With summer coming to a close, the last thing you want to worry about is pests who are about to search around your home for places to stay during the colder months. This is called overwintering, and can be an extremely frustrating and expensive issue to deal with. Thankfully, Franklin Pest Solutions can put your mind at ease with some easy overwintering pest prevention info!
WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT SPIDERS…
Let’s start by reassuring you we totally understand being grossed out about spiders.They’re really creepy! Arachnophobia is one of the biggest phobias, and for some, it can be unbearable. While your first reaction to seeing a spider may be to kill it, scream, or even run, it’s actually beneficial to leave them be if you do come across one. The main reason is simple–they’re predators, and their prey is other insects. By letting them go about their business, they’re nature’s indoor pest control!
Even so, spiders can be pretty terrifying and gross, so the fewer you see can often be better for some. Overwintering pests like stink bugs, lady bugs, bluebottle flies, and box elder bugs won’t be able to access their usual spots to get into your home once you’ve taken overwintering pest precautions, which means the predators (spiders in this case) don’t have a food source. No food means the spiders have no reason to stick around!
But if you just can’t deal with spiders around the house we have some helpful pest prevention methods that anyone can easily tackle:
- Make sure door and window screens are serviceable and free of holes and tears. Verify that any cracks or crevices between them and the wall are properly sealed.
- Get rid of as much clutter as possible, and store what you keep in sealable plastic tubs.
- If you have to use cardboard boxes, use an ‘H’ pattern (across the flaps and both ends) to seal them with packing tape.
- Vacuum up any webs, egg sacs, live and dead spiders, and any dead insects around them with a HEPA filter vacuum and seal them in a container to dispose of.
- Set out glue traps if necessary.
- Check places spiders frequently hide: corners, baseboards, under appliances, in storage areas and closets, underneath shelves and drawers.
If all these precautions and preventative measures aren’t enough, the Franklin Pest Solutions Integrated Pest Management approach will take care of any spiders around the home or office.
WHAT ABOUT OTHER PESTS?
Along with spiders, cockroaches, rodents, and my personal nemesis the house centipede are the best of the worst when it comes to the kind of pests that search for ways to get into your home to stick around for the colder months.
Franklin’s VP of Operations went into a bit more detail below:
“From asthma and allergies triggered by cockroaches, to salmonella and food contamination caused by rodents, there are a number of serious health risks associated with fall pests. Similarly, critters like mice and rats can chew through electrical wiring, among other destructive habits, possibly causing a house fire. These potential implications from a pest infestation should be taken seriously, and with consistent pest-proofing, homeowners can help protect themselves against these dangers.”
But no matter how awesome a pest control expert is, without your help rodents can still be a big problem. The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) have some fantastic tips to make sure rodents, as well as any other overwintering pests are kept at bay:
- Screen attic vents and openings to chimneys.
- Eliminate moisture sites, including leaking pipes and clogged drains.
- Seal cracks and crevices on the outside of the home using caulk and steel wool. Pay close attention to where utility pipes enter the structure.
- Store food in airtight containers and dispose of garbage regularly in sealed receptacles.
- Replace loose mortar and weather stripping around the basement foundation and windows.
- Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house, and keep shrubbery well trimmed.
- Install door sweeps and repair damaged screens.
- Inspect items such as boxes of decorations and grocery bags before bringing them indoors.
- If you suspect a pest infestation, contact a licensed pest control professional who can properly inspect and treat the problem.
Franklin Pest Solution’s primary concern is you, our community! We strive to keep everyone as educated as possible regarding all pests, not just the overwintering ones. As the days start to get shorter, remember our prevention tips, but also remember we’re just a phone call away 800-GOT-PESTS if you’re ever in need of some more answers.
