Fall Insect Prevention: A Seasonal Guide
As the leaves change and temperatures drop, it’s time to prepare your home for the seasonal pest control challenges that fall brings. Last fall, a realtor friend came to us with a stinky problem. A home she was trying to sell had a stink bug infestation! While stinkbugs aren’t harmful, they weren’t helping the house sale!
From pesky insects seeking shelter to rodents looking for warmth, various pests can invade your space during this time. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the common fall pests you may encounter, how to prevent infestations, and the expert services Bats and Bugs Pest Control offers to keep your home pest-free.
The effects of the seasons on insects and wildlife
Each season brings different types of rodents, wildlife, and insects. While bats typically hibernate and get pretty quiet, raccoons and squirrels will up their efforts to get into your home, shed, or garage if it’s warmer than outside. A good rule of thumb is to look, listen, and smell for any pests is the best way to address potential issues. If you encounter a wildlife issue, or if your pest issues become more than you can manage, contact Bats and Bugs Pest Control!
Insects: What to Expect This Fall
Seasonal invaders: During late September and October boxelder bugs, multi-colored lady beetles, brown marmorated stink bugs and other pests are seeking shelter close to warm structures. They often attempt to hide behind siding, in window and door seals, and around plumbing penetrations on the south sides of buildings to stay warm during the cold Iowa winters. These pests are found in cracks and crevices throughout your home, and emit a foul odor and they can leave a stain if they’re squished. Vacuum them to get rid of them, or see ouFacebookok post to learn more tips and tricks! When it comes to stinkbugs you can try setting a trap by placing a roasting pan filled with soapy water in a dark room and shining a light at it. Stink bugs are attracted to light.
Through the winter, homeowners may see the occasional boxelder bug strolling sluggishly along a wall or window sill. These sluggish bugs sometimes wake up early from their winter slumber and can easily be vacuumed up or let back outside. In the earlier parts of fall you’ll see them in places where it’s warm for example you might see clusters outside of your home on a sunny day.
Prevention Tips
August and September is a great time to clean up and check your windows and doors. While you are outside, check your foundation before heading inside to check your basement or crawl space openings where bugs and rodents could get in. Just be careful not to walk into any spiderwebs while you’re looking for those spiders…
In October and November: you’re watching a Halloween movie, and suddenly, a spider descends from the ceiling. It’s like they know it’s their season! Maybe they’re just fans of Halloween and pie, but more likely, they are finding their way to where the insects are also migrating. Regular cleanings focusing on those high-up corners and around your windowsills will help both the spiders and bug populations. In November, double-check that your entry points are sealed up and make sure debris like leaf piles or wood piles aren’t too close to those entry points your home in general, specifically by the foundation.
December and January: are months when many of us think there would be a drop in activity, but the colder it gets, the harder they will work to get inside. In addition to that, if you bring in potential issues from natural Christmas trees or store decorations in an outdoor shed, you could bring the problems in with you! Keep up on checking if you feel a breeze or cold spot in areas like your crawlspaces or basements because those are areas where insects, mice, and rats could also be entering. Read our blog here to learn more about rodent control.
What Bats and Bugs Can Do for You
Don’t let pests treat your home like their fall getaway – give us a call, and we’ll evict them all! Contact Bats and Bugs Pest Control today for a free inspection and quote. Our expert team is ready to help you enjoy a pest-free home. We offer standard one-time, monthly, or every other month treatment plans that can include a rodent prevention add-on. Our treatment programs start with a comprehensive interior and exterior inspection of your home to identify why or how bugs are getting into your home and outdoor areas that might be attractive for them. We then set up an integrated pest management program developed to address your current issues and provide recommendations to reduce and, in some cases, resolve past pest problems effectively. With an agreed-upon timeline and price, we’ll move forward with your treatment program. Since we would already look at all of the nooks and crannies of your home for ways that bugs can get in, please let us know if you would like to add on the rodent prevention program, and we can include recommendations and resolutions the same day.
