As temperatures dip across the country, unwanted insects and other bugs begin to look for ways to fight the cold. For that reason, you may find that your home is full of outdoor invasive bugs in the fall and early winter.
Keeping your home well protected starts with a clean and tidy lawn free of debris or other areas for bugs to hide. Next, be sure to patch up and holes or points of entry. An unsealed crack is just as inviting as an open window without a screen. Here's what you need to know about pest control in autumn:
Why the fall?
Bugs may not head indoors to last the entire winter. Rather, they often seek shelter from the cold in search of a good place to lay eggs for the spring. Other insects, like ants may simply be searching for new sources of food. Whether it's to hibernate, breed or just snag an easy meal, your home becomes a more attractive place when the weather gets cooler and wetter.
For some homeowners, this simply may be a disgusting nuisance. For others, as well as business owners, unwanted pests can be a serious threat. Here are some of the most common insect invaders in the fall:
Flies
Colorado State University found that flies are some of the first insects to colonize homes and other human buildings when the temperatures begin to drop. Not only are cozier conditions and the possibility of an easy meal reasons for a fly to come into your home, but they may even be attracted to the bright colors and hues of your living room or kitchen.
During the autumn they can become quite bothersome. If they find an appropriate place to hide, they may even hibernate in a semi-dormant state throughout the winter.
Bees and yellow jackets
Though most worker bees or drones die off during the colder months, a new potential queen will hibernate until next season in a safe, warm place. If your home, shed, or garage has cracks or other areas for the queen to nestle into for the duration of the winter, you could be setting yourself up for an infestation in the spring. In years, when winter is milder than usual, nests can survive in attics and wall voids. Dealing with openings or damage will lower the risk of this happening.
Stinkbugs
An increasingly common sight in the U.S. and Canada, the Brown Marmorated stink bug is actually an invasive species, according to Michigan State University. Native to China, Japan and Taiwan, these insects are now present in most States in the country and are particularly common in the Mid-Atlantic.
Not only can these bugs cause damage to crops and outdoor plants, but they often invade homes and businesses to avoid colder weather. Aside from being an unwelcome intruder, these insects can emit a pungent odor as a defense. Stink bugs will feed on pumpkins and other decorative fall plants, elevating the need for pest control services.
Fleas and ticks
One reason fleas and ticks can be so dangerous in autumn is because pet owners may not realize how active these bugs can be despite dropping temperatures. These creatures may not actively migrate into your home but can become an issue for anyone who doesn't thoroughly inspect any pets or extremities after spending time outdoors.
Even well into the fall ticks and fleas can be a major problem, and fallen leaves only exacerbate the issue by offering new hiding spots. By being proactive, however, you can catch any potential infestations as early as possible and mitigate the possibility of unwanted bugs entering your home or business.
You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
