How Humidity Affects Summer Pest Activity on Long Island

Summer on Long Island brings beach days, BBQs, and unfortunately, bugs. If it feels like pests become more aggressive when the weather heats up, you’re not wrong. One major reason? Humidity.

Long Island summers are known for their high humidity, and that sticky air does more than mess with your hair. It creates the perfect environment for a wide variety of household pests. If you’ve noticed an uptick in pest activity around your home, humidity may be the reason.

Why Does Humidity Cause Household Pests?

Humidity is essentially excess moisture in the air, and many pests depend on moisture to survive. Warm, wet environments help certain pests breed faster, seek shelter indoors, or expand their colonies more aggressively. High humidity also weakens wood, attracts mold, and creates hidden pockets of moisture that pests love to exploit.

Pests That Thrive in Humid Long Island Summers

Let’s look at some of the most common summer pests on Long Island that are driven by high humidity—and how to spot them.

Cockroaches

These pests love moisture and warmth. Basements, bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms with high humidity are ideal hiding spots. German and American cockroaches are especially common in Long Island homes, and they’re incredibly good at finding their way indoors once the summer heat and humidity hit.

Signs of cockroaches:

• Droppings that resemble pepper or coffee grounds
• Egg casings (usually brown or tan and capsule-shaped)
• Musty odor in enclosed spaces
• Skittering insects when lights are turned on

Ants

Summer means ants—especially carpenter ants and odorous house ants. High humidity and moist wood create ideal nesting areas, and once a few ants find a food source in your home, hundreds can follow.

Signs of ants:

• Ant trails along baseboards or countertops
• Piles of sawdust (carpenter ants)
• Visible nests in damp wood or wall voids

Termites

Subterranean termites are drawn to damp soil and moist wood. Summer humidity helps them tunnel further and establish larger colonies. The damage often starts behind the scenes—under floors, inside walls, or near foundations—and by the time you notice it, the repair bills can be steep (in addition to rarely being covered by homeowner’s insurance).

Signs of termites:

• Mud tubes along your foundation
• Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
• Bubbling or warped paint
• Discarded wings around window sills

Spiders

While spiders themselves aren’t necessarily moisture-seeking, their prey is. Insects that thrive in humid conditions attract spiders into your home as they follow the food. You might notice an uptick in spider activity in bathrooms, basements, and garages during the summer months.

Signs of spiders:

• Webs in corners or hidden areas
• Egg sacs near windows or doors
• Sudden increase in small flying insects (spider prey)

How to Reduce Moisture and Knock Out Summer Pests

Controlling indoor and outdoor moisture is one of the smartest ways to pest-proof your home during the summer. Here are a few Long Island-specific prevention tips Knockout Pest Control recommends:

1. Check Your Crawl Spaces and Basement
Install a dehumidifier if your basement feels damp or musty. Long Island homes near the coast or with poor ventilation are especially susceptible to moisture buildup.

2. Inspect Gutters and Downspouts
Clogged gutters cause water to pool near your foundation, which attracts ants, termites, and cockroaches. Keep them clear and make sure downspouts direct water away from your home.

3. Repair Leaky Pipes and Faucets
Even a slow drip under the sink can be a beacon for cockroaches and ants. Fix leaks promptly and monitor high-humidity areas like bathrooms and laundry rooms.

4. Store Firewood Away from the House
Never stack firewood against your home. It retains moisture and creates the perfect nesting spot for termites, carpenter ants, and spiders.

5. Seal Cracks and Gaps
Look for entry points around windows, doors, foundation vents, and utility lines. Sealing them keeps pests outside where they belong.

When to Call for Professional Residential Pest Control on Long Island

If you’re seeing signs of pests—or want to stop an infestation before it starts—professional pest control makes all the difference.

At Knockout Pest Control, we understand how summer weather affects pest behavior in Long Island homes. We take an integrated pest management (IPM) approach, combining moisture control, perimeter treatments, and targeted solutions to stop pests before they multiply.

With over 50 years of experience serving Long Island families, we offer year-round pest protection plans that adapt to seasonal challenges—like high summer humidity.

Whether you’re dealing with ants in the kitchen, cockroaches in the basement, or signs of termite damage, we’ll knock them out for the count.

Book Your Summer Pest Inspection Today

Don’t wait until pests take over your home. Schedule your Long Island exterminator inspection with Knockout Pest Control today!