While the arrival of winter means saying goodbye to long, sunny days and warm weather, it also means seeing summer pests go. if you are like most homeowners, you probably consider bugs and other pests the bane of your summers because they invade your house or yard. But winter brings a new pest issue. Rodents, bugs, and other pests in Ashburn are searching for a place to survive the winter and could end up in your house. To ensure that overwintering pests do not overstay in your house, you need to eliminate them this winter.
Understanding the Meaning of Overwintering
Overwintering is a process that some animals and insects use to survive the cold weather because normal activity is not possible. When the temperature drops, food sources become scarce and difficult to find. As a result, a lot of insects have difficulty in keeping their metabolic processes up. Overwintering pests can survive through the cold months, so they can continue with their activities in the spring. Here’s how pests might overwinter:
- They hibernate as adults. Some butterfly species and ladybugs hibernated in protected areas in winter. They seek shelter in insulated spots such as leaf litter and crevices to stay dormant until spring.
- Burrow in soil. Burrowing into the soil allows some insects such as ants and beetles to escape the cold. The soil offers insulation, protecting insects from extreme temperatures. Also, some insects may enter into diapause to suspend their development and conserve energy. Ants may enter your house when the food supply outdoors is limited.
- Seek shelter in human-made structures. Insects such as boxelder bugs, cluster flies, and stink bugs may congregate in secluded areas like attics and wall voids to escape the cold.
- Develop freeze tolerance. Some pests survive freezing temperatures by developing physiological adaptations. They may go through controlled body fluid freezing or produce antifreeze compounds to prevent ice crystals from causing cellular damage.
Common Overwinter Pests
Homeowners usually deal with the following overwinter pests:
- Mice and rats. House mice and Norway rats can thrive in various habitats. They seek warmth and shelter, so they try to enter houses to overwinter. Sadly, they present a possible nuisance and health risks for homeowners.
- Cockroaches. These pests can thrive in various environments. When it gets cold outside, they seek shelter indoors to stay warm. Once inside your house, roaches can hide in dark, secluded places like the bathroom, kitchen, and basement. Roaches can feed on different organic matter and adjust to almost any situation, which makes them a serious nuisance throughout the year.
Eliminating Overwintering Pests
If you fail to prevent overwintering pests from entering your home, they may be hiding in dark, secluded areas such as the attic, within the walls, in the basement, or behind appliances. Mouse traps can help you capture mice. If you have bug issues, use sprays to treat the affected area. But your best option is to hire a pest control company to eliminate your unwanted winter visitors and establish measures to prevent future infestations.
