Summer’s Most Annoying Pests—and the Tricks That Actually Work to Send Them Packing

When the weather warms up and your front porch finally feels like paradise again, the bugs come marching in—literally. Summer means longer days, backyard barbecues, and every flying, crawling, stinging thing that somehow always knows when you’ve just sat down with a glass of iced tea. You’d think after centuries of living around people; bugs might get the hint, but nope—they’re still crashing the party.

So if you’re swatting at gnats like a ninja or watching an ant parade in your kitchen like it’s a live performance, you’re not alone. Here’s the lowdown on the top five summer pests in the U.S. and how to show them the door, no matter how persistent they are about overstaying their welcome.

Mosquitoes

There’s nothing charming about being turned into a walking buffet by something the size of a sunflower seed. Mosquitoes are more than annoying—they’re clingy and relentless, and they love to crash outdoor dinners like it’s their full-time job. These tiny vampires breed in standing water, which means anything from an old birdbath to a forgotten dog bowl can turn into a maternity ward for them in no time.

Getting rid of mosquitoes isn’t just about one thing—it’s about layering your defense. Dump water from any container hanging around your yard, make sure your gutters are draining properly, and keep your grass trimmed. Mosquitoes love a shady hiding spot, so let sunlight do some of the work for you. If you’re feeling fancy, try citronella plants or fans near sitting areas—mosquitoes are weak flyers, so a good breeze can actually send them packing. And if all else fails, go old school with a good repellent. Sprays and yard treatments made with picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus can actually help you reclaim your backyard.

Ants

You might think a few ants in the kitchen aren’t a big deal—until you open the pantry, and it looks like they’ve started a colony next to the oatmeal. Ants are tiny but stubborn, and once they find a food source, they send out a call to every ant in a five-mile radius.

Most ant problems start outside, which is why sealing up your home like you’re preparing for a tiny invasion is key. Look for cracks near windows and doors, and keep tree branches trimmed back from your house so ants don’t treat them like bridges. Inside, wipe down countertops regularly, and don’t leave dirty dishes overnight. Ants love sugar, grease, and anything you forgot to clean after snack time.

When they’ve already made their way inside, bait traps usually work better than sprays. Sprays kill the ones you see, but baits take down the whole operation. And while it might feel like they’re just being annoying for fun, ants are usually just trying to get food back to their queen. Take away the food, and they lose interest fast. Ants hate citrus, vinegar, and cinnamon—so those natural remedies can help discourage them while keeping your home feeling like a comfortable home, not a war zone.

Wasps

If you’ve ever been stung by a wasp, you probably remember exactly where you were, what you were wearing, and how loudly you screamed. Wasps aren’t just aggressive—they’re basically flying attitude problems with a sting. And unlike bees, they don’t lose their stinger, which means they can hit you more than once.

Wasps love to build nests under eaves, porch roofs, and bushes. If you spot a small paper-like nest early in the season, knock it down with a strong spray of water while wearing long sleeves and having a clear escape route. The earlier you catch them, the less of a problem they become. For nests that are bigger or higher up, skip the hero act and call a pro. Wasps do not play around.

Keep food covered when you’re eating outside, and skip wearing floral perfume unless you want to be mistaken for a walking bouquet. You can also set up decoy wasp nests, which sometimes keep new wasps from moving in. They’re territorial, so if they think someone’s already claimed the spot, they’ll usually back off.

Flies

Flies are those houseguests that show up uninvited, don’t bring anything, and then hang around like they pay rent. They buzz. They land on your sandwich. And just when you think you’ve swatted the last one, another shows up out of nowhere. These guys are more than just annoying—they carry bacteria everywhere they go, from your trash can to your dinner plate.

The best way to handle flies is to take away their reasons for sticking around. Seal your trash, keep fruit in the fridge instead of on the counter, and make sure pet food bowls aren’t a 24/7 buffet. If flies are constantly getting in, check your window screens for holes and keep doors closed whenever possible.

For people who are over the daily swatting workout, pest control products can actually make a difference, but it’s even better to hire pros. From sticky traps to automatic sprays, there are ways to cut down the fly population fast. And if you’re really at your wit’s end, ultraviolet fly traps are weirdly satisfying—they attract and zap the bugs in one go, with no mess.

Ticks

Unlike mosquitoes and wasps, ticks don’t fly or buzz. They don’t make a grand entrance. They just crawl up your leg during a walk in the woods and don’t announce themselves until they’re already attached. And yes, they’re creepy. They also carry diseases like Lyme, which makes them a lot more than just gross.

Ticks hide in tall grass, leaf piles, and anywhere that’s shady and moist. If you spend time outdoors, wear long socks and use a repellent with DEET or permethrin. After being outside, do a full-body tick check, especially on kids and pets. They love to burrow in their hair and behind their knees.

To keep them out of your yard, trim your grass and create a barrier between your lawn and wooded areas using gravel or wood chips. Keep woodpiles neat and far from the house. If you have deer visiting your yard, consider putting up fencing—they’re basically taxis for ticks.

Don’t Let Bugs Crash Your Summer

Summer is supposed to feel easy and light, not like a full-time battle with the insect world. With a little prevention and a few smart moves, you can enjoy your backyard without feeling like you’re constantly on guard. Kick the bugs out. You’ve got better things to do.