“Workin’ 9 to 5” – The 3 Most Active Times of Day for Pests

 “Workin’ 9 to 5” – The 3 Most Active Times of Day for Pests

Unfortunately for homeowners, it feels like we never get a break from pests when there is an invasion. Many common pests are active during the day, but there is also a large group that likes to do its foraging and hunting at night. But what are some of the benefits of only being active during a certain time of day? And what about the pests that only seem to be active during the “in-between” times? Let’s take a look into the three main categories of active pest times, as well as the special group that can fluctuate their schedules with unprecedented needs.

Daytime – Diurnal

This category is where many animals, insects, and birds fall into, as well as most people! Diurnal creatures are most active in between the sun rising and setting, give or take some time. The main reason for diurnal pests being active during the day is simply because that is when it is the warmest. Insects and arachnids are ectothermic, or cold-blooded. This means they are completely affected by the temperature of their environment, and are generally most active with warmer weather. Another benefit of being a diurnal pest is that the daylight hours are also when plants are thriving and fully open, which is why most garden pests are diurnal. Aphids, thrips, and whiteflies are all active during the day, which is coincidentally when their predators are as well. 

Another common diurnal pest is the ant, a kitchen pest many of us are all too familiar with. The worker ants mainly exist to gather food and bring back to their colony, which is constantly growing due to the quick reproduction of the queen. Even though they are more likely to be spotted in the daytime, ants use this time to forage for food and find the best sources for the whole colony. Pheromones are the primary tool for this experience, as the invisible chemicals lead the other worker ants of the same colony to the same buffet of crumbs and spills.

House flies are diurnal as well, which you likely already knew if you have ever attended a summer picnic or barbecue. These food-loving pests are attracted to light and prefer to be in well-lit areas. Since they are diurnal, they have plenty of sources to choose from. While flies like any kind of food, they prefer decaying or overripe foods. They lay their eggs in garbage or rotten foods (gross!), so this practice must make them feel right at home. With their compound eyes, flies can see just about every angle around them easier in the light, helping them to find the best food waste and overripe fruits possible.

Nighttime – Nocturnal 

There are actually a surprising number of nocturnal pests that many homeowners experience. This group prefers to do all of their activities – foraging, hunting, nest-building, and mating – at night, under the cover of darkness. The pests that have good vision are capable of detecting smaller movements in the dark, which is how they evade predators and threats. Although nocturnal pests have to navigate the darkness and find food sources that may be more concealed, they have the added benefits of cooler temperatures and less threats. While cooler temperatures make ectothermic critters move a little slower, they aren’t in danger of overheating or becoming dehydrated. The predators that are active at night, like bats and frogs, can be avoided if the pests stay in hiding while they forage for food. Luckily for them, there are even more hiding spots at night than in the day!

Possibly the most well-known nocturnal pest is the bed bug. These bloodthirsty pests need to hitchhike on clothing, luggage, or furniture to get to their new place, as they lack wings. They also reproduce extremely quickly, as they only need one female who has plenty of protein from blood to lay eggs! The one silver lining of bed bugs is that they do not transmit diseases or bacteria, so the red bites are just itchy and irritated. They need to live in an area that has a reliable food source, hence why they got their name from their favorite spot. But all of this means that if you wake up with new bites in the morning, there is already a bed bug family living somewhere in your home.

Another unfortunately common nocturnal pest is the roach. These disgusting creatures are expert hiders, making the task of eradicating them even trickier. They will live anywhere that has reliable food and water, as well as a place to hide from potential predators, which narrows it down to basically anywhere on Earth. Roaches can go without food for a decent amount of time, so they do not need to find food every night if there is nothing available. But considering the fact that they eat everything from book bindings to cardboard to actual food, roaches have plenty of options wherever they go. 

Centipedes are not the most common pest out there, but they are fairly common in areas with plenty of humidity and moisture. They cannot see well at all, and some species don’t even have eyes! This is why they rely on their long antennae to feel for their surroundings and hunt prey, as centipedes are technically beneficial pests that eat smaller insects. Since they are nocturnal, poor eyesight is not a major concern of centipedes. Two signs that your home, likely in your bathroom, may have a centipede or two is if you have smaller insects and too much moisture. The bathroom is the common spot for centipedes because it can have both of these items, which is why it’s important to fix any leaks as soon as you find them.

Dusk or Dawn – Crepuscular

This one may be referenced less than the previous categories, but it still encompasses a number of our common pests. Crepuscular pests are most active in the transitional times of day, either before sunrise or just after sunset. They are typically still busy during the time following the change in sunlight, but the initial peak in their activity is during the rising or setting. There are two subcategories within the title of crepuscular: matutinal and vespertine. Matutinal pests are most active when the sun is not over the horizon yet, or during the dawn. The pests that are vespertine do most of their activities during evening when the sun is just dipping below the horizon, or during dusk. 

As for matutinal pests, these critters are mostly seen from dawn to mid-afternoon. You can even see some of them about one to two hours before sunrise during the warmest times of the year. Some common pests include bees, certain flies, and mosquitoes. These insects do their foraging (or biting) and mating at this time since there are less big predators and lower temperatures. Birds are a major threat to insects, as you can imagine, so insects have had to evolve and shift their active times over the years to be when birds are just starting to chirp. 

Vespertine pests thrive in the evenings, and their most active time tends to be about one to hours after the sun sets. But they are not technically nocturnal pests since they like to do some hunting and mating when there is just a hint of natural light. This group of creatures adapted to this time frame because they found more food, better hunting, and less predators overall. Common vespertine pests include moths, spiders, rodents, and mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are also listed here because they can change their active times to fit the food availability. Since only female mosquitoes consume blood when they need it for eggs, they can go out in search of this protein when they find it the easiest. Moths and rodents are active throughout the night, but they often start their pestering when the porch lights flicker on and the sunlight is just beginning to lose its glow.

Anytime – Cathemeral/Metaturnal

This one is less of a category and more of a general concept that fits even fewer insects. Either name fits this group, as different sources switch between them to describe this strange sector of pests. Basically, this category of pests can switch categories much more easily than most critters. They can be diurnal, nocturnal, or crepuscular depending on the resources available to them at certain times. The season, food sources, predators, lighting, humidity, and temperatures can all be reasons why this group switches sides. 

One example is the Lepidoptera order, which includes butterflies and moths. They are quite adaptable insects that can change their active times to fit their needs and circumstances. Moths were listed in the vespertine category because that is when they are commonly seen, but they can technically be active during other times of the day as well. Butterflies would likely be classified as diurnal most of the time, but they can also be found in evenings and darker times of the day. The general principle is that colorful insects are mostly seen in the day, and darker or natural-toned insects are found at night. Of course, this is generalizing and is not a “set-in-stone” rule, but it does help to explain why we see more beautiful butterflies during the day and natural-toned moths at night.

Pest Control Services are Here for You Any Time!

No matter what time of day pests are invading your home, pest control services can solve your pest problems! Preventative and responsive services are both valuable in stopping pests from ruining your day. Prevention typically involves a few different steps, including blocking entry points, thoroughly inspecting the home, and spraying the commonly affected areas. Responsive services are all about treating current pest issues, usually through sprays, baits, traps, and nest removal. No matter what your pest control needs are, our team is here to help! Contact us for a free quote and to learn how our EPA-approved treatments can keep your home pest-free, day and night!

Citations 

Coelho, S. & Shein, N. (n.d.). Beware of these 14 pests that only come out at night. Bob Vila. Available at (Accessed on October 5, 2022, from https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/beware-of-these-14-pests-that-only-come-out-at-night-100826 

Csanyi, C. (2018, April 19). List of nocturnal flying insects. Sciencing. Available at (Accessed on October 5, 2022).

Heggie, J. (n.d.) Nightlife: Animals after dark. National Geographic. Available at https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/paid-content-nightlife-animals-after-dark (Accessed on October 5, 2022).

Herald Staff Writer. (2014, February 21). Crepuscular creatures and animal sleeping habits. The Durango Harold. Available at https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/crepuscular-creatures-and-animal-sleeping-habits/ (Accessed on October 5, 2022).

Hoose, N.V. (2017, December 12). Night-flyers or day-trippers? Study sheds light on when moths, butterflies are active. Florida Museum. Available at https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/night-flyers-or-day-trippers/ (Accessed on October 5, 2022).

What bugs come out at night and why?. (n.d.). Pest Lockdown. Retrieved October 5, 2022, from https://pestlockdown.com/what-bugs-come-out-at-night/ 

When animals are active: Diurnal, nocturnal, and crepuscular. (n.d.). Ranger Planet. Retrieved October 5, 2022, from https://rangerplanet.com/when-animals-are-active-diurnal-nocturnal-crepuscular/