NORTH DAKOTA ( KXNET ) — The thick of summer is here and places around the country are experiencing record-breaking temperatures along with heavy rainfall.

To help people protect their homes, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) is giving a warning about different types of pests to keep an eye out for.

“Summer already marks the peak pest season, and extreme weather conditions such as heatwaves and heavy rain further enhance the ideal environments for pest populations to thrive,” said Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for NPMA, Dr. Jim Fredericks. “Even hot and dry conditions can lead to concentrations of mosquitoes that prefer to breed in containers because areas around homes are more likely to have standing water because of human activity.”

Here are three pests to watch out for and how to avoid them.

• Stinging insects
  • Reduce the stinging risk by avoiding sweet-smelling perfumes and keeping food and drinks covered. Inspect your property regularly for nests and keep a safe distance from areas with known activity.
• Mosquitoes
  • Remove any standing water and use a repellent containing DEET or another EPA-registered ingredient.
• Ticks
  • Keep grassy areas maintained and use insect repellent containing DEET or another EPA-registered ingredient. Always inspect yourself after spending time outside and learn how to properly remove them.

“During this time of year, stinging insects, mosquitoes, and ticks pose an increased threat due to extreme weather conditions many of us are experiencing. If not properly managed, they can cause significant problems for you and your property,” Dr. Fredericks explained. “It’s vital that you contact a pest control professiona l if you’re experiencing an infestation.”

You can find more information about pest prevention here .

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