It’s easy to assume pests disappear once summer ends. They’re certainly less visible in the colder months, but that doesn’t mean they’ve gone. Most simply change their behaviour, and some of them move into your home to do it. Keeping a property pest-free is a year-round job, not a summer one.
Pests respond to winter in four main ways. Knowing which one you’re dealing with helps you work out where to look and what to do about it.
Some migrate
Certain insects live in seasonal plants, so when those plants die back they have to move on to find warmth and food. Much like birds heading south, these pests relocate for the winter and reappear in your home or garden once spring arrives. There isn’t a great deal you can do about migration itself, but it’s worth remembering the usual suspects will be back when the weather warms up.
Some hibernate
Other species ride out the cold by hibernating. Before they shut down, they feed heavily, build up their reserves and shed excess water from their bodies, then go looking for a sheltered, undisturbed spot to sleep. Chimneys, gaps under the roof, loft spaces and holes in walls are all favourites. The best defence is to find these entry points before winter sets in and seal them, so there’s nowhere for pests to settle.
Some reproduce
Many pests time their breeding to the seasons, which gives the next generation cover and a head start when spring comes. Moths are a good example. The adults won’t survive the winter, but they lay eggs that will, and those eggs often go unnoticed in quiet corners. That’s why so many homes suddenly have a moth problem in spring, long after the parents have gone.
Some move into your home
Plenty of pests are simply desperate to survive, and they’ll take any warm, dry spot they can find. Your home offers everything they need to eat, sleep and breed. A lot of insects slip indoors, tuck themselves away somewhere quiet and effectively fall asleep until the first warm day of spring, at which point they reappear in plain sight. Keep a close eye on lofts, wardrobes, garages and any holes in your walls, as these are where they tend to hide.
If you’d like advice on keeping infestations out this winter, give our specialist pest controllers a call and we’ll be happy to help. We’re open every day except Christmas Day, from early until late.