With the temperatures slowly cooling off, certain kinds of pests could be heading into your home for shelter. Some pests need to find a warm and safe hiding spot to stay throughout the winter months to protect them from the cold. Since these pests can be a nuisance, you might need Hilton Head Island insect control to eliminate them. You can also take steps on your own to lower your risk of having pests overwinter in your home.
Overwintering Pests in SC
Overwintering pests are ones that don’t stay outdoors when it’s cold. Instead, these pests tend to find an indoor place to hide until the weather gets warmer. This can often mean residential homes, which might offer these pests access to food and water along with heat and shelter. While these pests might not be a problem for you during winter, you might see them from time to time if they leave their hiding spot. However, you’re more likely to see them in spring when they emerge from hiding in order to find a way to get outdoors.
What kinds of pests are known to overwinter in our area? Stink bugs, boxelder bugs, ladybugs and cluster flies are among the pests that might take up temporary residence in your home this winter. As the weather gets cooler, these pests might gather on your home’s exterior in groups before finding cracks or other entry points. You might see these pests on the sunny side of your house, especially in the afternoon.
Where Overwintering Pests Go
Overwintering pests look for hidden areas to stay where they won’t be disturbed or harmed. This usually means they hide inside walls, in attics, in basements or in garages. You might also have them in your shed. These hiding spots give them shelter from the cold and adverse winter weather. In spring, you might see these pests leaving their shelter and gathering around windows or doors inside your home to try and find a way out.
Risks of Overwintering Pests
Should you be worried about disease or damage from overwintering pests? In general, these pests don’t cause health problems, serious damage or food contamination. However, they can invade your home in large numbers, which makes them harder to get rid of. Some of these pests, such as stink bugs, might leave a foul odor behind in your home if they’re disturbed or crushed.
Preventing Overwintering Pests
How can you keep these pests out of your home? There are several things you can do to make it difficult for them to get inside or discourage them from staying in your home. This includes the following:
• Close up any possible entry points pests can use to gain access to your home’s interior. Seal up gaps or cracks in your exterior and around windows and doors.
• Clear away debris and clutter that pests can hide in, which forces them to go elsewhere for shelter in winter.
• Vacuum often and clean up any messes or spills right away. This cuts down on sources of food or water for these pests.
• Have your chimney and gutters cleaned, since these pests could choose these places as overwintering spots.
• Keep stacks of firewood away from the exterior of your home. Pests can lurk in these piles and gain entry to your home more easily when firewood is stacked up next to your exterior.
• Hire Hilton Head Island insect control professionals to handle any infestations of overwintering pests. These professionals can also help prevent new infestations from occurring.
If you need Hilton Head Island insect control services for overwintering pests, please contact Island Pest Control. Our skilled technicians know how to rid your home of these pests, so you won’t have to deal with them indoors when spring arrives.
