Changing weather always brings new challenges when it comes to pest management. Being prepared for changing seasons is just a part of life here in New England, and that means being ready when spring rains drive ants indoors, or summer heat leads to clouds of mosquitoes.
Spring
The big change that takes place in spring is that it starts to get warmer, and as a result, insects start to wake up. Looking for food, water, and a place to reproduce, insects often find their way into homes in spring. Wasps commonly start building nests under eaves at this time of year, while termites enter through foundation cracks and ants may be driven into your home by the rain or moisture conditions.
Spring isn’t the most common time for rodents to try to enter your home, but this is the time when they begin to reproduce rapidly. This could spell trouble, especially if you’ve had these pests over the winter without even knowing it.
Summer
Bees and wasps often become a major problem in summer. Paper wasps and hornets start building their nests under any overhang that will protect them from the rain, while yellow jackets create nests in foundation cracks and underground areas, often going unnoticed until you accidentally drive your lawn mower over them. Mosquitoes and ticks also breed in earnest during summer, frequently causing major problems in backyards.
Mammal pests like squirrels and raccoons may also turn up in your yard—especially if you have bird feeders or outdoor trash cans—but they don’t typically try to enter homes during summer.
Fall
Bugs know that cold weather is coming, and some species—especially ladybugs, boxelder bugs, and certain types of stink bugs—invade homes in great numbers, looking for a warm place to overwinter. You might see an increase in spider activity during fall, as well.
Larger pests, including mice, rats, squirrels, and occasionally even raccoons, are also looking for a safe, warm place at this time of year. That makes fall an especially important time to make sure your home is sealed and secure.
Winter
Winter is your home’s most vulnerable season for a wide range of pests. A house offers protection from the elements, and often a free source of food, which is too much for many insects and rodents to resist.
Keep an eye out for cockroaches during the winter months, as well as mice and rats. These pests do their best to stay out of sight, are often able to go unnoticed for a long period of time, and are very difficult to completely get rid of once they’re established.
Year-Round Defense
In any season, there are many things you can do to make your home more resistant to pests. Be sure to seek out professional pest management when traditional preventative methods like these aren’t enough:
- Seal off any holes or gaps bigger than one-eighth of an inch.
- Trim back shrubbery so that it doesn’t brush up against your house.
- Check your foundation for cracks.
- Keep trash cans securely closed.
- Clear your drains.
- Eliminate standing water on your property.
- Keep bird feeders well away from your main house.
For more information on pest management for all seasons, contact Bain Pest Control today. We’ve been providing quality pest management throughout New England since 1926, and we’re prepared to help you through all weather.