Rain rain go away, the pests are coming in to play!

Winter months bring cold weather, rain and less bugs (or so one may think), leading people to believe they do not need pest control this time of year. However, it is a common misconception that bugs die off in the winter. This actually isn’t the case at all. So where do they all go in colder weather? Well, they just move to someplace warmer…your home!

Bugs will enter through cracks and crevices until they find shelter in wall voids, attics, basements and crawl spaces. The pests that do not enter structures will burrow underground or even in trees to survive. Another common misconception is that bugs also hibernate. Truth is, the state they go into is called a “dormant state” -meaning they slow down to conserve energy, a behavior caused by cold weather and lack of food sources.

In addition to bugs trying to find a warmer place to call home, rodents will do the same. This is why recurring treatment and routine inspections are important. Installing door sweeps, weather stripping and sealing up any rodent entry points can help reduce or prevent infestation.

So when winter months hit, it may be wise to reconsider the need for pest control. Without a recurring service you may find that once things warm back up in the spring, high numbers of pests will start popping back up. The invasion of your property could call for an extensive and expensive treatment.
​
When it comes to pests, “peace of mind” can be priceless…because pests don’t wear sweaters! 

Earwigs (pincher bugs) were once widely believed to burrow into your ear while you slept...hence the name. You might have known that one, but did you know that earwigs are one of the few non-social insects to care for their young?

Earwigs clean their eggs to protect them from parasitic fungi, actively fight off predators, and will even feed their young after they have hatched! This may seem common, but in the insect world it is almost unheard of. Just about every other insect follows the "sink or swim" method of parenting.

Unfortunately, earwigs are pests and fast breeders. They can lay up to 60 eggs in a single burrow. Have you ever overturned soil only to see what seems like hundreds of earwigs scurrying about? Or witnessed areas of your garden almost devoured overnight?

Outdoors they can cause serious damage to your garden and ornamental plants. Freshly started gardens are even more at risk. They often go for the tender young plants as soon as they emerge from the ground, wiping out a bed of seedlings before you know it. There goes all of your hard work and money put into starting your lovely garden. Damage to these plants can often be mistaken for slug damage so it's worth knowing how to identify the problem and know what you’re dealing with.

Besides being a pest outdoors, they also love damp places and will commonly be sighted gathering in areas like bathrooms and garages. However, they move quickly and can be seen just about anywhere, even hiding in towels and bedding.

So besides rolling up that newspaper to give it a good smack, give us a call and we will help you with a treatment that will eliminate these pests and give you more peace of mind!