Fall Pests That Can Ruin Your Homes And How To Prevent That
Spiders only look cute on Halloween decorations. If you end up finding a few, not fake ones in your bed things would take a turn to the actual spooky territory.
Fall is around when temperatures start dropping and many creatures start looking for warm places to retreat for the winter. It is not at all unusual for many of these uninvited guests to lodge in your home.
Common Fall Pests and What You Should Do About Them
Rodents
Rodents like mice and rats are common fall miscreants. As the temperatures plummet outside they move into domestic environments looking for warmth and food. Rodents are known to carry pathogens causing Salmonella and Hantavirus. They can even bring home fleas, ticks, and lice.
In addition to posing a health risk, rodents also destroy your property. They chew through clothes, furniture, and even power cables and wiring. Every year, the US reports several house fires caused by naked wires left behind by mice and rats.
What To Do
Look out for droppings and gnawed furniture and frayed clothes or chords to identify if your house has an infestation. Always wear gloves when getting rid of the droppings and disinfectant areas you suspect might have seen rodent activity.
Block all gaps and holes to keep these pests from entering your house. If your house has an unused chimney, cap it. Keep your kitchen clean and store food in airtight containers.
Regularly clear out attics, basements, and storerooms to make sure they don’t nest in the dark corners. We suggest hiring rodent control to purge your home of these plague bearing pests.
Moths
As winter closes in, light and warmth become limited outside. This will get moths heading to your house like a…well, a moth drawn to a flame. Adult moths aren’t hugely destructive but they are a nuisance. The larva though eats through fabric and dry food like bread and spaghetti.
What to do
Use cedar oil and spray water diffused with cedar oil all-around your home. The pheromones in the oil keep away moths and other insects. It is an effective way to get rid of these pests and keep the house smelling amazing. Wash your clothes thoroughly in warm water and dry them on high heat. If you find traces of an infestation in your clothes you can also freeze them to kill the eggs and larva. Vacuum your floor and carpet regularly.
However, sometimes the problem can get out of hand and these simple hacks might not be enough anymore. In such cases calling pest control services will offer you better solutions.
Cockroaches
Most American homes face a severe roach problem around fall/winter. Cockroaches prefer warm, moist areas to live in and when the outside temperatures become too unfavorable they move into your homes. Cockroaches can cause respiratory problems and allergies. They also breed unnaturally fast and not addressing the issue on time can soon have your house looking like Jack Smight’s damnation alley (even typing that out activates my fight or flight).
Cockroaches are nocturnal insects so you will have to keep an eye out for droppings, eggs, and sometimes an unpleasant cockroach odor.
What to do
Insecticides and dousing your home in bug repellent spray can restrain the problem to a certain extent but in our experience, the best way to deal with roaches is to call an exterminator. They have access to professional tools adept at taking down these relentless pests. They will also be able to help you seal previously unidentified cracks and openings to avoid the possibility of another infestation in the future.
Want in on Mother Nature’s’ secret to effective pest control? Call Us!
Four decades of putting an end to our customers' pest problems. All that experience and skill under the belt have made us the best pest control services in all of Oklahoma City. From rodents to roaches, we assure you our services will leave you with no room to complain. Contact us today!