Winter is finally here in Northeast Pennsylvania, and that means a bit of a reprieve from bugs, or does it? Northeastern Pennsylvania can get pretty cold, meaning many insects like ticks and mosquitoes will tend to disappear.
However, there are still many pests that survive the winter in NEPA, including rodents and cockroaches that take refuge in your home. For this reason, pest control becomes necessary all year round, including the winter.
So, what exactly happens to bugs during the winter, and where do the ones that survive hide from the frigid temperatures?
Where Do Pests Go in the Winter?
Depending on the insect, there are plenty of ways that these creatures survive the cold. Some wait out the cool temperatures in eggs, as larvae, or pupae, while others remain as adults and find ways to adapt and live on through the most chilling months.
You’d be surprised how many insects are waiting out the cold and how many have found alternatives to dying off. Here are five ways that insects make it through the winter.
1. Taking Refuge Inside Your Home
Much like birds flying south for the winter, some insects seek out warmer climates to wait out the cold. Butterflies and dragonflies head out once the temperatures start to drop, while other bugs take the bear approach, entering a state of hibernation known as diapause.
Unfortunately, overwintering pests have made it a habit of waiting out the frigid temperatures inside of your home where it is warm and food is available.
For example, Asian lady beetles, stink bugs, cockroaches, and rodents try to sneak inside homes via cracks or by hitching a ride on anything that makes its way indoors. You may not even notice they are inside until spring rolls around and you experience a hatching.
Or you may spot one of these pests scurrying across the floor late at night, giving you a frightful scare.
2. Withstanding the Cold
Believe it or not, some insects just carry on with life as usual. While many bugs cannot survive, the temperature plummets, certain ones can. Mites and spiders can tough out the cold, seeking shelter in the most frigid temps. Honeybees also hang around but stay in their hives, forming clusters to keep warm.
Other insects pretty much stay put and live off fat reserves. Mosquitoes, for instance, can go dormant and survive off a blood meal for months.
3. Surviving in Your Lawn
Insects can be resourceful when trying to keep warm. Ticks, for instance, don’t vanish in the cold. They tend to stay warm by burrowing underground or by seeking out warm, insulated spots to wait out the cold.
They will settle into leaf piles, in stacks of wood, and in other areas with built-up vegetation inside your yard. They can even use snow as insulation, making it tricky to get rid of them if you have not done proper fall lawn care to prepare for the winter.
4. Some Bugs Just Freeze
While some bugs try to insulate, others simply let themselves freeze. These bugs, like the Emerald Ash borer, will be completely frozen but remain alive. The glycerol in their blood acts like an anti-freeze that keeps their livelihood kicking.
5. Many Bugs Die Off for the Next Generation
Not all insects survive the winter in traditional ways. Some actually just die off completely, such as crickets. However, they live on by leaving their eggs behind.
For some insects, that is their primary goal in life: mate, lay eggs and die. While many adult insects cannot handle the cold temperatures, their offspring can. And as the warm weather approaches, the next generation of insects will be ready for the next round.
Common Winter Pests in Northeastern Pennsylvania
Most insects don’t just die and go away completely during the winter. Many just hibernate for a few months, making their presence known inside of your home. Homeowners in Northeast Pennsylvania should be aware of these common seasonal pests who seek shelter indoors this time of year:
Mice:
Mice are notorious chewers and can wreak havoc on a home’s electrical system by gnawing through wires. They are also notorious spreaders of disease, leaving urine and droppings behind as they scurry throughout a space. People with allergies or other health conditions can experience serious side effects from a rodent infestation. If you hear knocking sounds from your wall, it could be a sign of a mouse infestation.
Rats:
Rats are a bit less active in the winter than their mouse counterparts but still seek shelter indoors. Rats want a food source and will look for it inside. They typically cause the same problems as mice—namely, chewing and potentially spreading disease.
Cockroaches:
Like most humans, cockroaches dislike the cold. Unfortunately, room temperature is the ideal climate for them. These insects have earned their reputation as a nuisance. Not only do they reproduce quickly in the right environment, but they are also known spreaders of diseases like salmonella, typhoid, and plague. Cockroaches can be very difficult to get rid of; contact a pest control professional rather than use a DIY method.
Bedbugs:
Fortunately, bed bugs do not carry disease. However, they are very easy to transmit from place to place, and, like cockroaches, can be difficult to get rid of. Rather than spread disease, a bed bug will bite. The affected area will become red and itchy—the discomfort they cause is reason enough to consider them a nuisance.
Silverfish:
You don’t have to worry about silverfish carrying disease. Instead, these insects are highly destructive. They will eat almost anything—from carpeting to clothing, books to wallpaper. And once they find your food stash in your cupboard or pantry, they will easily make their way through it.
Boxelder bugs:
These insects typically have long oval bodies with black or brown coloration, and red wing veins and markings on their midsections. They are usually found in trees (their primary food source) but cold weather sends them inside. Although they are not destructive, they can stain the upholstery on furniture and feed on houseplants.
Firewood pests:
If you store firewood outside, anytime you bring it indoors, you increase your chances of bringing wood-dwelling pests into your home. Termites, ants, click beetles, and wood-boring beetles can all infest firewood, and become a real nuisance if they come into your home. Inspect any firewood closely before bringing it inside.
How Do You Stop Winter Pests?
Prevention is the best approach to handling pest problems, and the earlier, the better. This means making it as difficult as possible for unwanted critters to get inside. Here are some of the best ways to keep pests out:
- Secure entryways. The best way to keep pests out of your home any time of year is to secure all possible points of entry. Check around both windows and doors. Look for any holes, rips, or gaps in the frame or screen that could give pests easy access to your home. Repair the openings with mesh, weather stripping, or caulking. Also, look closely around chimneys, vents, and other areas of your home. They may seem like unlikely entry points, but many insects and rodents can squeeze through the smallest opening.
- Store firewood away from your home. It is recommended to store firewood at least 20 feet from your home’s exterior wall. This will make it more difficult for insects to move from the firewood to your home. Keeping the woodpiles covered adds another layer of protection against pests.
- Use the proper storage units. Store food in plastic or glass containers. Lids should fit the base properly and close tightly. Pests can easily chew through waxed paper or cardboard boxes, so put perishable food in something more secure to deter pests.
Why Do You Need Pest Control in the Winter?
Regular pest management helps you identify and treat infestations early. A pest control professional can recognize possible entry points and take the necessary steps to seal them against potential pest infestations.
An expert can also create a pesticide barrier around your home. The colder months are a great time to do this, as light, heat, and moisture, the three biggest factors that cause insects to thrive in the warmer months, are less prevalent during the winter.
Pest control experts can also conduct an attic treatment during the winter. The cool, dark, and dry environment in most attics makes them the perfect place for insects like boxelder bugs, cockroaches, and other pests.
Regular maintenance by trained professionals like The Pest Rangers will help you address winter pest problems and protect against unwanted pests all year long. Contact us below today to get started on getting rid of nuisance winter pests.
FAQs
How can I prevent pests from entering my home in winter?
Seal cracks, store food properly, keep areas clean, and use weatherstripping around windows and doors to block entry points.
Can bugs come back in spring if I don’t address them in winter?
Yes, many insects lay eggs in winter that hatch in spring, leading to larger infestations if left untreated.
