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Seasonal Pest Issues (Autumn)

 

An Educational Journal compliments of Canada's Pest Control Professionals

Pests around your home in Autumn

PDF Version

Pests Love an Open Door Policy, so even though we still enjoy some lovely warm days, be sure to keep your windows and doors closed as often as possible. Fall is such a beautiful time of year, wonderful colours and sun, so stay pest free with Abell. The following pest information may apply to your own home and property.

Photo Pest Preventative Action  
mouse Rodents - Common rodent pests include mice, rats and squirrels. Rodent pests are significant because they cause extensive damage to stored food, materials, and structures. They are considered a fire hazard as they often chew on wires. They sometimes act as disease vectors for a variety of pathogens. They are usually found among stored food, in wall voids, in attics and basements and on the outside perimeter of houses. Install physical barriers, eliminate food and water, remove nesting sites and inspect incoming boxes.
Seasonl Tips

Inspect the outside of your home to ensure the seals around air conditioning units, gas lines and water lines have not deteriorated and left gaps that mice may enter through.

Any grass or bird seed that is stored over winter in your garage should be stored in a rodent proof container to prevent harborage.

Ensure weather stripping around doors and windows is in good condition to prevent insect and rodent entry.

Rake leaves and other organic debris away from the perimeter of your home. Fleas will rest in these areas, jump onto you or your pet and make their way into your home.
bat Bats - Bats are considered very beneficial, eating 60% of their own body weight worth of mosquitoes, moths, mayflies, beetles, and other insects in one night. However, when bats enter the home their droppings and urine, along with producing a very unpleasant odour, can damage the structure and may contain viruses and fungal spores, which may be inhaled by residents. Bats are also capable of transmitting rabies. During the cooler months, seal holes and cracks; fit screens on windows; fit weather-stripping to doors; fill spaces between siding, soffits and fascia.
asian lady beetle Asian Lady Beetles - These are actually outdoor insects and are beneficial in gardens as they feed on destructive aphids. However, in fall and spring, they become pests because of their activity in and around the home. Vacuum all adults inside the living space of the home; seal exterior cracks and
voids (do not seal ventilation holes).
cluster fly Cluster Flies - Cluster Flies are known as nuisance flies, not filth flies, as they breed in the soil, not in waste. They often create a nuisance in the late summer and fall when they invade structures to over-winter and in the spring when they emerge inside the structure. After entering, the flies often become trapped in buildings and die, creating conducive conditions for a secondary infestation of Dermestid beetles, which readily feed on dead flies. Cluster flies can be easily distinguished from houseflies by their sluggish movements, and overlapping wings when at rest. Vacuum all adults inside the living space of the home; Install window screens; seal exterior cracks and voids to improve exclusion (do not seal ventilation holes).
elm leaf beetle Elm Leaf Beetle - Elm leaf beetles feed almost exclusively on elm trees in both the larval and adult stage. They occasionally become annoying in the home when adult beetles enter structures during the autumn, but may be most troublesome during the spring when they become active after hibernation in attempting to get back outside to elm trees. These beetles do not harm humans, but can be confused with carpet beetles. Their presence can be a nuisance.. Vacuum all adults inside the living space of the home; seal exterior cracks and voids.
lady bug Wasps - Common varieties of wasps are the yellow jacket, hornet and paper wasp. A wasp sting can be very painful and sometimes fatal. Wasps remain active throughout the Fall particularly during the warmer days. Nests can be found around buildings on verandas, under eaves, attics or in trees and can contain thousands of individuals. Eliminate fallen fruit and refuse which will attract wasps; seal holes, cracks and crevices to prevent nesting.