Common Fall Pests in the Home

Fall pests -wasp nest in ceiling

Are you noticing an abundance of insect sightings in your home during the fall and winter? Unfortunately, it’s not your imagination — in fact, you may have a fall pest infestation brewing within your walls. It’s the result of pests trying to get out of the increasingly cold weather. Some of these insects and other creatures will migrate to warmer climates or burrow under debris, while others may decide that your home has just the perfect climate needed to thrive. This phenomenon is referred to as overwintering, and it’s important to notice warning signs before it gets out of hand.

It’s never fun when you find a resident of the Great Outdoors crawling on the countertops or in the corners of the room. What’s even worse, and what could cause even more damage, are the creatures that hide where you can’t see them. The pests most likely to take refuge here can include Asian Lady beetles, stink bugs, termites, wasps and rodents. Let’s explore more about these fall pests.

 

Asian Lady Beetle

Let’s say you find what looks like a ladybug, an orange-ish, reddish bug that may or may not have spots. If it’s larger than your usual garden darling, there’s a chance you may be looking at an Asian Lady beetle. And if you’ve found one, the odds are good of there being many, many more. Asian Lady beetles stick together in groups and use pheromones to communicate their location. That means that if one comes into your home to get out of the cold, the result can be a large infestation of fall pests. These bugs may not eat at your home’s structure or sting its residents, but their waste can stain as well as trigger an allergic reaction or breathing difficulties in sensitive individuals. You can prevent this, along with most other insect infestations, by making sure your home is sufficiently sealed from the elements.

 

Stink Bugs

It’s safe to say that no one is thrilled by the presence of a stink bug. The most common breed in the United States is the Brown Marmorated variety, which is an invasive species from Asia. These smelly squatters are flat and shaped like a shield, colored in mottled shades of brown and gray and sized around ¼” to ⅜”. They’re fond of quiet parts of your home like the attic or crawlspace, or anywhere else where they feel they won’t be bothered. And if they get discovered and feel threatened, they’ll release a deeply unpleasant odor that gives the bug its name. Because of that, it’s best to leave treatment to the professionals at Loyal Pest Control.

 

Termites

Termites are easily the most destructive pest in North America. They’re a serious problem, especially when considering that the annual cost of termite damage in the US is up to $30 billion.  Termites, if you have them, are always trying to enter your house. But fall and winter is when subterranean termites – the most damaging species – tend to burrow deep into the ground to wait out the cold weather. So if you get hit with an infestation you may not notice until spring, and by then you’ll likely be faced with a costly repair and a mess of inconvenience. Once termites can get in your home, they will consume wood and anything else that contains cellulose. Signs of termites in your home may include blisters on painted surfaces, hollow-sounding wood, unexplained pinhole-sized holes and more. 

 

Wasps

Most wasp colonies do not overwinter in the colder season, which leaves the workers to die with the oncoming winter. Fertilized queens, however, survive the cold outdoors in hollow logs, stumps or under leaves – or in certain structures, such as the attic of your home. Think right now: is your attic vent screened from the outdoors? If not, calling us to install one for you can prevent wasps and all manner of fall pests from making themselves comfortable without you knowing.

 

Rodents

Squirrels, roof rats and mice are all agile creatures and excellent climbers. You can see them making their way from branch to branch and across fence lines. With that in mind it’s easy to think that it wouldn’t be hard to get into your attic and make a nest. Luckily these rodents don’t tend to be very quiet. After some time you’ll hear them scratching or gnawing from up above or inside the walls. Those are both good signs that you have a rodent inside your attic or wall voids, and that means it’s time to call an experienced rodent exterminator like Loyal Pest Control 

 

Experienced Exterminators in East & Central Virginia

Loyal Termite & Pest Control has been proud to provide the citizens of East and Central Virginia with quality pest control services for the past sixty years. From bedbugs to rodents, if it shouldn’t be there then we can help you get rid of it. That’s why, if overwintering has invited some unwelcome fall pests into your home, we’re here to help. Contact us now for a free quote!

Occasional Invader Pests — How to Control Them

Stink bugs are a common invader pest in Virginia - Loyal Termite & Pest ControlOccasional invaders are a group of pests that you will start to see in abundance in the spring as our Central Virginia weather becomes warm and more humid. With the warm weather trends, insects are compelled to procreate and their populations grow in size because of it. Oftentimes, these pests will make their way into your home for a number of reasons. “Occasional invaders” include many types of insects you’re already familiar with: earwigs, silverfish, springtails, boxelder bugs, lady beetles, stink bugs, and ants. 

How to Get Rid of Occasional Invader Pests

The invader group of pests is primarily dormant during the winter months. Some, like stink bugs and boxelder bugs, are very sneaky and will find their way into your home through the smallest of entryways as winter approaches. They will hunker down until spring when the warm weather arrives. If you see just a few of these invaders in your home, you can bet there is a bunch more hiding out in their comfort zone somewhere in the house, the attic, or crawlspace. When you see them, it’s important to get rid of them. Rather than crushing the bugs or vacuuming them up, it’s best to sweep them, drop them in a bag, and take them outside. Vacuuming certain bugs, like stink bugs, can make your vacuum cleaner unusable.

Tips to Prevent Occasional Invaders

The best way a homeowner can control occasional invaders is to prevent them from entering your home in the first place! This includes:

  1. Sealing up doors, windows, and other entryways with caulk.
  2. Installing tight-fitting screens on windows and doors.
  3. Keeping a tidy yard with trimmed vegetation to deter insects. 
  4. Inside, cleaning your home regularly and wiping up spills and crumbs.
  5. Fix or repair any moisture issues caused by leaky pipes or faucets.

Spring Pest Control With Loyal

To avoid dealing with occasional invaders on your own this year, it’s best to team up with a local expert you can trust: Loyal Termite & Pest Control. We have the experience required to safeguard your home against not only occasional invaders, but all types of pests. Contact our residential pest control experts today to learn more!

Don’t Let These Pests Ruin Your Halloween!

Spiders are one of many pests that can invade Virginia homes in the fall - Loyal Termite & Pest ControlRats, spiders, and bats—oh my! You may gladly hang up spooky webs and fake spiders as decorations this Halloween, but you certainly don’t want the real thing infesting your home. A few pests in particular are very common this time of year. Infestations are also common right now as you start to pull out boxes containing all your seasonal decorations. To keep pest problems from ruining your Halloween festivities, the team at Loyal Termite & Pest Control is here to shed light on creepy-crawly pests to keep an eye out for.

Common Pests During Halloween Time

Pest infestations in the fall months are very common. This is due to the fact that many pests begin to seek shelter indoors to escape the impending drop in temperature outdoors. Here are the pests to look out for this season:

  1. Rats. Rodents infamously squeeze their way inside this time of year for warmth, food, and shelter. They could be nesting in your boxes of decorations.
  2. Spiders. Spider populations are abundant in the fall and many get indoors. They may be lurking in your box of decorations!
  3. Bed bugs. While common at all times of the year, traveling or college students lead to an increase in infestations. They also could be found on second-hand costumes.
  4. Stink bugs & boxelder bugs. These seasonal bugs appear on the sides of homes and could crawl indoors if given the chance.

How to Prevent Pests This Halloween

You may be putting fake rodents or bats out as decorations, but you definitely want to prevent the real ones from getting indoors! As you would any other time of the year, it’s important to implement preventative measures to keep fall pests away. This includes sealing all cracks and crevices in your home with caulk, installing new window or door screens, cleaning up your yard’s foliage, keeping a tidy kitchen with sealed food containers, and storing all seasonal decorations in airtight plastic bins. If you are having trouble sealing off your home to pests this fall, it’s often best to contact your local pest control expert for more prevention tips and tricks.

Seasonal Pest Control

The last thing you have time to deal with this holiday season is a pest infestation. Always be extra cautious when unpacking your decorations or buying secondhand items. If you find yourself with an infestation or want to further protect your Virginia home from seasonal pests hibernating in your home, the residential exterminators at Loyal are happy to help. 

Look Out for These 5 Pests This Spring!

Spring cleaning your Henrico VA home can help prevent springtime pests! Learn more from Loyal Termite & Pest Control.Pest problems are a fact of life in Virginia year-round, but springtime sees a flux in activity. You may be welcoming the warming weather, but unfortunately pests are too. With spring being only the start of the pest season ahead, now is the time to safeguard your home against them. In addition to working with a pest control expert, there are several ways you can implement springtime pest prevention methods into your spring cleaning routine this year. Read on for expert tips from the team at Loyal Termite & Pest Control!

Most Common Springtime Pests

A lot of pests that are troublesome in the springtime are active throughout the entire year. However, they have a peak in activity during the spring, especially after being more dormant in the winter months. The most common pests you need to look out for in the springtime here in Virginia include:

  • Ants. With warmer weather comes hoards of ants in your home.
  • Termites. It’s officially swarming season, meaning many termite problems begin at this time.
  • Rodents. Although they’re active year-round, rats and mice are a problem in the spring.
  • Stinging insects. Wasps and hornets are gearing up to build nests this time of year.
  • Stink bugs. After overwintering, people report a resurgence in stink bugs.

Avoid Springtime Pests with These Tips

It can be hard to prevent pest problems that sometimes simply seem inevitable. With so many people spring cleaning their home this time of year, it’s smart to implement some simple pest prevention methods to lessen your chance of an infestation in the coming months. Some of these tips include:

  1. Thoroughly cleaning your windows and doors. Seal any cracks or crevices.
  2. Deep-cleaning your carpets and rugs. Vacuum, shampoo, or even steam-clean the surface.
  3. Sanitizing and cleaning your kitchen with a focus on your appliances. Crumbs and spilled liquids will welcome all sorts of bugs and pests.
  4. Removing debris from your yard, and trimming any shrubs or tree branches away from your home. Clear out your gutters and downspouts.
  5. Checking on plumbing and pipes. Quickly address any leaks or blockages.
  6. Keeping a tidy home at all times. Clean under furniture, wipe down surfaces, and inspect areas of your home that need some fixing up.

How to Control Pests Year-Round

If you’re dealing with pests despite your best efforts to prevent them this spring, it’s time to enlist the help of a pest expert. At Loyal, our exterminators will work with you to protect you, your family, and your home from pests not just in the spring but all year long.