Why Overwintering Pests Are More Troubling Than You Think

These sneaky intruders – including rodents and insects – can cause property damage and leave germs behind. They make their way into homes and businesses come the cooler temperatures to seek warmth outside.

It’s all too common for mice to invade a building in the cooler months and with them costly repairs from chewed wires, to stained walls. To truly protect against these pests, pest control for both residential and commercial should be proactive. With professional services you can get just that a complete solution designed to keep guests out all winter long.

Hidden Risks of Overwintering Pests

Overwintering pests like stink bugs, cluster flies and ladybugs often find refuge inside homes during the colder months. While they don’t bite or sting and cause no harm to your home’s structure, your belongings or your family’s health, they can become a real annoyance. They damage insulation and other household materials by excreting liquid feces that can stain, irritate skin and emit a strong, foul odour.

As outside temperatures cool, they begin to search for warmth—sometimes in attics, basements or wall voids. In the springtime especially, their mass emergence from hibernation points can be a putrid ordeal as the insects make their way outside again. Also, their presence will attract spiders and rodent pests into the home.

Shield Your Home Against Hidden Intruders

Perform Exterior and Interior Inspections

Check your house for storm damage following the winter weather. Be on the lookout for blown-off shingles or foundation cracks from freeze-thaw cycles. Trimming back trees will keep rodents off the roof overhangs.

Eliminate Attractants and Entry Points

Clear out the unneeded stuff from your basements, attics and utility rooms to eliminate nesting grounds. Check the fascia board along your roofline for any rotted wood in need of replacement. Fix loose mortar and replace worn weather-stripping around windows and doors to block access points.

Practice Cleanliness and Prevention

Keep food stored in sealed containers and don’t leave any crumbs behind for pests to find easily. Seal all exterior gaps with silicone-based caulk right away before an invasion starts.

Commercial Properties Susceptible To Winter Pests

Commercial Businesses have to contend with cold weather pests such as scales and aphids. These pests are hard to notice on shrubs and trees due to their small size. Scale insects are subdivided into two categories: protective scales which are encased in a shell and soft scales which produce honeydew and encourages the growth of sooty mould.

Aphids also secrete sticky honeydew which helps spread this fungus. For both types of pest, applying dormant oil in late fall or early spring will prevent mature by suffocating overwintering eggs. This easy treatment will keep your commercial property looking good throughout the winter.

Rodent Infestations Escalate in Winter Months

Rodent infestations can become a real issue in the winter months as both rats and mice head indoors for shelter and warmth. House mice can grow up to almost 4 inches long (not including their tail) and are more likely to be seen at night, although will also forage during daylight hours if they feel safe. Norway rats are larger still, measuring between 7 and 12 inches long, and will make their homes in piles of wood or rubbish, or under buildings.

Roof rats are good climbers and can travel along rooflines to gain entry into a home or garages. They can have up to 40 offspring per female. Hantavirus and Salmonella are diseases spread by this rodent, which also causes damage by chewing on wires and pipes. Be sure to seal all possible points of entry, as these pests can fit through incredibly small spaces when searching for cold weather haven.

Health Risks Associated With Indoor Pest Hibernation

Indoor pest hibernation can be very dangerous to health. Cockroaches love the warmth and humidity that winter provides and will thrive in kitchens and bathrooms, spreading bacteria which is actually the cause of food poisoning, dysentery and other illnesses.

Bed bugs hide in mattresses and furniture biting humans at night causing itching allergic reactions or anemia with prolonged exposure. Termites not only compromise your home’s structure; their dust also causes respiratory problems for sensitive individuals. Mosquitoes that remain indoors spread diseases like the West Nile Virus. Humans are more exposed to mosquitoes during colder months when we tend to stay indoors longer.

Preventative Strategies for Seasonal Pest Control

1. Caulk Cracks and Vacuum Regularly

Caulk cracks and gaps in and around your house. Use caulk or weather-stripping to seal entrance points for pests. Regularly vacuum in order to get rid of food crumbs that attract insects.

2. Manage Outdoor and Entry Points

Keep waste in sealed containers and away from the home. Prune tree branches and shrubs so they do not touch the house, as this can provide a pathway for pests. Before bringing packages into your home, inspect them because bugs can be inside of them.

3. Protect Pet and Storage Areas

Keep pet areas clean; stale food is a welcome mat for rodents. Ventilate basements and attics well; you don’t want moisture-loving critters like spiders moving in. And store firewood far from home foundations—this reduces hiding spots for insects.

Dealing with the Issue of Rodents in Homes

As is the case every year, rodents have begun to seek shelter indoors during the winter. They gnaw on upholstery and even on electrical wires, which greatly increases the risk of fire behind your walls. Rodents have the ability to transmit Hantavirus and Leptospirosis.

To prevent this, pest control professionals seal entry points and use dust formulas for treatment during cold weather instead of sprays that are not effective in the freezing temperatures. Granular products can be used to treat lawns and landscapes when temperatures drop. Do not apply if snow is covering the ground. By addressing these issues early, you can help keep rodent invasions out of your home all year long.

Final Thoughts

Overwintering pests invade your home or business when the temperatures outside drop. They like to hide away from us behind walls, attics, basements, and other hidden places that can’t be reached to seek shelter and safety. Once lived inside, overwintering pests can be difficult to eradicate and control. Cluster flies, Asian lady beetles, and boxelder bugs are common overwintering pests that infiltrate buildings through cracks and splits. They most often enter when they are seeking a place to survive the winter or lay eggs.

Infestations grow all winter without your knowledge or control and they also bring health risks as they contaminate food and surfaces with bacteria. It’s not just unwanted indoor pests that’ll be seeking shelter this autumn. Outdoor pests – including rodents – will be looking to invade buildings in search of food and warmth in preparation for the winter months. The sooner you address these pests, the less problems you will have later.