Argentine ants are common throughout Southern California and often appear in long trails around homes.

During hot weather, they may move indoors looking for water and food.

• Look for: Trails around kitchens, bathrooms, sinks, pet bowls, windows, and foundations.
• What to do: Keep counters dry, clean up food and spills, repair leaks, and seal cracks or gaps around the exterior.

If ants keep coming back despite these changes, there may be an established colony or an entry point that requires professional pest management.

Wasps and yellowjackets can become a major nuisance during the warmer time of year, particularly around patios, outdoor kitchens, trash cans, and areas where people eat. They're attracted to many of the same food sources people enjoy during summer, including sugary drinks, meat, fruit, and other outdoor food.

• Look for: Repeated activity around roof eaves, patio covers, trees, shrubs, garages, and outdoor structures.
• Prevention: Keep trash containers closed, clean up spills quickly, and keep food covered during outdoor meals.

If you find a nest near a doorway, patio, or other frequently used area, don't disturb it yourself. Professional treatment can help reduce the risk of stings.

Cockroaches need food, moisture, and shelter. Kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and utility areas can provide all three.

• Look for: Live roaches, droppings, egg cases, unusual odors, or repeated nighttime sightings.
• What to do: Store food in sealed containers, clean spills promptly, repair leaks, and reduce clutter around potential hiding places.

Mosquitoes and house flies are two of the most common insects homeowners notice during the summer months.

• Mosquitoes can reproduce in surprisingly small amounts of standing water. Plant saucers, buckets, toys, birdbaths, clogged gutters, and other containers can all provide breeding sites.
• The CDC recommends checking your property at least once a week and emptying, scrubbing, covering, or removing items that hold water.

Some mosquitoes can transmit diseases, including West Nile virus, which is why reducing mosquito breeding areas around your property is more than just a matter of comfort. Using EPA-registered insect repellent, repairing screens, and keeping mosquitoes outside can also reduce exposure.

For flies, keep garbage covered and remove food waste promptly.

Spiders often follow their food source. If a property has plenty of other insects, it may also attract more spiders.

Black widows can be found in quiet, protected areas such as garages, sheds, woodpiles, and outdoor storage spaces.

• Prevention: Reduce clutter, sweep away webs, organize stored materials, seal gaps around doors and windows, and address other insect activity around the property.

Use caution when moving boxes, firewood, gardening equipment, or anything that has been sitting undisturbed.

Termites can cause significant damage without obvious signs during the early stages of an infestation.

Black Knight provides inspections and treatment for drywood, subterranean, and dampwood termites.

• Look for: Discarded wings, mud tubes, frass, damaged wood, or termite swarmers.

If you notice these signs, a professional inspection can determine whether termites are present and what treatment may be appropriate.

Rodents may seek shelter, food, and water around homes during hot weather. Attics, garages, crawl spaces, and wall voids can provide convenient hiding places.

• Look for: Droppings, gnaw marks, scratching sounds, nesting material, or damaged food packaging.
• What to do: Secure garbage, store pet food properly, trim vegetation away from the home, and seal openings around doors, vents, pipes, and utility lines.