The most common summer pests around homes are wasps such as yellowjackets, ants, mosquitoes and cockroaches. Warm weather speeds up their activity and growth, and people spend more time outdoors, so encounters rise from late spring through early fall. Saela Pest Control is a residential and commercial pest control company, based in Orem, Utah, that treats all four. Here is what each pest does in summer and the simplest ways to keep it under control.
Wasps
Yellowjackets and other social wasps become more defensive as summer goes on, because their colonies grow larger while food becomes scarcer, and by late summer foragers look for sweets. UC IPM’s guide to yellowjackets and other social wasps explains that honey bees are unlikely to sting unless trapped or stepped on, while wasp stingers have no barbs and can be used repeatedly. Keep food, pet food and garbage covered outdoors to give foraging wasps less reason to stay. If a nest near your home must be removed, UC IPM notes it is easiest and safest to call for professional help, such as a wasp control service.
Ants
Ants come indoors in summer looking for food and water, or for refuge from hot, dry weather, according to UC IPM’s guide to managing ants. Wipe trails with soapy water to remove the scent trail, and store food in clean, sealed containers rather than plastic bags or open packaging. Baits work better than sprays, because workers carry bait back to the nest, while sprays only kill the ants you can see. A few species sting, including fire ants and harvester ants, which mostly live outdoors; Saela’s ant control service follows an IPM cycle that starts with identifying the pest.
Mosquitoes
Mosquito season starts in summer and continues through fall, typically June through October, and the CDC notes that West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the contiguous United States. Most people infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms, but preventing bites is still the main protection. A simple step the CDC recommends is removing standing water once a week, since mosquitoes lay their eggs near water. Saela’s mosquito mist treatments target resting sites such as shaded foliage and areas beneath porches.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches can show up any time of year, and German cockroaches favor warm, humid spots close to food and water, such as kitchens and bathrooms. The EPA’s guide to asthma triggers notes that droppings or body parts of cockroaches can trigger asthma, and that proteins in cockroach feces and saliva can cause allergic reactions. The EPA recommends cleaning dishes, crumbs and spills right away, storing food in airtight containers and sealing cracks around cabinets. If roaches still appear, Saela’s German cockroach treatment uses gel baits, crack-and-crevice applications, monitoring devices and a follow-up visit.
Every Saela plan includes a 50+ point property inspection of entry points, nesting sites and outdoor structures, and Saela’s pricing page explains how plans are quoted.
Regular service is meant to keep everyday insects from building up inside. In a February 2024 Google review, Vicky wrote, “Excellent, great communication, thoughtful and cautious to my personal requests, never have had any pest issues.”
To learn more about the company, why homeowners choose Saela covers its approach and training. Saela started as Edge Pest Control in 2008 and has performed more than 4 million services since then.
Frequently asked questions
When is mosquito season in the United States?
Mosquito season usually starts in summer and continues through fall, typically June through October, according to the CDC. During that time, the CDC’s mosquito control guidance recommends emptying and scrubbing, turning over, covering or throwing out anything that holds water once a week, and using window and door screens.
Why are wasps more aggressive in late summer?
Wasps are more defensive in late summer because their colonies are at their largest while food is getting scarcer. UC IPM notes that by late summer, foraging yellowjackets are particularly interested in sweet foods, which is why they gather around drinks, fruit and open trash.
Should I spray the ants I see in my kitchen?
Spraying visible ants usually doesn’t solve the problem, because sprays kill only the foragers and leave the colony in place. Baits carried back to the nest work better, and Saela’s article on why ants keep coming back explains how to stop repeat trails.
Get help with summer pests
If wasps, ants, mosquitoes or roaches keep turning up despite these steps, book a call to talk through summer pest control. Saela’s Lakewood, Washington location is rated 4.8 out of 5 from 1,164 Google reviews as of October 2026.
Who wrote this article?
Devin Hutchings (Marketing Director at Saela Pest Control) wrote this article.
Devin leads Saela’s marketing and growth strategy. He brings more than 15 years of marketing experience across Uber, C.R. England, Lugg, and Neighbor. His background spans customer acquisition, retention, and developing marketing channels for service businesses and consumer marketplaces.
