Hot and muggy weather in San Diego County may be contributing to increased activity from ants, mosquitoes and other insects, according to local experts. Eric Middleton, an entomologist with UC Cooperative Extension, said higher temperatures and humidity can affect insect behavior. Mosquitoes repr oduce faster when temperatures are hot and humidity is high, while ants may head indoors as outdoor food and water become harder to find. “We have things like ants where when it gets hot and then it gets dry, so especially, you know, about this time of year, they run out of food and they run out of water outside. And so people are most likely to really notice ants when they start coming inside,” said Middleton. The activity could continue into the coming months if warm weather persists, entomologists said. For homeowners dealing with mosquitoes, Middleton said reducing standing water can help prevent them from reproducing. “So with mosquitoes, one of the biggest things, they need water. in order to reproduce. So making sure that you empty out sources of standing water in your backyard,” said Middleton When it comes to ants, keeping a home tidy and limiting their access to food can help. Middleton also recommended checking for possible entry points. “You want to make sure that they don’t have easy access into your house. You want to check, you want to call or seal areas like around window sills or places where the ants might be coming in. You also just generally want to stay tidy.” Ants and mosquitoes are not the only insects showing increased activity. Leah Taylor, A UC Master Gardeners of San Diego County representative said beetles are also appearing later in the year. “We’re seeing a lot of beetles later in the year than we have before. Look for those green fig beetles because our fruit is on the trees and it’s falling off. It’s hot, it’s ripening fast, so that attracts insects,” said Taylor. People with questions about insects or other pests can contact the UC Master Gardeners of San Diego County through its hotline at 1-858-822-6910. “We are able to provide you with all sorts of strategies, if you’re dealing with insects, dealing with pests,” said Taylor. The group also invited people to ask questions in person at its Saturday fall plant sale at Balboa Park and encouraged visitors to bring photos or other information that could help identify their pest problems. “Come ask those bug questions you need answers to, bring photos, your phone, whatever. Tell us where you’re at and we’re happy to provide any resources and information.” This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less