Winter Pests
With fall fading into winter and temperatures on their way down, you might assume that you’ll get a break from winter pest control. It’s during summer and spring, after all, that bugs have the heat and moisture to come out in full force, so it makes sense to think of winter as a reprieve.
While it is true that insects must take shelter from the cold, that doesn’t mean you’ll be free of them. It all depends on where they seek that shelter. Odds are, it’s not as far away as you think. As winter approaches, look out for pests in your:
Home
The worst possible place where pests could go is also one of their prime targets. Not only is your home warm, but it contains ample moisture and food. Combined with the fact that it provides cover from harsh weather, your house is vulnerable to:
- Ants– Ants come into your house in search of food and then stay for the warmth and shelter. Some varieties of ants, such as carpenter ants, can also infest firewood. You’ll bring them in when you carry that wood indoors. These insects are always a health issue, and carpenter ants specifically threaten the structure of your house.
- Cockroaches– As an insect that is suited for tropical environments, cockroaches are especially attracted to the heat of your house. They share with carpenter ants a tendency to seek shelter in wood, so more of them may end up in your home if you bring firewood inside.
- Cluster Flies– A type of fly that seeks tight, remote spaces, this insect is hard to remove from your house once it is established. You’ll likely find them hovering around the windows of rooms you rarely use.
Besides insect pests, winter weather can send mice and rats into your house. These rodents are a serious health and comfort risk in themselves. They often bring fleas and other insects into your house, making bug problems worse.
Wood Piles
In addition to entering your house, insects and other pests can find shelter by burrowing into piles of wood. Carpenter ants and termites are particularly likely to do this, as they are suited specifically for life in wood. Cockroaches, moths, and flies also sometimes see wood piles as suitable places to lay their eggs.
Even if you never bring wood directly into your house, it can still harm your home and your quality of life. If you pile wood next to your house, for example, termites and carpenter ants will have an easy time spreading from such piles into the building. Thus if you need to store large piles of wood, make sure to place them somewhere as far from your home as possible.
Clark Pest Control is committed to eliminating every variety of pest in South Carolina. For more information on keeping your home pest-free during the winter and throughout the year, visit our website today.
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