Ninja Pest Control: Dry October Driving Pests Indoors
The same dry conditions driving the regional haze are removing outdoor water sources, sending pests into homes and food premises in search of moisture
Singapore, Singapore – October 19, 2026 – The dry weather behind Singapore’s current haze episode is also changing pest behaviour, pushing ants, cockroaches and rodents indoors in search of water, according to pest control firm Ninja Pest Control.
Singapore recorded well below average rainfall in the first half of October, with the area around Punggol registering about 94 per cent below average, while daily maximum temperatures stayed above 34 degrees Celsius on most days. The Meteorological Service Singapore forecasts below-average rainfall again for the second half of the month.
“The dry weather has taken away their outdoor water, so they are coming inside to find it,” said Alex Guo, Head of Operations at Ninja Pest Control. “That means kitchens, bathrooms, and anywhere there is a leak, a floor trap or a condensate tray.”
Why dry weather changes pest behaviour
Singapore has no distinct dry season, with rainfall normally well distributed through the year and averaging around 2,340mm. Extended dry periods are therefore unusual enough to change how pests behave.
Entomologists have documented the pattern. Insect pests normally found outside will move inside in search of water or food during dry periods, according to University of Georgia Extension research, which notes that several ant species that are normally outdoor insects become indoor pests during hot, dry conditions, and that cockroaches also move indoors seeking cooler temperatures and water. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension research similarly finds that drought forces subterranean ants deeper into the soil in search of moisture, and that they may move into structures to find it.
The same dry conditions are responsible for the haze. The National Environment Agency has noted that with prevailing dry conditions, there has been an escalation in the hotspot and smoke haze situation in the surrounding region.
What the shift looks like on the ground
Ninja Pest Control reported a 20 per cent increase in call-outs in September and October 2026 compared with the same period last year, with ant and cockroach jobs accounting for 40 per cent of the rise.
Guo said the change is less about overall pest numbers than about where pests are turning up.
“The pattern has shifted,” he said. “Two months ago most of our rodent jobs were around bin chambers and external burrows. This month a lot more of them are inside the premises itself.”
|
Pest |
What changes in dry weather |
Where it shows up |
|---|---|---|
|
Ants |
Colonies send foragers indoors for water, not only food |
Trails into kitchens and bathrooms, around sinks and floor traps, often in units with no obvious food source |
|
Cockroaches |
Move indoors seeking moisture and stable temperatures |
Bathrooms, floor traps, under sinks and water heaters; daytime sightings usually indicate an established population |
|
Rodents |
Follow water as well as food, and hotter weather raises their metabolism and food requirement |
Pipe voids, air-conditioner condensate trays and drainage lines, not only refuse areas |
Guo added that the haze has had an indirect effect on when households call. “A lot of our callers mention they have had the windows shut and the aircon running because of the haze. They are home more, they are noticing more, and they are calling us earlier than they usually would. That is actually a good thing, because early is cheaper.”
Food premises carry regulatory exposure
For F&B operators, the consequences extend beyond nuisance. The National Environment Agency and Singapore Food Agency jointly took about 1,300 enforcement actions against premises owners for rat-related lapses in 2025, of which around 620 related to poor refuse management, up from more than 1,000 actions in 2024 and 670 in 2023. Between January and June 2026, the two agencies took approximately 490 such actions.
NEA has also warned that rat populations can quickly rebound without sustained housekeeping standards, even after targeted operations that achieved up to a 70 per cent reduction in rat activity at hotspot sites.
Rodents in Singapore can carry diseases including leptospirosis and murine typhus.
What households and operators can do
Ninja Pest Control recommends the following while dry conditions persist:
- Fix dripping taps, leaking pipes and pooling under sinks. In a dry spell these become the main attraction, more so than food.
- Empty and dry air-conditioner condensate trays, and keep floor traps covered when not in use.
- Treat ant trails at the source rather than spraying foragers. Spraying the visible trail leaves the outdoor nest intact, which is why the problem returns within weeks.
- Treat daytime cockroach sightings as a signal of an established population rather than a one-off.
- For food premises, maintain refuse discipline and check pipe voids and drainage lines, not only bin areas.
- Act on first sighting. Early intervention is cheaper and less disruptive than treating an established infestation.
Guo noted that households spending more time indoors during the haze are often spotting problems sooner, which works in their favour if they act on it.
About Ninja Pest Control
Ninja Pest Control is a Singapore pest control company serving residential and commercial premises islandwide. Its team of Singaporean, NEA-licensed technicians complete both the required national training and the company’s own in-house programme covering practical treatment and insect biology. The company has inspected more than 500 homes and completed over 300 successful projects, and holds client ratings of four to five stars. Its focus is on pest control solutions that are safe, effective and environmentally friendly.
Website: ninjapestcontrol.sg
Media contact
Ninja Pest Control
9342 7270
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Company Name: NINJA PEST CONTROL PTE. LTD.
Contact Person: Alex Guo
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Address:8 BOON LAY WAY #08-06 8 @ TRADEHUB 21 SINGAPORE (609964)
City: Singapore
State: Singapore
Country: Singapore
Website: https://www.ninjapestcontrol.sg/
