Once the weather starts turning colder in Virginia, it's common for pests to come out of hiding and turn to your warm home for shelter throughout the winter. These insects can be a major nuisance, so it's important to understand these pests and how to prevent them if you want to protect your home.
Identifying Overwintering Pests
There are several different types of pests that become more aggressive about invading homes as the weather cools off. You may encounter one or more of these insects in your home at any time, especially if your home has not been pest-proofed.
- Box elder bugs: These pests are black with either red or orange stripes on their bodies. You are more likely to encounter these pests if you have a large number of boxelder trees in your yard.
- Mice: Mice are small rodents that have brown to grey fur. They tend to hide in the walls and cluttered areas of your home as the weather becomes cooler.
- Earwigs: These insects are small and have brown or red coloration. They do bite humans occasionally and can be startling to encounter due to their appearance.
- Silverfish: Silvery in color and fairly small, these pests won't bite but may damage old papers and fabrics around your home.
- Lady beetles: Also known as ladybugs, these pests are either red or orange. They gather in large groups and may emit a foul odor or stain your home.
The problems these pests can create in your home range from nuisances, such as large groups of boxelder bugs and lady beetles gathering on your walls and windows, to more troublesome, like the staining of walls and furniture, destruction of fabrics around your home, contamination of food storage areas, and in the case of mice, the risk of diseases and destruction as a result of gnawing and urine or feces.
Because overwintering pests can bring such challenges to your Virginia property, investing in pest control and paying special attention to pest-proofing your home year-round is essential. The Albemarle Termite & Pest Control professionals can provide you with more advice and assistance with this process.
Overwintering Pest Prevention Tips
The best way to stop overwintering pests from invading your home is through proper prevention tactics and investing in ongoing professional home pest control to keep your property protected.
- Inspect your home for potential entry points and seal up any gaps or cracks in the windows, doors, and foundation. You can also repair window and door screens, weatherstripping, and door sweeps in addition to keeping exterior doors closed whenever possible.
- Regularly declutter around your home, making sure to vacuum and dust to help reduce the number of hiding places for mice and insects around your home. Decluttering can assist you in identifying whether or not you have a pest problem.
- Make sure that all food waste and trash are disposed of in tightly sealed bags. Take the trash out regularly, and consider using trash cans with lids to stop garbage odors from attracting insects or rodents to your home.
Is Pest Control Worth It?
The most effective way to deal with a pest problem, especially during the chilly winter months, is with professional pest control in Virginia. Contact the experts at Albemarle Termite & Pest Control for help pest-proofing your home today.