If you’ve noticed an increase in insects in your home in the fall, it’s not your imagination and it’s not just you. It’s the result of pests trying to get out of the colder weather. Some pests migrate to warmer climates, some burrow in or under debris while others just try to get into our homes to warm up. The scientific term for this phenomenon is overwintering.
The form of overwintering that most directly affects you is when fall pests enter your home. There are several types of pests in the Lubbock TX area whose overwintering habits can affect you. The most difficult pests to get rid of are the ones you can’t see because they’re in the attic or behind your walls. Some of the fall pests most likely to end up there include: Rodents, termites, and wasps. Read on to learn more about why these pests try to get into homes in the fall and winter.
Rodents
You probably know that squirrels are excellent climbers but so is the common house mouse. These rodents can squeeze through a hole as small as 1/4 inch and can quickly climb straight up an eight-foot wall in less than half a minute. From there, it’s easy to get into your attic and make a nest. If you hear scratching or gnawing noises from up above or inside the walls, you likely have a rodent inside your attic or wall voids. It’s time to call an experienced rodent exterminator like D’s Pest Control.
Termites
Termites are considered to be the most destructive pest in America. The estimated annual cost of termite damage in the US is up to $30 billion! Termites, if you have them, are always trying to enter your house. So, what’s different about fall and winter? First, subterranean termites, the most destructive species, tend to burrow deeper into the ground to stay warm in the winter. This means you’re less likely to discover a subterranean termite infestation until the spring. During that time termites can do a great deal of damage. Once termites can get in your home they will consume wood and anything else that contains cellulose. Signs of termites in your home include: blisters on painted wood, hollow-sounding wood and unexplained pinhole-sized holes.
Wasps
Wasp colonies as a whole don’t overwinter; the regular workers die each winter. However, fertilized queens overwinter outdoors, taking shelter in hollow logs, stumps or under leaves or in structures. Because nests can be built directly on a home, wasps like the paper wasp have been known to make their way indoors through holes in attic vent screens or underneath shingles. So ensure that your attic is as sealed as possible to prevent wasps, and other fall pests, from entering.
Experienced Local Exterminators
D’s Pest Control has been providing the Lubbock TX area with quality pest control services for over 35 years. If you have any of these pests in your home, D’s Pest Control can help get them out and keep them out. Call us for a free quote!