Although winter is not the most pest-prone season, a winter home pest inspection will usually turn up at least a couple of unwanted houseguests. During the winter, pests are drawn to our heated homes, where they can find protection from the elements and a regular source of food (i.e., our food scraps and stores). Pest control providers would list the following pests as common problems in the winter months. We’ve also included a few tricks to help you minimize the likelihood that pests will infest your home this winter.
Cockroaches
Roaches thrive in all four seasons of the year. Food in your pantry will draw cockroaches, so your best protection against them is to keep a tidy kitchen. Make sure your garbage can has a tightly fitting lid; vacuum consistently, and make sure your extra food is stored in air-tight containers. Fix leaky faucets, too – they can easily become a watering hole for roaches. If you already have an infestation, dry diatomaceous earth can help eradicate cockroach populations.
Ants
Ants are probably the most common winter pest. Some species, such as odorous house ants, prefer proteins and sweet foods. You can discourage these species How To Avoid Rats At Home Naturally by keeping your kitchen counters and floors immaculately clean. Also, check the area where you store pet food, which odorous house ants love to eat.
Carpenter ants are another species of ant that stays active through the winter. Sawdust piles are a dead giveaway that carpenter ants are nearby – these tiny animals dump the wood pulp that they remove to create their homes. As carpenter ants are tough to remove, it’s smart to hire a professional pest control service to eradicate any carpenter ant colonies on your property.
Pantry Pests
Meal moths and other pantry pests like to eat dry food staples including flour, birdseed and cereal. Starve them out by eliminating clutter, cleaning up crumbs and spills immediately, and storing extra food in tightly sealed containers. If you see webbing or larvae near your food, act quickly: Thoroughly clean the whole area and discard any infested food. Pest control professionals can provide additional advice for homeowners who are suffering from meal moth infestations; a home pest inspection can help you troubleshoot such pantry pests.
Mice and Tidy Up Your Home Rats
Rodent control is a year-round home maintenance task. Rats and mice can squeeze through tiny spaces to gain entry into your home; once they’re in, they’ll make a mess of any food that isn’t stored properly.
To avoid rodent infestations, arrange for a home pest inspection during the fall. A pest control expert will be able to point out cracks and crannies rodents could wiggle through. (In general, a mouse can fit through a dime-sized hole, while rats can fit through holes with the diameter of a quarter.) Once you know where rodents can get in, it’s time to fix loose doors, damaged screens, pipe insulation and any openings that could provide entry to rodents.
You can prevent avert winter pest infestations by following these tips. Overall, the best methods for preventing winter pest problems are keeping your home clean and winterizing your home’s exterior by sealing up any cracks and crannies.
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