8 Pests That Love Cold Weather

When it comes to cold weather, commercial buildings are more vulnerable to pests than you would think. Insects and rodents will infiltrate your property through windows, doors, pipes, and vents. Here are our top eight pests to be on the lookout for this winter.

8 Cold Weather Pests To Watch Out For This Winter

It doesn’t take long for cold weather pests to become a nuisance in your building come winter. Many species of insects seek shelter and warmth inside buildings of all types: commercial properties, office buildings, industrial facilities, educational institutions—the list goes on. So, practice proactive pest control this winter by keeping an eye out for these eight sneaky intruders.

1. Stink Bugs
2. Cockroaches
3. Ticks
4. Ladybugs
5. Ants
6. Spiders
7. Termites
8. Rodents

1. Stink Bugs

Stink bugs are one of the many species of insects that love to spend cold winters indoors. They survive the low temperatures by seeking shelter and warmth in climate-controlled buildings. They hide out in quiet areas, such as attics, crawl spaces, storage rooms, and wall voids. While stink bugs are not a dangerous pest, they emit a terrible scent, proving to be a nuisance on your property.

2. Cockroaches

Cockroaches are notorious for seeking shelter indoors during the winter months, seeing as they cannot survive in temperatures below 15 degrees. So once the temperature drops, these unwanted pests will mass migrate into large commercial buildings such as offices, grocery stores, restaurants, and hospitals. They typically hide out in dark places like basements or crawl spaces. In addition, cockroaches are known to trigger asthma and allergies, and they can spread bacteria and diseases.

3. Ticks

Certain species of ticks remain active during the cold months, such as the black-legged tick. Don’t doubt these parasites’ ability to latch on to you and your pets, even in the winter.

4. Ladybugs

Asian lady beetles, also referred to as ladybugs, are commonly found throughout much of the country during the winter months. These types of insects prefer to spend their winters hibernating in warm environments. Unfortunately, they tend to hibernate in groups, mainly seeking shelter in human structures. They’ll sneak through any cracks and gaps they can find.

While ladybugs don’t do any physical damage or destruction to buildings, they can create problems in other ways. They’re known to secrete a foul-smelling aroma in addition to yellow fluid that stains floors, walls, and fabrics.

5. Ants

Ants are another kind of pest known to sneak into homes through cracks and holes in search of food and shelter. They can also make their way indoors by traveling on plants, flowers, and other outdoor items people bring inside for the winter. However, you can prevent ant invasions by blocking off entry points. And remember—ants are colony insects, which means if you spot one, there are likely many more to come.

6. Spiders

Typical house spiders invade residential and commercial properties throughout the year. However, wintertime attracts more dangerous species, like the black widow or brown recluse. These spiders seek refuge indoors and set up camp in dark, low-traffic areas. So, scope out places like storage boxes, window moldings, and basements to ensure you don’t have any intruders hiding out.

7. Termites

Many species of termites seek out dry wood for shelter during cold weather. These insects are hardly fazed by low temperatures. Their sole mission is to take care of the queen, which means their work never ends.

8. Rats and Mice

Rodents love to spend their winters hiding out in temperature-controlled buildings. Large offices and industrial facilities make the perfect winter home for these pests, especially if there’s food nearby. Common species include deer mice, house mice, Norway rats, and roof rats. Unfortunately, rats, mice, and squirrels don’t hibernate like other pests. Instead, they are notorious for wreaking havoc to pass the time, such as:

• Chewing through insulation, drywall, and wires
• Contaminating your building with feces and urine
• Spreading illness and tearing up your food supply
• Dying in hard-to-reach spaces

The best way to avoid these inconveniences and combat the critters is by sealing up any potential openings to your building.

Cold Weather Pest Prevention for Winter

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Pest-proof your office or commercial building now to prevent an infestation. Here are a few pest control tips to keep in mind this winter season:

• Utilize door sweeps and weather stripping
• Seal exterior gaps, cracks, and holes
• Thoroughly inspect all deliveries for signs of pests
• Install tight-fitting screens on pipes and vents
• Remove leftover food from workstations

If you see a winter pest infestation in your future, contact a professional pest control company like Coastal Spray. Our industrial grounds maintenance company offers a complete range of vegetation control and management services for mechanical, chemical, and forestry applications.

Contact us online today or give us a call at (877) 824-4577 to learn more about how we can protect your facility this winter.

Friday, December 17, 2021