Top 5 Summer Pests in the Twin Cities—and How to Stop Them
Summer in Minnesota is short but sweet—long days, lake weekends, and plenty of time outdoors. Unfortunately, it's also peak season for unwanted guests of the six-legged (or eight-legged!) variety. As temperatures rise, so does pest activity, both inside and outside our homes.
At Be There Pest Control, we’ve seen it all across the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro. Here are the top 5 summer pests Twin Cities homeowners deal with—and how you can stop them before they take over your summer.
1. Ants
Whether it’s a trail across your kitchen counter or a full-blown colony in your walls, ants are one of the most common summer complaints we hear. Carpenter ants, in particular, are a serious threat in Minnesota—they don’t just invade your space, they can damage your home’s structure over time.
How to Stop Them:
Seal entry points around doors, windows, and foundations.
Keep food sealed and surfaces clean, especially sweet or greasy items.
Don’t ignore one or two ants—they’re scouts. Call in help before the nest grows.
2. Mosquitoes
Few things ruin a summer evening faster than mosquitoes. Besides being annoying, they also carry diseases like West Nile Virus. Mosquitoes thrive in our humid summers and love shaded, damp areas.
How to Stop Them:
Eliminate standing water in birdbaths, gutters, plant saucers, or toys.
Use fans when sitting outside—mosquitoes are weak fliers.
Ask about barrier treatments to reduce populations around your yard.
3. Wasps
Paper wasps and yellowjackets are extremely active in mid to late summer, building nests under decks, in roof overhangs, and even underground. Their stings are painful—and potentially dangerous for people with allergies.
How to Stop Them:
Inspect your property weekly for nests starting to form.
Avoid swatting or disturbing nests, which can provoke an aggressive swarm.
Let professionals handle removal—DIY wasp control is risky.
4. Spiders
While most spiders in Minnesota aren’t dangerous, they’re definitely unwelcome inside your home. Spiders follow other insects, so if you’re seeing a lot of them, it’s a sign you may have a bigger bug problem brewing.
How to Stop Them:
Reduce indoor clutter where spiders like to hide.
Install tight-fitting screens on doors and windows.
Control other insects to reduce their food source.
5. Mice (Yes, Even in Summer!)
Most people associate rodents with winter, but mice can be active year-round—especially in garages, sheds, and under decks. Summer is when they start nesting and breeding.
How to Stop Them:
Seal gaps or cracks as small as a dime around the home’s exterior.
Store food in airtight containers, including pet food and birdseed.
Watch for signs like droppings or gnawed materials.
Need Help Keeping Pests Out This Summer?
Don’t wait until a minor annoyance becomes a major infestation. Be There Pest Control offers environmentally responsible, family-safe pest solutions tailored to your home and season. Whether you’re battling ants in the kitchen or wasps on the porch, we’re just a call away—and we’ll be there for you.
📞 Call us today at (612) 448-3854 to schedule an initial consultation.