True water bugs are often difficult to distinguish from many other types. Mainly because there are plenty of bug species that share similar characteristics.
But, why do water bugs come out in the summer?
Honestly speaking, water bugs usually seek refuge during the winter months to avoid the cold. And in the summer time they can easily enter any building via small cracks and tuck themselves away when the mercury rises.
A true water bug has its own traits that make it different from the rest. These include living in the water instead of hanging around a wet, moist or damp area.
Additionally, true water bugs can submerge themselves for extremely long periods. The most common types of water bugs include the giant (a.k.a electric light bug or alligator tick), water boatmen, pond skaters, water striders, water scorpions and water striders.
In this article, we’ll look at all the reasons why water bugs seem to hang around more during the summer months.
Table of Contents
Where Do Water Bugs Come From?
When we think about water bugs, we never really consider where they come from. They are just there; they seem to pop up and exist. The eggs of a water bug are usually laid either on floating vegetation or in moist and damp forms of debris.
So they can spawn almost anywhere, considering these types of areas are common throughout the world. Water bugs aren’t considered household pests, unlike cockroaches and other related species.
They don’t usually have any reason to go inside as their ideal environment is generally damp and moist.
Of course, it is possible to have a damp, moist area inside a house. But for them to make their way inside when those areas are abundant outside is a lot of unnecessary effort.
They are also attracted to food and garbage, so where these conditions are available, water bugs are sure to be in close vicinity.
Why do water bugs come out in the summer? All Possible Reasons Explained
Water bugs don’t just all of a sudden come out in summer. They are always out, except they usually hang around their natural habitats.
Instead of them seemingly coming out in the summer, It’s often the case that they are just more noticeable in the warmer months. There are several reasons why this could be the case.
Let’s have a look at those factors in more detail.
Relocation
During the summer, it’s very common for moisture to evaporate. Water Bugs thrive in areas that are damp and moist. If their habitat dries out,, they will often hunt for another area with the same conditions. The first areas to dry up are generally a lot smaller bodies or pools of water.
To us humans, these small puddles are almost non-existent as we go through our day-to-day lives. So when the waterbugs come out looking for a new area to relocate to, it’s generally in a more plain sight area. Therefore, they become more noticeable.
Food Source
As mentioned, water bugs aren’t only attracted to water areas but also food and/or garbage. These materials have a heap of little nooks and crannies, which are ideal for them to lay eggs inside.
Additionally, food and garbage hold moisture as they decompose and mush together with other materials.
So, if the water bugs sense a better food source is nearbyy, they will swarm to it. As a result, we may notice them out a lot more during the summertime.
Here’s a tip, if you’re noticing a lot more water bugs around your home, it’s a strong sign that you are more than likely harboring an excess of rubbish.
Spawning
Coupling with relocation, summer creates alternative spawn areas for water bugs. High temperatures dry out swamps, ponds, marshes and slow moving rivers, which forces them to find somewhere else to spawn and reproduce.
New spawn areas may include swimming pools, water tanks, watered garden beds and/or puddles. Again, it may seem that they are everywhere in the summer. It’s more so that they are much more active whilst trying to find a new place to reside and thrive.
Temperature
Water bugs can be sensitive to colder temperatures. They are cold blooded and tend to hibernate in their natural habitats when it gets cold. It’s also not uncommon for them to migrate to places where they can spawn and feed during the cooler months.
This can include inside buildings such as houses, barns, garages, etc. They make their way through small cracks and gaps and lay low until the warmer times wind up again.
Once the mercury rises again, the water bugs are free to move around again.
Are Water Bugs Dangerous To Humans?
Water bugs aren’t considered dangerous to humans but that doesn’t mean they won’t bite. There’s a type of water bug called the toe biter.
This species does exactly as the name suggests; they bite the toes of unsuspecting humans. The bites can be painful but generally non-toxic.
They don’t bite for any reason other than if handled improperly. They do it more as a defense mechanism instead of being just plain aggressive like several other bug types.
Furthermore, it’s not common for them to go for humans or larger animals as a source of food or safe areas to spawn. They need areas with an abundance of moisture to lay their eggs.
How to Get Rid of Water Bugs from Your House?
You can do several things to help ease issues related to water bugs. Firstly, it’s best to mitigate the potential of them spawning in your home.
If they still manage to find a way in, then ensuring you have an effective removal method is equally important. Let’s look at both of these steps in a little more detail.
Mitigation and Prevention
The best preventative measures include ensuring your home is extremely clean and free of damp, moist areas that could be a welcome invitation to these pests.
Some steps that can be taken include:
- Vacuum at least once a week to remove stray crumbs or other debris. If you have kids, it could be worth getting the vacuum out every 2-3 days. (This is not meant to shame kids, everyone is different)
- Ensure to keep your kitchen clean at all times. Kitchens are a problem area because of frequent food and water preparations. Be thorough with appliances, including disinfecting them.
- Steam clean all rugs, carpets and mats every 6-12 months. You’ll be surprised at what these items can hold. I would even go as far as steam clean mattresses and sofas if necessary.
- Complete regular maintenance on any leaky taps, both inside and outside. Remember, water attracts water bugs, so cutting off their supply will help keep them away.
- Maintain and repair lower level/basement walls if necessary. There is a chance that water seeps in due to their low point. These little suckers will make their way in where there are cracks or small holes, especially during the colder months.
- Clean out pipes and gutters to minimize stagnant water.
- Improve overall ventilation to allow moist areas to dry out faster.
Removal Solution
If you realize that a colony of water bugs have already breached your living area, you can use these methods to remove them:
- Boric acid – This product is inexpensive and easily accessible in several home depot stores or supermarkets. Simply sprinkle a thin layer around the infested area and wait. The water bugs are attracted to the scent and walk straight over to the powder. It will get soaked up through their antenna and legs and kill them quickly. Thicker layers will deter them, so make sure you sprinkle the powder perfectly.
- Cockroach bait – This product is also easy to get a hold of. The good thing about cockroach bait is that it is usually housed in a box, so it won’t contaminate anything nearby, including food. The way it works is by being in disguise as food to them. They will take some back to their nests and kill them and any eggs or bugs in that area.
- Baking Soda/Powdered Sugar (Homemade mix) – This works similarly to the other 2 products, except it doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals. Simply mix equal parts, e.g.: 1 tbs baking soda with 1 tbs powdered sugar and sprinkle the infested area. The sugar will draw them in, and the baking soda will cause their stomach to explode, creating a build up of gas.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do water bugs come up drains?
Water bugs do exactly as their name suggests, live and travel around in and even up water. They can hold their breath underwater for an extremely long period. They may struggle with the sheer force of gushing water down a drain, but they can move around freely if that isn’t the case.
Can water bugs come through air vents?
Water bugs can come through air vents. The best way to mitigate this is by completing regular maintenance to not allow them any reason to want to be there. They generally enter air vents to acquire food or spawn if there is some stagnant water left for them.
They thrive better outdoors, but during the colder months, they will seek refuge away from the cold. Air vents are a perfect hibernation hold for them.
Where do water bugs lay their eggs?
The most common areas for water bugs to lay their eggs are either tucked inside absolutely any form of debris or on floating vegetation. They like to be around food and/or water when they lay to ensure their young have something to feed off before they begin their journey out into the wild.
How long does a water bug live?
Extensive research has noted that water bugs live an average lifespan of 1.5 years. They would have laid 7-8 capsules with 15-16 eggs within this timeframe. So they can colonize quite fast if left undisturbed and allowed the right conditions.
Conclusion:
As we know, water bugs are out all year round but are much more active and noticeable during the summer. They tend to stay hidden during the colder months.
The sun’s warmth dries out their spawn areas, forcing them to look for somewhere new in the summer. We hope that this article has been helpful, and we look forward to creating similar pieces to answer your questions as they come.
