Late Summer Pests Are Getting Ready Now

As late summer rolls into Fall, the pests are planning on moving in…to your house! Some pests, like spiders, wasps, bees, and other stinging insects see the late summer temperatures as a signal for nesting and breeding, and some pests, like cockroaches, and mice will be planning on staying the winter indoors.

Spiders are active around your home seeking other spiders to mate with in late summer and early fall, making August and September the worst time of year for spider infestations. In addition to their mating needs, spiders also come indoors to seek warmth and a safe shelter. Just like other pests, spiders find their way in through cracks and gaps in doors and windows, so sealing any cracks will lower the chances of spiders getting into your home.

For stinging insects, like wasps and yellow jackets, preparing their queen for the winter becomes a priority in late summer and fall. The shortened daytime reminds them it’s the time to collect food and to be more protective near the hive. Unlike summer which offers abundant food sources, in the fall there is less food and more competition to obtain it to survive. Just like us, wasps are looking for a quick energy boost. Proteins and sugary foods like ice cream, soda, fruit, and meats are potential invitations for them to stop by and snack.

Philadelphias rodents start preparing for winter early by getting more aggressive in the pursuit of food, they start stockpiling food, they can dig burrows for themselves, but they would rather just move in with you. The earlier a rodent can find a warm, dry, dark place to nest over the winter, the better. As soon as the sun starts setting earlier, expect rodents to be hard at work preparing for cold.

Mice, and Rats will get into your home by any means necessary, and they have plenty of means. First, they’ll look for cracks, gaps, and tiny holes like openings in windowsills, door frames, floorboards, or utility lines. Next, they will try burrowing to get at the foundations or insulation in the basement. More than anything, rodents target places where they can get food, water, and warmth.

Cockroaches do not hibernate, and they cannot survive freezing temperatures for too long. Both the common species of cockroach prefer warm temperatures. American, and German cockroaches seem to feel that about room temperature is perfect. There is more, it gets worse. Like spiders, cockroaches tend to mate while sheltering indoors. They settle in with their families after the eggs hatch. Any roaches that get into your home in late summer could be the first members of a winter infestation.

Cockroaches want to live in dark, humid, warm, confined places where they feel safe. That means your kitchen area behind the refrigerator, in unused cabinets, and your basement are ideal, especially if they are cluttered. It’s a good idea to organize and tidy up your basement area, and any unused area in your home every late summer. It will be helpful to repair sources of undue moisture like humidity and plumbing leaks.

We can help with late summer pests. Schedule an appointment or call to talk to an Evans Pest Control specialist to learn more about how we could help keep your home pest-free.
Call anytime at (267) 582-2687