Cannabis growers know the deal. Pests are no fun. They’re a nuisance, difficult to manage, and pretty gross. Although growers might have all the natural pesticides to ward off these critters during cultivation, the job ain’t over yet.

Did you know several insects gravitate toward the smell and taste of weed? We’re not talking about the buds on your plant; we’re talking about the buds in containers, from dispensaries, from your backyard, and in your grinder.

Yes, bugs can find their way into your stash if you’re not careful. After a not-so-happy accident last summer, I’m writing this in hopes of preparing you as we enter the new summer season. Below, we’ve listed 4 common bugs that love weed, which you should avoid at all costs. We’ve also included a brief section on how to avoid these creepy crawlers all summer long.

My not-so-happy accident last summer involved earwigs, and lots of ’em. Picture this: you’ve left your weed outside in the shade for a few hours while taking a dip in the pool without a care in the world.

Little did I know, my damp bong would attract about 10 earwigs to my stash. After some research, I discovered that earwigs don’t particularly like weed, but they love a moist and dark environment. Ring any bells, bong users?

By the time I returned to my bong, I had counted 5 dead earwigs floating in my bong water, with about 5 earwigs inside my unsealed stash bag crawling all over my buds. I never left my bong or weed outside ever again. Learn from my mistakes, always seal your stash, and bring that bong indoors (or at least dump the water).

Here’s another pest that can actually cause some damage. While earwigs don’t necessarily cause damage to plants (if you’re proactive), beetles can and quickly.

There are many types of beetles that can wreak havoc on your stash. The two most common are the following:

• Drugstore Beetles
• Cigarette Beetles

These insects love the smell and taste of weed. If you have stash bags or jars left open, your risk of a beetle infestation increases dramatically.

Not only will they crawl all over your precious buds, but they will feed on the plant material. They’ll chew away at your buds and their stems, leaving behind holes and misshapen nugs.

Cannabis cultivators know all about the damage thrips can have on weed plants. They are tiny little bugs that can seriously infest cannabis plants and buds after harvest. Your stash isn’t safe, especially when left unattended outside.

Thrips damage buds a little differently than other pests. That’s because they’re quite literally sucking up all the sap and resin within your buds. You read that right.

Thrips are notorious for piercing the cells of cannabis buds (or leaves on growing plants) and sucking up everything they can. The result is decaying buds with little to no potency.

Spider mites are another common pest that can seriously damage your stash. They resemble teenie tiny spiders that can multiply by the thousands almost overnight.

I had a friend whose homegrown stored cannabis had a spider mite infestation, and let’s just say those buds never saw a spark. That’s because they were shriveled, misshapen, and had all the resin sucked out. Turns out, there was a small hole in the container. Big mistake.

Spider mites love the smell and taste of pungent cannabis resin. Although they’re mostly associated with live cannabis plants, I’ve watched them crawl out of a storage container like they were on a mission. However, it’s safe to say that your weed should be safe from spider mites if it’s sealed properly.

Close your bags, seal your jars, inspect your storage containers, and don’t leave your weed outside unattended for too long. That’s about all you need to know regarding the prevention of pests wreaking havoc on your stash.

The key is to ensure that your weed is well protected from the outside world. After all, we should be storing cannabis in a dry, dark, and cool environment, so leaving it out on a hot and humid summer day isn’t the best idea.