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Overwintering Pests

Table of Contents

Identifying Overwintering Pests

In Charlotte, you’re likely going to experience an overwintering pest problem once or twice. These pests are common in Charlotte so you need to learn more about them and the techniques for getting rid of them. Overwintering pests like staying inside during the winter months. They’ll try to enter your home when possible. They’ll also use your attic and wall voids to stay warm during the winter.

Which Pests Overwinter?

Ultimately, you’ll find that numerous pests overwinter during the cold months. In Charlotte, the following pest fit into this category.

Box Elder Bugs

First and foremost, you have boxelder bugs. These bugs prefer eating Boxelder tree seeds and staying outside during the warm months. When it gets cold, they’ll try to take shelter in your home so they can stay away from the cold. They’re only half an inch in length, but they’ll be difficult to ignore. Boxelder bugs are not going to sting, but they can release a terrible odor when they’ve been crushed. In addition to this, they might leave a stain.

Ladybugs

You’ll also have to worry about Asian Lady Beetles. These ladybugs are not lady-like, because they can nip your fingers. When it gets cold, ladybugs are going to try to enter your home. Don’t crush them, because they’ll release a bad odor when this happens.

Cluster Flies

Cluster flies tend to live outside for their entire lives, but they may enter your home during the colder months. As the name implies, these flies are going to cluster together. You should expect to see several cluster flies together around your home. When it begins warming up, the cluster flies will try to leave your home, and they’ll be difficult to ignore.

Leaf-Footed Pine Seed Bugs

Leaf-footed Pine Seed Bugs are large than the others. Adult bugs can reach 3/4” so they’re going to give you a good scare. They stay outside during the summer and eat pine cones and pine cone seeds. When the cold months arrive, these bugs are going to seek shelter. They prefer hiding under tree bark, but they’ll enter your home as well. They can enter your home using small cracks and gaps. When their shelter starts to warm, the pests will likely appear in large numbers.

In addition to this, these bugs are bigger so you won’t be able to ignore their presence. They shouldn’t bother you, but you’ll need to clean up their mess.

Stink Bugs

Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs have recently come to the United States. They’re brown, up to ½ an inch in length, and are shaped like a shield. Stink bugs came from Asia several years ago and they’ve quickly created problems for people around the United States. During the summer, these bugs are going to stay outside and eat vegetable crops, ornamental plants, and fruit trees. If you don’t act quickly, they’ll destroy your whole crop.

When the temperatures drop, stink bugs are going to seek warmer shelter. As a result, they may attempt to enter your home. Although you’ll want to get rid of them, you shouldn’t crush them. Doing so will create a mess and stinky smell for you to clean up.

Signs Of Overwintering Pest Infestations

Are you worried that you’re dealing with an overwintering pest infestation? You could be. You need to identify overwintering pest problems quickly so you can get rid of them as quickly as possible. When the temperatures increase, you’ll be able to identify the problem easily. The pests will try to go back outside so you won’t be able to ignore them. If you’re worried about finding them sooner, you should try turning your heater to a higher temperature. Doing so will help you heat your home and convince the bugs to go outside.

However, some bugs may get confused and enter your home further. When you see overwintering pests in your home during the spring months, you had an overwintering pest problem. If you don’t do something about it, the problem will continue next year too.

Preventing Overwintering Pests

To avoid dealing with an overwintering pest problem in the future, you should keep them out of your home. You need to take steps to keep them out of your home during fall. You’ll need to start by seal the cracks, holes, and crevices around your home. You can prevent many overwintering pests from entering your home, but you can’t keep them all out. When you spot overwintering pests in and around your home, call a professional.

Gaps, Screen Openings, And Small Entry Sites

It is pertinent to eliminate these small entry sites because overwintering pests will use them to enter. Seal these cracks, and you can stop many overwintering pests from sneaking into your home.

Protective Barrier Treatment

You’ll also want to speak to your exterminator about installing a protective exterior barrier treatment. Professionals use industrial-strengthen chemicals designed to eliminate pests. They have a longer life, so they’ll be able to keep the bugs away from your home longer.

Common Entry Points For Overwintering Pests

Joints

Overwintering pests may enter your home through mortar and brick joints. If there as gaps above the bricks, you need to deal with them immediately. Overwintering pests will enter through these small gaps. To prevent this from happening, you should fill the gaps using a sealant.

Window Frames

You’ll need to look for gaps around your window frames. Most window frames are caulked around the top and sides to prevent water from seeping inside. However, the bottom might not be caulked, and that might let pests enter. Stop this from happening by caulking the gaps immediately.

Fascia & Clapboards

Be sure to check the area where the fascia boards reach the wooden clapboard. You likely have gaps here that need to be dealt with. If this is the case, you should fill the gaps using a caulk or foam insulating cord.

Soffit & Attic Vents

You may have cracks or holes in your soffit or attic vents. They need to be backed with a screen to prevent the bugs from entering. If the screen has a hole or crack, it is pertinent to replace it immediately.

Openings For Utilities

If you follow plumbing pipes, electrical cables, and vents, you will likely find openings and gaps. Overwintering pests will use these gaps to enter your home. You need to devise a plan to seal these gaps and keep the bugs out. The options are plentiful, but it is best to use a breathable material. For instance, you should try filling in these gaps using old pot scrubbers. It is best to stick with used scrubbers because they’ll be more flexible than new ones.

If you need professional assistance, you should call us. We offer free overwintering pest inspections to help you identify the problem immediately.

What Is Used To Seal The Gaps & Keep Pests From Entering?

Using An Exclusion Material

Using exclusion materials is one of the best ways to keep pests out of your home. These products are available as pest-proofing products so they’ll help prevent all pests from entering your home. They’ll work to stop overwintering pests, rodents, rats, roaches, and bedbugs from slipping through the cracks.

Picking The Right Materials

When dealing with joints that won’t move, you should use caulk. If the joint will expand with temperature changes, it is best to use a high-quality sealant to fill the gaps.

Additional Exclusion Materials

You’ll also find that there are several other exclusion materials. For instance, you’ll want to learn more about foam insulation, aluminum screen, hardware cloth, and pot scrubbers.

Foam – Foam insulation is flexible so it works great for filling long gaps.

Aluminum – Aluminum screens are inexpensive and versatile enough to fill gaps of various sizes.

Hardware – Hardware cloth resembles a heavy-duty screen and will prevent bugs from entering.

Don’t hesitate to contact us to learn more about our pest eliminate services.

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