As the cold weather seems to be upon us, summer is over (although it wasn’t much of a summer!)
With the changing weather comes different pests. Some prefer colder temperatures and will become more prevalent whereas others will seek shelter and warmth in your homes. Either way, it’s a good idea to know what you might be up against.
What’s important to note is that lots of pests are a problem all year round, however certain factors of the changing seasons such as weather conditions or increases in flooding can impact when and where numbers fluctuate. Given that weather is becoming more unpredictable, and extreme weather is becoming more common, the below list is not, by any means, exhaustive.
Rats and Mice
These rodents are a problem all year round, however there are certain factors of the changing seasons that can increase these problems.
Both rats and mice prefer warmer conditions. As the temperature drops, they will look for warmer shelter which can lead to them infesting homes, businesses or outbuildings.
Their food sources will also be reduced during this time as vegetation starts to shed their fruit and leaves for the winter and bugs and insects look to hibernate. They will begin to look for alternate food sources such as waste food in bins, seed in bird feeders or, if their brave enough, food in houses and businesses.
The loss of vegetation also means there will be less shelter for them to move around (such as along hedges and plants near garden fences) so they will look for safe travel routes near buildings, such as in pipes.
Another problem with this time of year, especially in recent times, is the increased risk of flooding. The flooding has various potential impacts, such as destroying the rodents’ nests and debris for them to shelter in which effectively flushes them out. It also causes sewers to overflow (where rats will frequent) and will destroy any remaining food sources, making your bins all the more tempting.
Flooding can also have indirect effects, such as washing rubbish away from waste collection areas and delaying when waste can be collected. Both scenarios can increase the habitability of an area for rodents.
We supply a range of traps, bait stations and poisons that can tackle these pests head on.
Bed Bugs
These pests are a problem all year round. However, one of the main ways they infest your home is by jumping onto your clothes, luggage or possessions and hitch-hiking.
Given during the summer people tend to be more active, going on holidays or enjoying evenings out in the ‘warmer’ weather, there is often an increased chance of you picking them up on your travels.
If you find you have brought back more than you’d hope for, our range of DIY pest control bed bug products can be viewed with the below button.
Wasps
A common misconception is that wasps will be gone by the time you’ve packed up your BBQ. However, although they don’t do well in the colder temperatures, by the time Autumn comes, they will have had a full summer of breeding and plenty of access to ripened fruit. This means their numbers can be greatest in early to mid-Autumn.
As insect and bug populations reduce in autumn (which is what wasps hunt for during summer), wasps will look for alternative food sources such as sugars in fermented fruit that can be abundant in gardens and orchards at this time of year.
They also have more time to search for this food as reproduction activities will stop during this time of year, giving the worker wasps plenty more time to forage (what a life!) Given food supplies are running low by this point (and the days are becoming shorter (so wasps have to search even harder with the time available) they can become aggressive during Autumn.
In addition, wasps are attracted to light (as are flies) which is a reason you may find them in your home in Autumn. Given the days are getting shorter, and the amount of sun light during the days is reduced, they will be attracted to lighting inside buildings and head straight for it.
Cluster Flies
These will start to enter homes in autumn to hibernate and come back out in spring. They can often be found (in large numbers) in areas not frequented by your household such as lofts and attics.
Although they may not seem particularly annoying if they are hibernating in areas you don’t visit, it’s a better option to get on top of them whilst they’re hibernating (or even better take steps to stop them entering your home, albeit that can sometimes be nearly impossible) as they will become active again once spring comes around and become a real nuisance. As they gather in such large numbers (hence the name ‘cluster’ flies), their presence is not to be underestimated.
As their larvae diet on earthworms, and earthworms are more common when we have wetter years, cluster fly numbers are more likely to increase during years of higher rainfall.
Spiders
As the temperatures drop, spiders will look to enter homes in search of warmth and shelter. It’s important to note that native species are mainly harmless and can be great for natural fly control. Regardless, people have a common fear of these pests, so we supply a range of sprays, powders and foggers to give you peace of mind.
Conclusion
Different species of pests can be problems year-round, however some naturally become more active, or at least active around humans, when we enter autumn and winter, and the temperatures start to drop.
Limited food sources, more extreme weather, natural hibernation patterns and the search for warmth and shelter can all play a key role. These factors are becoming more unpredictable as climate change affects weather patterns.
It is always important to keep an eye out for any kind of unwanted visitors, regardless of the time of year, to protect human health and maintain peace of mind. However, in autumn and winter, keep a particular eye out for rats, mice, bed bugs, wasps, cluster flies and spiders.
We supply a range of DIY pest control products that are effective in controlling and eradicating pests, allowing you to focus on firing up that wood burner and settle in for the winter!
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