Pests are on the way with warmer weather Two carpet pythons mate at the top of a stairwell in a Kenmore home. CREEPY crawlies and pesky pests are slinking into Queensland homes' open doors and windows this season. With the summer weather ramping up, spiders, ants and snakes are making an appearance - but it's bed bugs that are the most likely to get us scratching. Elders Pest Control managing director Chris Elder said bed bugs were rampant at any time of year but in the hotter months, the pests bred quicker. He said because of domestic travel during the holiday season, bed bugs were able to travel around more. "They have the unique ability to build up resistance against pesticides so they can literally be swimming in pesticides and be fine," Mr Elder said. Bed bugs are a problem in the warmer months but can be deterred by vacuuming mattresses or buying pesticides. Pic: Sue Lindsay from the Australian Museum in Sydney Sniffer dogs are often called in for proactive inspections for bed bugs, which Mr Elder said could hide "absolutely anywhere." "It would take a human over an hour to inspect the room for bed bugs as they are the size of an apple seed but our dogs can do an inspection in one minute - as soon as they walk into the room they can detect the odour," he said. But the bugs aren't the only ones to be wary of this season with ants, cockroaches and termites also about. Cockroaches can be deterred by keeping the home clear of rubbish. Picture: Green scorpion www.thegreenscorpion.com.au Source: Supplied Working in the pest inspection industry for 25 years, Leslie Stephen of Stephen's Pest Control said many people had reported short-circuits with electricians called in to find a termite infestation had caused the damage. "That generally means people haven't been keeping up with their inspections," Ms Stephen said. Rats and possums are keeping a low profile this season, enjoying the warm weather outdoors. "If we get a lot of rain, the nests and burrows can get flooded and they head into the house or roof for warmth and dryness, but it's been a fine year so far," Ms Stephen said. Snake catcher Matt Harley said snakes, the most common being carpet pythons and green tree snakes, would be an "inconvenient" but quiet guest over the holiday break. They are the most common around and give people a fright - but you have to remember they are more scared of you than you are of them. He said the most deadly in Queensland - the eastern brown and red bellied black snake - were unlikely to venture into homes but it always paid to know first aid for a snake bite. Rats can be managed by cleaning up the backyard and keeping drains clear. Pic: Shutterstock ● Parasites who like warm environments like beds, bed bugs can generally go unnoticed for long periods of time. Vacuuming mattresses or using pesticides can be effective in getting rid of them. ● These pesky pests live in the roof or backyard. They can be managed by cleaning up the backyard, making sure leftovers are not laying around. or by poisons. Ensure your drains are clear as the pooled water will also attract these animals. ● Web-building spiders like red backs and black house spiders can cause problems when you're trying to keep your house web-free. Red back spiders are more common in the summer months than winter. Ground-dwelling spiders tend to stay outside unless rain damages their nests. Not all spider bites are fatal but be wary of them sneaking into the house. ● In the hot weather, ants love to venture indoors. Keep leftovers in sealed containers and wipe down surfaces. ● Possums love to party in the roof so make sure cavities are closed up. ● Don't tempt bush turkeys into your yard by leaving seed or other food stuffs outside. ● A good pesticide can get rid of cockroaches. Ensure rubbish does not build up to avoid them descending on the house. ● Have regular household checks .to ensure termites don't get out of control. ● The most common snakes around southeast Queensland are carpet pythons and green tree snakes. They are harmless and should be left alone, hopefully moving on themselves. Keep a safe distance away from them and ring a snake catcher, monitoring them in case they move. Be extremely wary of the deadly eastern brown and red bellied black snakes - call a snake catcher and stay away. ● It's been a quiet year for bee and wasp numbers. Don't disturb hives.