Winter is here, and although the temperature in QLD, doesn’t dip as much as it does in other areas of the country, it still cools enough to change the types of pests that are present around our homes.

Do you know about the common annoying winter pests? Without proper pest control, you face an extensive, expensive clean-up of your home. Not to mention the disease these types of pests can spread and how it could impact your family’s health.

Additionally, keeping garden pests from taking up residence in your home is essential as a homeowner. 

This article will explain the common pests you face during the year’s colder months. Learn how to prevent the spread and treat an infestation should you encounter any.

How Do Garden Pests Enter Your Home?

If you’ve noticed pests in your home, you know they’re coming in from somewhere. Once you’ve found their entrances, you can work on closing them up so that pests cannot use them anymore. For example, you can use screens on your doors and windows, keep them closed, and seal up any nooks and cracks they’re using to enter your home.

If you constantly battle pest infestations, you may need to look around at other factors that create a welcoming environment for them. For example, an unkempt yard will make an attractive space for rodents and other garden pests to make their home.

Common pests like spiders, moths, etc., may also take up residence in your ceiling, so keeping that area sealed off and clean will help reduce the likelihood of an infestation.

Identifying Common Types of Pests

Now that you know more about how these annoying and unwanted guests are getting into your home, it’s time to become familiar with the type of pests you’ll see more of in the winter months.

This doesn’t mean you won’t see any of these during the other seasons, but you may notice an uptake in certain pests as they try to escape the colder months. Let’s look at the most common pests:

Rodents

Although rats and mice are homeothermic animals (warm blooded) and are capable of staying outside during the cooler months, they will still seek opportunities to sneak indoors when the opportunity presents itself.

If they do, rodents can do a lot of damage. They can wreak havoc by chewing up your possessions as nesting materials (i.e., books, office papers, etc.) or the cables that run through the walls and behind cabinets.

Leaving wild rodents to live in your home can compromise yours and your family’s health. Common types of rodents that you may spot are:

• Large brown sewer rat – generally found to nest under buildings. Largely commercial areas
• Black climbing rat – generally found to nest inside homes and around homes.

Spiders

Spiders are content keeping warm in our shed’s or under leaves in our gardens, however they will much prefer the opportunity to keep warm inside our homes during winter.

A spider here and there is not usually a problem, even if you don’t like spiders. However, many can quickly become a pest infestation. Additionally, it may be challenging to ascertain whether the spiders in question are venomous and can risk your and your family’s health.

Termites

Whilst termites are more active and prefer the warmth of summer and spring, they are active throughout the year, so winter is a good time to get your house termite ready before their activity increases. A termite infestation can be devastating when your home’s frame is made from timber, but even if your home is brick or steel frame, the timber inside i.e. door frames, window frames, timber trusses or skirting boards etc are prime food for termites

If you notice any termite activity in or around your home, you must call in the experts.

Ants

Ants survive the colder months in one of two ways. Either they are successful in finding warm shelter inside your home where the temperature is more to their liking and food is plentiful or they will enter a period of dormant behaviour / hibernation during the winter. When left unattended, ants can bore into the foundation and frame of your home.  While not as detrimental as termites, ants can damage your home significantly.

If you have an ant infestation, you may notice them gathering in certain areas, such as the sink for water. They can contaminate food, so they’re best dealt with immediately.

Moths

A moth infestation may be a big fear if you’re a fashion lover and have an extensive clothing closet. Moths are drawn to fibrous materials like clothing, carpets, fabrics, leather, and fur.

Otherwise, moths are harmless and come in several varieties. For example:

• Common clothes moth
• Salt and Peppered moth
• Carpet moth

Cockroaches

One of the most well-known common household pests is the cockroach. We all know that cockroaches like to make our homes theirs but as they are cold blooded, they certainly like to get up close and personal during winter.  The mere sight of them sends chills down peoples’ spines. Cockroaches are known to carry disease pathogens and should not be left unaddressed if an infestation is underway.

These pathogens can cause “food poisoning” if your food, preparation surfaces, eating utensils, and plates become contaminated. This transfer can occur when the roach comes into contact with the above.

Fleas

One of the most irritating household pests is fleas. Fleas are active throughout the year, they don’t go into hibernation but they don’t like the cold either so our pets become a nice warm place to live and breed, which means we must maintain flea treatments on our pets during the winter. 

Pre-emptively Combatting With Winter Pest Control

Being proactive about common pests can make a huge difference. Here are a few pest control and prevention tips to help you manage.

• Repair cracks, holes, etc., so pests can no longer use them.
• Keep your sub-floor, crawl spaces, and roof void clean, dry, and properly ventilated.
• Keep your garden free of clutter and keep trees and bushes trimmed.
• Dispose of your rubbish properly, and don’t leave rubbish bags lying around.
• Don’t store your firewood close to / against your house.
• Hire pest control services to do an inspection / treatment every season.

Say Yes to Pest Control in Winter

A pest infestation in winter can be a big problem, depending on the severity. Knowing the types of pests that can enter your home and take up residence is vital to understanding how to prevent them in the first place.

Ensure you regularly check your property in winter for pests such as rodents, moths, ants, termites, fleas, etc. This way, you can call pest control services to contain the problem.

Contact us today if you’re looking for pest control guaranteed not to cause any disruption. We have experts waiting to provide you with award-winning service.