As Northeast Pennsylvania descends into colder, darker days, the residents aren’t the only ones preparing for winter. The colder months may be nearly pest-free outdoors, but that won’t stop winter bugs from invading your home.
When the weather outside is frigid, many pests search for a place to wait out the winter. An idyllic place to hide is your basement or attic. If you want to protect your property from unwanted guests, here are fifteen sneaky pests to look out for this winter.
1. House Mice
House mice can slip through small openings the size of a dime and are attracted to homes that provide food and warmth (essentially any home). They nest in dark, secluded areas and can quickly become a problem.
These pests can damage property by chewing through drywall or wires and cause illness by contaminating food. The best way to combat these little intruders is to seal up any potential openings and apply traps where nests are located.
2. Norway Rats
These invaders often slip into your home, looking for a warm place to shelter. They tend to make nests in basements, debris, and other dark areas.
Norway rats can fit through openings as small as ½ inches and are known to gnaw at anything. In addition to the damage they can cause, these pests also carry diseases like jaundice, rat-bite fever, or cowpox. Protect against these pests by sealing up any potential entry points and looking for droppings or other signs.
3. Nuisance Bedbugs
Bed bugs can be an issue regardless of the time of year. They can hitchhike at any point. Additionally, the ideal time to take a vacation is during the cold-weather months, making the probability of encountering these insects much higher.
If you are planning a winter getaway, be sure to inspect your hotel room for possible bed bugs and learn the signs of an infestation. Also, examine your luggage and clothes before returning to your home to prevent an infestation by any potential stowaways.
4. Wildlife
Occasionally, creatures can make their way inside when searching for food and shelter to escape the harsh weather. Wildlife like raccoons or possums can wind up inside homes through open doors, chimneys, or under your porch.
While these animals are trying to wait out the winter, they can chew through insulation, wires, or die in an out-of-reach area. To prevent unwanted tenants, keep all trash covered and seal up any openings below porches, in garages, or anywhere wildlife may slip in.
5. Ant Infestation
Pesky ants can sneak into homes through cracks and holes, looking for food. While ants are more common in winter, they can make nests inside your home and hide out for the winter. You may even spot them coming out for a quick snack on warmer days.
Like termites, ants are a colony insect. If you spot one, there are many more searching for sustenance for their large family. If you should encounter these little invaders, track their trails to see where they’re coming from so you can get rid of them.
6. Beetles
Considered an overwintering pest, beetles look for warmth during the colder months. They will search for any access point: windows, vents, cracks, chimneys, and other openings.
Any warm place is a suitable home for beetles in the winter; normally, they will head to the warmest point of the house. While they will not cause severe damage, they can be a nuisance because of their sheer numbers.
7. Ladybugs and Asian Lady Beetle
Another overwinter invader is the ladybug. These cute little bugs can be a nuisance when they find safe harbor in your home. Like other beetles, they will head to windows during the day or find light fixtures at night, trying to find places to stay warm.
While not harmful, they can secrete a staining yellow fluid and release a stench when squished. However, you may also be dealing with Asian Lady Beetles, which are invasive and bite.
8. Stink Bugs
These little bugs are much like ladybugs and beetles. They search for a warm place to survive the winter and mainly eat vegetation. They can often be found on corn stalks, pumpkins, or flowers. While not a harmful pest, these insects emit a terrible scent when crushed, as their name suggests, and can be a nuisance in your home.
9. Box Elders
Box elders are common invaders during the fall and winter months. Like stink bugs, box elders tend to hide out in your home with minimal impact. They are attracted to box elder trees and hide in out-of-the-way places, like basements and crawl spaces.
10. Cockroaches
These infamous pests cannot survive temperatures below 15 degrees, which is why they take refuge inside your home. They are attracted to wet or damp places and search for leftover food scraps.
Unfortunately, cockroaches are known to trigger allergies and spread bacteria–on top of being downright disgusting! They are social creatures, which means spotting one roach could mean a full infestation.
11. Spiders
While the typical house spider will invade your home during any time of year, more dangerous spiders could seek refuge indoors during the winter. Though they are less active during the winter, spiders head to warmer places during the cold weather.
Spiders like the brown recluse and the black widow will hide in dark, low-traffic places like basements, cardboard storage boxes, and window moldings.
12. Silverfish
Silverfish are household pests that can be found in any season, but they are most prominent during winter months. They like cold, damp places with high humidity.
While they are scarier to look at than harmful, one female can produce over 3,500 eggs. Silverfish can enter the house in several ways. They often hide out on outdoor decorations, slip through cracks, and hide away in attics and basements.
13. Ticks
Though certain ticks may not be active during the cold months, others, like the black-legged tick, remain if the temperature is above freezing.
In the winter, we tend to let our guard down regarding ticks, considering the cold and the fact that we are more bundles. However, as temperatures warm, scientists warn that this could mean more ticks, which can devastate livestock and other animals.
14. Aphids
Though not harmful, aphids can be quite a household nuisance. They often stow away in plants or greenery transferred inside during the winter. This can damage any other household plants that you may have.
15. Watch for Termites
Termites are more than just a hot-weather pest. These little pests can swarm and reproduce until February. Being social insects, termites live in colonies that can cause severe property damage, totaling billions annually in the US.
Termites tend to survive by staying insulated in wood piles, leaves, and other outdoor refuse. Learn the early signs of termites, as they are best prevented during the winter and spring. To avoid this pest, keep yard waste to a minimum and seal any small entry points to avoid an infestation.
Preventing Winter Bugs from Entering Your Home
As temperatures drop, many pests seek the warmth and shelter of our homes. To keep these unwelcome guests out, consider the following preventive measures:
- Seal Entry Points: Inspect your home for cracks, gaps, and holes around windows, doors, chimneys, vents, and the foundation. Use caulk, weather stripping, or mesh to seal these openings, denying pests easy access.
- Maintain Cleanliness: Regularly clean your home to eliminate food sources that attract pests. Store food in airtight containers, promptly clean up spills, and dispose of garbage in sealed bins.
- Reduce Moisture: Many pests are drawn to damp environments. Fix leaky faucets, use dehumidifiers in basements and attics, and ensure proper drainage around your home to minimize moisture.
- Proper Landscaping: Trim shrubs and tree limbs away from your house to prevent pests from using them as bridges to enter. Maintain a gap between mulch and your home’s foundation to reduce hiding spots for insects.
- Regular Inspections: Conduct routine checks of your home’s exterior and interior for signs of pest activity, such as droppings, gnaw marks, or nests. Early detection can prevent larger infestations.
For inspection of pest treatment in Northeast Pennsylvania, contact the experts at The Pest Rangers. We offer monthly pest control plans designed to combat seasonal pests and keep your home pest-free year-round.
FAQs
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.
What are common entry points for pests in a home?
Pests often enter through cracks in the foundation, gaps around windows and doors, vents, chimneys, and openings around utility lines.
How does moisture attract pests?
Many pests, such as silverfish and cockroaches, thrive in damp environments. Excess moisture provides the ideal conditions for them to breed and survive.
