When snow starts to fall in winter, people can only look forward to things like freezing temperatures, dry skin, indoor stays, and icy roads. And a lot of people are happy about the fact that there may be fewer bugs to deal with at this time of year. But this does not mean pests are gone for good.
As pests look for food and warmth in the coldest months of the year, they move to more hospitable locations. Some of them are in hibernation while others huddle together to feel warm. Insects behave differently as temperatures drop. No matter how cold it gets this winter, local pest control is important. It may be necessary to adapt your pest control approach to match winter pest activity.
Importance of Winter Pest Management
Managing pests in winter is essential. As the temperature drops, your home’s warm interior offers the right escape for bugs to stay inside and invade your house. Pests may hide in walls or underneath appliances or cabinets. A lot of places inside your house are the best nesting places for many pests. To prevent pests from entering your home, you must seal up entry points. A pest control professional can fill in cracks and gaps that pests can use for gaining entry.
Winter Pest Activity
In winter, cockroaches, mosquitos, ants, spiders, and other pests stay indoors for warmth and food. Roaches usually hang out in the kitchen because this is where they can get food. But different species behave differently as the weather gets cold.
Mosquitos hibernate in winter to avoid the cold. Some of them look for warm holes where they can hide out. Others slow down development to survive the winter. For some species, the winter means the death of their males. Meanwhile, ants fatten up as temperatures drop, so they can last the cold without eating. Also, they tend to seal their colonies by closing up entrances, huddling together, and hiding away to keep themselves warm.
In general, ant colonies are already inside homes during the winter and continue to be active as the temperature becomes warm enough. Winter ants can stay active even at low temperatures. Lastly, outdoor spiders seek warmth to hibernate. Often, they remain in stacks of wood and leaves.
While the behavior of pests may change in winter, some become more of an issue if it gets cold. A lot of them migrate indoors for warmth from a heating system and a constant source of food that a kitchen can offer.
