Winter-proof Your Home Against Pests
As we continue to get cold weather and snow, pest control may be getting pushed to the back of your mind this time of year. While you don’t have to worry about most flying insects like mosquitoes, hornets, and wasps, there are still a number of pests that remain active as temperatures drop. Here are which ones you need to worry about in these colder months and how you can winter-proof your home against pests.
Overwintering
While peak pest season usually runs from spring through summer, some pests are still going to be out and about during winter months, especially in areas like Ohio where the climate remains relatively mild throughout the year. This phenomenon is called “overwintering” and refers to the way pests, like spiders and rodents, will ride out the winter and do things that help them survive cold temperatures – such as entering your home for food and shelter. Keeping pests like these out of your home helps create a healthier environment for you and your family, as some of these pests can pose serious health threats.
Spiders
Spiders are one of the most common pests you’ll see wandering around your home in the winter. Some spiders enter what is basically a state of hibernation in the winter months, where they remain sheltered outdoors until the weather warms up or a food supply is readily available. Other spiders prefer to seek shelter and easy food sources inside your home through the winter months. Some may also accidentally find themselves hitchhiking into your home via uninspected firewood. The best way to reduce spiders in your home is to remove spots where they can hide. This means reducing clutter, especially in dark areas of your home (like the basement, garage, and attic), and taking caution when handling items that have been stored for long periods of time – such as bins of winter clothing that you’re taking out of storage.
Roaches & Rodents
Two other pests that are commonly found in homes during winter are cockroaches and rodents. These pests are likely to be found inside your home in search of food, water, and shelter against the cold. Unfortunately, unlike spiders – which, for the most part, are more of a spook than a serious threat, roaches and rodents can carry disease and bacteria that pose serious health problems. These pests can end up in your kitchen and pantry, leading to food contamination. Another problem is that rodents are known to cause costly damage to drywall, pipes, and wiring. To help reduce roach and rodent problems, you should clear clutter, quickly eliminate moisture and food sources, and keep your kitchen clean of dropped food debris and ensure all your stored food is kept in air-tight sealed containers that can’t be easily entered or chewed through.
Asian lady beetles and stink bugs
A few other pests that don’t pose any health threats but do cause quite a major annoyance are Asian lady beetles (the orange looking ladybugs you typically see around fall), boxelder bugs, cluster flies, and stink bugs. When the weather begins to warm up, which can happen sporadically through February through May, they will re-emerge in large numbers and become a large problem for homeowners. Keep them out of your home by sealing cracks and gaps around the exterior of your home and repairing damaged screens that you may be tempted to open when the weather starts to warm up a little.
For more information about pest control and extermination, call go2-pros extermination. Our experienced extermination technicians are here to help homeowners keep their homes free of winter pests.
