Anonymous wrote:OP here. It's terrifying that they usually wait until July is warm enough but now June is warm enough for them to come out. This IS the environment forum.

Still disagree with you that it's a new thing. At least the past 20 years they come in out in June.

The good spring rains have caused an increase in almost all insects. This is why we are seeing more. We've been in a serious drought the last 5 years or so and that hurts them. The early good rains helped but, unfortunately, some of us are headed back in to another long drought.

I believe they overwinter in leaves so it would behoove us to rake them and move them to a plant bed instead of having lawn people blow them to h3ll.

Huh? I’ve always noticed them in the 2nd half of June. This is pretty normal, imho.

There seem to be a lot more compared to last year. My 4 year-old is very happy about that.

-long time resident of NW DC

OP here. It's terrifying that they usually wait until July is warm enough but now June is warm enough for them to come out. This IS the environment forum.