As the August heat bakes Sunset Junction, with temperatures hovering in the 80s-90s and no rain in sight, two pests are particularly active: the Norway rat and the Argentine ant. The dense restaurant and bar scene along Sunset and Santa Monica Boulevards generates a constant supply of food waste, providing a feast for rats, especially in the alleys behind the commercial strips. Older craftsman bungalows and 1920s apartment buildings with raised foundations and crawlspaces offer cool, shaded harborage for rats seeking refuge from the heat. Meanwhile, the Argentine ant thrives in the dry conditions, forming supercolonies that invade homes in search of moisture, particularly along the slopes leading up to the hillsides where irrigation systems create oases. The proximity to the Silver Lake Reservoir and the green hillsides creates wildlife corridors that bring rats and ants into residential areas. Homeowners should look for rat droppings near garbage bins, gnaw marks on wood or wires, and greasy rub marks along walls or fences. For ants, watch for trails along foundation edges, especially near plumbing or moisture sources, and small piles of dirt or debris around cracks in slabs or crawlspace vents. Below are the top-rated Los Angeles exterminators who specialize in these specific seasonal threats.