5 Kinds of Bugs That Stick Around in the Winter
While it may not necessarily feel like it in the Lowcountry, winter is right around the corner. It is important to remember that just like us, plenty of insects are preparing for the upcoming cold weather. Bugs that we may not expect to make it through the colder temperatures, such as termites, cockroaches, bed bugs, spiders, and ants, all have methods of survival — and one of these methods includes taking shelter in the warmth of your home.
In order to keep these unwanted visitors out this holiday season, it’s important to plan ahead and set up a quality pest control treatment ahead of time. Keep reading to discover which types of bugs are preparing to stick around for winter, and how to prevent these pests from making themselves cozy beneath the Christmas tree this holiday season.
Termites
Despite their reputation as warm-weather pests, termites know how to take advantage of the cooler temperatures. During the cold months, they reproduce all season until around February. Look out for the Eastern Subterranean Termite in particular, whose colonies can grow to over several million termites at once. These aggressive pests cause more than $5 billion in property damage every year to an estimated 600,000 homes.
As you shop for exterminator services, take note that some companies will take advantage of consumers’ misconception that different species of termite require individualized termite control treatments. Consumers run the risk of being overcharged and misled by companies who advertise that they target specific termites with certain treatments and charge extra for the extermination of others. Formosan termites, for example, have frequented the Southeast since 1950. As long as thorough inspections are performed annually, they can be treated with the same pest control treatment as other species. This is often ignored by large companies trying to overcharge clients for extra and unnecessary termite control procedures.
Cockroaches
In the Southeast, we are all too familiar with cockroaches. These pests are particularly vulnerable to colder outdoor climates, so they run rampant in warm, tropical areas up until it’s time to hunker down and protect themselves when the temperatures drop. Unfortunately for us, this means that they target the interior of homes to find warm spaces where they can survive.
They especially prefer warm, damp spots inside our homes throughout the winter, so they target areas such as crawl spaces or basements for shelter.
To keep these unwelcome critters out, think carefully as you plan which pest control treatment is best for you. Palmetto Exterminators offers crawlspace solutions that aim to protect homes and properties in the Carolinas. Conventional ventilated crawl spaces allow moisture and “dirty” air to enter our homes. Sealing and conditioning the crawl space lowers wood moisture content, lowers energy costs, and improves indoor air quality — all of which contribute to keeping cockroaches out of your home.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs can be very resilient creatures. They do not typically survive below-freezing temperatures, but for brief periods of time, survival is possible. When temperatures drop significantly, they will enter a sort of hibernation state. However, the way bed bugs hibernate is a bit different from how many other bugs do. Bed bugs go into a state of hibernation called diapause — and all that’s required to wake them back up is a warmer temperature.
Weather in the Southeast regions is not typically a big threat for bedbugs, considering that they primarily live indoors anyway. Especially in the Southeast, aggressive temperature drops do not commonly present as a threat to these pests. Since you can’t rely on the weather to keep you safe, Palmetto Exterminators offers pest control treatments to keep these bugs out of your bed.
With cooperation from our customers, our bed bug control and treatment process includes:
- Thorough inspections of all living spaces
- Cleaning all items within the bed bug-infested living area
- Washing and drying all linens and clothes in hot water and high heat
- Reducing clutter where bed bugs can hide
- Physically removing bugs through cleaning and vacuuming
- Using pesticides with caution
- Steam treating as necessary
To contact us about bed bug control, click here.
Spiders
Spiders have evolved to be able to survive the winter, with many being able to ride out sub-freezing temperatures. Unlike humans, spiders are cold-blooded creatures that cannot regulate their own body temperatures. During the cold weather, spiders go through a cold-hardening process which helps them survive the winter.
This is good news for homeowners — spiders will not be going out of their way to seek shelter indoors. However, the outdoors is another story. Many species are still active in the mild Lowcountry winters, and they can still be a threat. To protect yourself from spider bites this winter, make sure to wear long-sleeved clothing, use a protective spray, maintain a clutter-free environment in your yard and garage, and have Palmetto Exterminators perform outdoor pest control treatments around your property.
Ants
When it comes to surviving winter, ants are the experts. They have perfected the craft of survival by waiting out the winter season. To do so, they drop their body temperatures and seek out warm places such as the underside of rocks, deep in the soil, or under the bark of trees.
To prepare for the cold weather, though, ants need to collect food to keep them sustained — and this is where your pantry comes in handy. Since ants are omnivores, they are attracted to anything and everything edible they can find inside your home to keep them sustained for the winter — not to mention the haven of warmth!
These critters can find entryways into your home through plenty of methods — through gaps in the floorboards, spaces in windows or doors, cracks in the walls, and so on. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure that you have secured your home’s foundation to prevent unwanted guests from entering.
With the help of our pest control treatment services, Palmetto Exterminators can solve all of your pest problems, including ant infestations. We customize our pest treatments to solve whatever problem you may encounter and strive to provide you with personalized and effective solutions.
