Fall’s Most Notorious Pest Invaders
According to our Tampa pest control experts, as the weather begins to cool down, a number of pests throughout the area will begin scoping out shelter from the wind and cold of fall and winter. Unfortunately, your home usually provides the best option. Ants, in particular, begin their swarming season over the next few months. During swarming season, they’re looking for new mates to breed with and, more importantly, regions to colonize. There are a wide variety of ant species that can invade your home: ghost ants, white footed ants, rover ants, carpenter ants, and fire ants.
Rodents have also been known to cause problems in the fall. Since they are warm-blooded creatures like us, they rely on heated locations to help them survive when the temperature drops. Young mice use this time of year to find a new place to live. Warm homes with their many enticing aromas wafting outdoors are extremely tempting and welcoming to a mouse.
Cockroaches are also more likely to move in during the fall, as they too prefer a warm, cozy environment; thus, many local residents are likely to see a creepy cockroach or two skittering across the floor during the fall. While cockroaches tend to congregate in dirty places, even the cleanest of homes can find a problem developing.
Your home isn’t the only part of your property at risk during the fall, your lawn needs protection from certain predators as well. Sod webworms are particularly active during this period of time, and they’ll go straight for your grass’s roots, sucking up all the nutrients from each blade. Grubs can be a problem too. They also feed on grass roots.
Because of the many pests looking for a place to spend the winter, homeowners are advised to take some preventative measures to keep them out. Precautions include trimming back plants that touch the house, installing door sweeps, repairing screens, checking vents and chimneys, and sealing cracks and any other entry points. Also, it’s a good idea to try to make your home as unappealing to pests as possible by repairing sink or bathtub leaks and keeping food and garbage in airtight containers.
Just because a number of critters mobilize and invade during the fall, that doesn’t mean you’re defenseless against pests. If you suspect you have a problem, don’t hesitate, call the Tampa pest control experts at Apex Pest Control to learn more about how we can get rid of pests for you. Also, don’t forget to ask about our comprehensive pest control systems that can be administered to your specific needs, preventing problems in the first place.
Have you had problems with one of these fall invaders? Which invader have you dealt with in the past? How did you solve the problem? Share your stories with us and we’ll share them with our followers.
