Rats, Ants Are Making Pests of Themselves

Along with floods, mudslides and traffic jams, El Nino has sent rats and ants scurrying out of their underground homes and into yours.

Orange County exterminators say requests for service have doubled in the last three weeks as a string of rainstorms has saturated Southern California.

“The stinky little things don’t want to drown,” said Ken McDaniel, service manager for Terminix in Costa Mesa.

An indomitable survival instinct drives the pests into any place that is dry and warm. And if there’s food, so much the better for rats and Argentine ants.

“Once the water builds up, they just run wherever they can,” said McDaniel. “That’s why you see ants climbing the walls.”

Surprisingly, things may get worse once the rain stops.

When the clouds vanish, ants really come out in force, eager to reestablish their colonies, said Dean Wiley, a manager at Newport Exterminating in Irvine. Rats will emerge to feed on all the lush, abundant vegetation nurtured by the rains. And countless mosquito eggs will hatch, filling the air with the pesky, blood-sucking bugs.

“Mosquitoes need water and warmth in order to breed and hatch,” said Joe Francisco, educational coordinator for the Orange County Vector District. “If people don’t empty the rainwater filling containers left in their backyard, or don’t drain their pools, they’re going to have backyards full of them.”

Almost anything can turn into a breeding ground for mosquitoes: An old tin can, a wheelbarrow, a child’s wagon, a hot tub. A mosquito can lay 10 to 50 egg rafts in anything containing a few inches of water. Each raft consists of 100 to 400 eggs, which adds up to a lot of mosquito bites.

Prevention is simple, Francisco said. Turn the wheelbarrow over, empty the tin can into the gutter, or if your pool or pond has too much water in it, pick up free mosquito fish from Vector Control, drop them in and let them feast.

Control is important because mosquitoes can carry diseases such as encephalitis and malaria, said Francisco.

As for the rats and ants, again the best remedy is prevention.

“The best thing to do is plug up all the holes rats could squeeze in through, and cut back all the trees so they don’t climb them and get on the roof,” he said, noting that rats need just half an inch of space to squeeze into your house. Removing uneaten pet food as well as ripe or fallen fruit also helps.

Sprays are useless on ants during rains because water washes away the poison. Instead, McDaniel recommends using granules of poison, which are activated by water.

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Unwelcome Visitors

Heavy rains are forcing ants, rodents, snails and slugs to make their otherwise obscure presence known by seeking drier quarters in and around homes. Next, there’s the onslaught of mosquitoes that can be expected after the rains subside and temperatures rise. How to prevent and meet the pest parade:

ANTS

Signs

Ants scouting counters for food

Points of entry: In the gaps of ill-fitting plumbing pipes, electrical outlets, loose sliding glass door frames

Treatment

* Set out baits

* Apply insecticides around perimeter of home

Prevention

* Trim overhanging trees

* Seal plumbing, window frames and other exterior entries to house

* Don’t leave dirty dishes in sink, pet food on floor

RODENTS

Signs

* Droppings

* Fruit eaten off trees

* Exterior holes larger than a quarter

Treatment

* Set out traps

* Seal exterior holes

Prevention

* Trim shrubbery away from house

* Stack firewood about 18 inches above the ground

* Remove ripe fruit from ground and trees

MOSQUITOES

Signs

Swarming

Breeding grounds

* Standing water

* Nearby creeks, channels and lakes

Treatment

* Apply repellent

* Burn citronella candles

* Contact county mosquito abatement officials

Prevention

* Empty outside containers; cover or turn upside down

* Level or repair easily flooded areas

SNAILS, SLUGS

Signs

More than the usual number appear on walkways and get tracked into the house Treatment

* When the rain lets up, set out slug and snail bait (available at nursery and home improvement stores). Or mash them underfoot.

Prevention

* Keep flower beds clear of debris and overgrowth

Who to Call

Inspections and treatment by a private pest control firm can range from $125 to $200. For mosquito abatement, call the Orange County Vector Control District at (714) 971-2421.

Sources: Orange County Vector Control District, Orange County Pest Control Inc., Western Exterminator