooflines.
• Keeping doors and windows closed during peak swarming.
• Fitting fly screens where practical.

Paul says: ‘While flying ant swarms are usually short-lived and don't typically require treatment, persistent ant activity inside the home or repeated sightings from the same area may indicate an established nest nearby and could require professional attention.'

7. Maggots

Unpleasant, but common, maggots are fly larvae that can appear surprisingly quickly in wheelie bins and food waste during warm weather. Once flies lay eggs, they can hatch within as little as 24 hours, allowing infestations to build rapidly.

Watch out for

• Small white larvae in wheelie bins or food waste.
• Increased fly activity around bins, especially in hot weather.

Help prevent them by

• Bagging food waste securely before binning it.
• Keeping bin lids closed and cleaning up spills.
• Storing bins in the shade where possible.

Paul says: ‘If the infestation is confined to the bin, pouring boiling water over the maggots can be an effective way to kill them, before thoroughly cleaning the bin with hot, soapy water or a disinfectant to remove any remaining eggs or food residue.

'However, if flies continue to return or the infestation persists despite good hygiene, it may indicate a larger breeding source nearby and professional pest control should be considered.’

Check out five easy ways to avoid a smelly wheelie bin and our bin bag reviews.