Fall, which is also known as Autumn in some parts of the world, marks the season between summer and winter. The months categorized as fall are usually September, October, and November. This is the time of the year when trees lose their leaves, and parks are covered with fallen leaves. This is the primary reason why the season is named so. During this time of the year, when the cold is just about to set in and everything seems peaceful and perfect, some things can go wrong and cause havoc in your life if you are not careful enough. If you have not guessed it yet, we are referring to pests.
Which Pests Are Found During Fall?
Just like the weather changes with each season, so do the pests that we see. Some pests prefer warmer weather and peak in spring and summer, while other pests will surge in the winter as they come inside to get out of the cold. For such pests, fall is their time to bloom and grow. Some of these pests are listed below.
- Ants – Ants are common pests that are found in almost all seasons of the year. They are also the common pests seen in houses and properties during the fall. Cooler weather may cause ants to move their trails indoors. What makes these tiny creatures so hard to get rid of is that they can crawl into your home from any tiny place. It can become almost impossible to determine where they came in from, especially if you have a garden around your home.
- Rodents – These pesky creatures are havoc to deal with, especially if they make a permanent residence in your home and property. Mice and rats are known to seek out warm places for shelter throughout the winter. These pests are a danger not only to the property they infest, but they also threaten your family’s health as they often carry various diseases transmitted to humans through contaminated food.
- Flies – Cluster flies, fruit flies, and house flies will seek out heat as the weather changes. At first sight, flies may seem like harmless creatures, but do not be fooled by their size. Flies are the carriers of several diseases, some of which can be serious and life-threatening. When these flies infect the food, they can pass on the disease to you if you eat the same food and cause serious health problems.
- Boxelder bugs and stink bugs – Both these odorous bugs are infamous for seeking out homes to invade before the winter. Bugs are easier to notice than ants and flies due to their larger size. Neither stink bugs nor boxelder bugs cause harm to humans, but they have some interesting reactions to danger. When crushed, the boxelder bug will secrete a dye that stains. The stink bug emits a bad odor when squashed. Nevertheless, they can invade your home for warmth and shelter, and if not checked, they can soon start a pest problem.
- Cockroaches – Cockroaches are probably the most persistent pests in the history of pests. Most houses have these pests threatening them. As long as they have access to warm and moist environments, roaches can live year-round, making them one of the most harmful pests to ever live in your home and property. You may start by seeing a single cockroach in your home, and in the next few weeks, there will be several more, and by a month, there will be cockroaches everywhere. They can cause severe allergic reactions in people, even though they are not known to cause any disease.
During the fall and as the colder months approach, most pests find shelter in your home and property due to the easy availability of food and to seek warmth from the cold winter months.
How Can You Stop Fall Pests?
Staying alert is the first step to preventing fall pests from invading your home. Although there is no guaranteed way to ensure your home is pest-free at all times, there are several steps you can take to reduce the risks. Some of the steps are as follows.
- Fix any broken openings – Pests usually crawl into your home and property through windows or doors. But even if your doors and windows are shut, they can creep in through any broken opening in them. A crack in the door or a hole near the window is all they need to sneak into your house and create a problem. So, if you notice any opening that should not be there, make it a point to get it fixed and seal it.
- Remove moisture problems – Pests love warmth and moisture. Your home is already a warm environment, but it also has a moisture problem; pests will most likely choose your home over any other home in town. This is why you must fix any leaks in faucets that you may have and check the pipes of your home and ensure there are no leaks in them.
- Keep the surroundings of your home clean – One way to keep pests away from your house is to ensure they are not anywhere near it. If you have a garden, make sure that it is properly maintained and trimmed. Ensure that no bugs and ants are crawling into your home through your garden. Also, make it a point to check if there is an accumulation of garbage or other debris near your home, as these are the places from where pests can easily spread and infest your home.
If you follow the above tips, then you will reduce the probability of a pest infestation in your home to a great extent.
What to Do if Your Home Is Infested With Pests?
If you have failed to keep pests away from your home for whatever reason, there is no denying that it is a huge problem and naturally a cause for concern. But there is no need for you to worry as we at All Solutions Pest Control are professionally trained to handle such situations. If you are facing a pest problem, contact us for immediate pest control and management services, and rest assured your problem will be solved in no time.