As the temperatures begin to cool during the fall season, you may start seeing more pests moving into your home for the upcoming winter. Many pests will begin to seek shelter and warmth inside your home. Here are some common fall pests you may begin to see, along with 12 tips to avoid the invasion:
Ants
Ants live in colonies and can be found generally in landscape beds or located wood around the house. There are three ant categories within a colony – queens, workers, and males. Typically, you’ll find the worker ants begin to enter the home through cracks and crevices, searching for food for the queen and their nest.
Cockroaches
With Charleston’s mild winters, cockroaches can live and reproduce during the entire season.
Cockroaches are among the most common fall pests that we deal with in the coastal South Carolina region. Cockroaches can’t survive in colder temperatures, so the fall season is when they will begin to migrate indoors in search of shelter and warmth. Cockroaches are known to hide near pipes and drains and can spread disease and aggravate asthma.
Fleas
Fleas flourish in warmer weather, so as the weather begins to cool, their populations indoors start to increase. Fleas will enter the home on pets and any other wildlife that come into your home in the fall.
Rodents
Much like insects, rodents will migrate indoors as the weather cools in search of food, shelter, warmth, and water. Rodents not only spread disease, but they also will chew through electrical wiring, bricks, and lead pipes with their ridiculously sharp teeth.
An increase in the number of spiders in the fall and winter are due to their search for food.
Spiders
Spiders are also a common pest for migrating indoors during the fall, however, for a slightly different reason than to escape the cold. Some species move indoors to begin searching for food due to the decline in flying insects as the weather cools. Other spiders breed in the fall, so their activity will increase as males search for mates. At the same time, other spider species hatch during the spring and become adults in the fall. With the increase in numbers from the spring hatching, they will enter the house in larger numbers searching for food.
Stinkbugs
Stinkbugs can be found in almost every US state and have very few natural predators. They can become a real nuisance in the fall as they can congregate by the hundreds. Stinkbugs are known for releasing a bad-smelling odor when they feel threatened, disturbed, or crushed.
12 Tips for Keeping Your Home Pest Free for the Winter
- Seal all cracks and crevices on the house exterior using caulk or steel wool. Also, check and seal around any utility lines or pipes that enter the home for gaps.
- Clean, organize and declutter cupboards.
- Get rid of cardboard boxes.
- Seal all storage and food containers.
- Keep outdoor lighting to a minimum as some pests are attracted to the light.
- Check pipes and plumbing for any leakage that can cause moisture issues and attract pests.
- Place all firewood away from the home.
- Use screens on all chimneys, attic and foundation vents.
- Check and repair, or install door sweeps.
- Repair damaged screens.
- Inspect any boxes or containers for any pests that may try to hitch a ride into your home.
- Call Barrier Pest Services for additional advice and treatment.
