Every season has its pest control challenges. During autumn, when the temperature drops, the main challenge is keeping pests out of your home when they are looking for a place to escape the coming cold. On Long Island, several common pests come out in the autumn. The main five that you should be concerned about are:
Silverfish
Crickets
Spiders
Stinkbugs
Rodents
The good news is that, besides rodents, which can be not only annoying but dangerous and destructive, the other four pests on this list would lean more toward being inconvenient and annoying. If silverfish or crickets get into your home, they can cause damage to clothing and fabrics.
We’ve talked about spiders before, and while spiders are mostly harmless and just want to be left alone, a spider infestation may be the sign of another problem since a spider’s main food source is other insects.
Stinkbugs are the epitome of a nuisance bug. If squashed or even threatened, they can give off a foul odor designed to scare off predators. Stinkbugs do not bite, they are not poisonous, and they are not a known vector for any diseases.
In the fall, the name of the game is “exclusion.” Exclusion is the process of inspecting your home, looking for things you can do, change or fix to keep the pests and rodents out of your home. Exclusion looks to eliminate the problem before it becomes a real problem.
Things you can do to avoid pests
Seal cracks and other openings.
You can first seal the cracks and crevices around your home, eliminating most of the entry points that pests take advantage of. Most cracks you find are usually small enough to fix with simple caulking. You can also use steel wool in places you cannot caulk, such as around vents. Vents should also be covered by a screen. Never block any vent opening. A screen will keep the pests out while allowing whatever is being vented to escape freely. While looking for these cracks, you should also check for broken window screens or glass, doors with damaged sweeps, or garage doors that don’t close properly due to settling.
Cover your garbage cans and keep them away from your house.
Your garbage cans will attract rats and other rodents looking for a meal, so you should ensure your garbage cans have covers that fit and create a proper seal so rodents and other pests can’t get in. You should also not keep garbage cans next to your house. If you have no choice, ensure the area where the garbage cans are kept is clean and sanitized regularly and that there are no cracks in the walls, windows, or foundation near your garbage cans.
Keep Trees trimmed and keep branches away from your roof.
Rodents are proficient climbers and can get up a tree very quickly. If your tree is close to your house and has branches overhanging or touching your roof, it would be very easy for rats, squirrels, or anything else to get to your roof and into your attic.
Keep basements, attics, and crawlspaces clean, vented, and dry.
Moisture is a home killer. Moisture can lead to mold, attract termites or carpenter ants, and be a breeding ground for many pests. If you go into your basement or attic and smell a musty odor, you should bring in a professional to seal your spaces to eliminate the moisture and prevent the problems.
Rodent Exclusion is a vital part of Integrated Pest Management, or IPM. IPM is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices. One of these practices is to try to avoid the problem in the first place.
If you are unsure of what you are looking for to protect your home and family from pests and rodents this fall and winter, call Luxe Pest Control, and we will schedule a time to come to you to perform a pest inspection and look for ways you can proactively protect your home.
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