Watch Out for Overwintering Pests
Overwintering pests can pay a visit anytime soon, how protected is your home?
As the winter season finally approaches, it’s time to keep on high alert for pests and bugs that have come to take refuge in your house.
The harsh weather that comes along with winter season and the build-up of snow have made pests desperate to move somewhere warm and safe for protection against the cold and to sustain themselves all throughout winter. Although some animals may tend to hibernate during this season, some are just starting to grow aggressively.
Bugs and insects are among a few that frequent your home during the cold months of the year. They tend to start entering your property during the fall season to nest in winter. These are called the overwintering pests. They grow quite high in numbers during the cold season in search of warmth, food, and nutrients that are all available inside your home.
Homeowners should be mindful of these pests as they sneak in anytime to survive the cold, and houses are always easy targets.
Types of Overwintering Pests
- Bettles – Bettles overwinter in homes to avoid the cold outside. Some factors that also attract them are the stored grains and packaged food inside your house. They mostly find their way through gaps around the door or gaps in the foundation, while some are brought in through infested products.
- Ladybugs – No matter how adorable they seemed to look, ladybugs can be quite of a nuisance. They usually enter the house during the winter season due to severe coldness and absence of food source outside. They’re usually out in the afternoon, on the windows or exterior walls, where they sun-bathe for warmth. To check for this possible insect pest infestation, keep your eye outside when the sun is high.
- Stink Bugs – These insects normally feed on crops, but without this food availability during the cold season, stink bugs would transfer into your home, where there can be enough food source to sustain themselves all throughout the cold season. Their names are derived from their very stinky odour which they release as a defence mechanism.
How to protect your home from Overwintering Pests?
- Seal cracks – With their small size, insects and bugs can sneak through tight cracks and holes. Seal them as soon as possible with a sealant or tape, and repair leaked pipes and broken window panes.
- Close windows & shutters – Keep your windows and shutters closed as possible as you can. These provide easy access for pests where they can easily fly through and get inside the house, without getting noticed.
- Install pest-restraining screens – Install insect screens on your windows and door to double up the protection, as well as on attic vents as these openings can be possible entry points for insects and other pests.
- Vacuum – Regularly clean and vacuum inside your house. This way pests can be effectively taken out from any place they might be hiding like mattresses or floor mats. Discard the vacuum bag afterward.
At Trusted Pest Management, we recommend homeowners to consult a pest control expert to check for signs of active infestation. The sooner your home is inspected, the better – as to prevent costly damages caused by pests in the future. Trusted and its professionals rigorously work on solving your pest issues with the most effective and safest pest control solution that suits every situation you are into.
Read Also:
