Pest Control Services in Edmondson Park

As cold weather comes and the temperature drops, you are not the only one who craves a cosy place and snuggles down. Many winter pests take cover in a warm corner indoors or settle at your pet’s hairy figure to survive the extreme conditions. This means you are likely to deal with all the infestations left behind.

Where do bugs go

“How do pests make it through the cold weather? Isn’t there anything to kill them?” You might have encountered such questions while desperately wiping off traces of pests in your windows, kitchens, or anywhere else within your beloved home.

The answer is, while the temperature change can be fatal to many species of insects, many others have adapted to survive the harsh weather, and some others even developed instinctual strategies to thrive as groups to avoid dying alone. While insects can either sneak inside your house to use their own ways to survive, understanding their cold tolerance levels can considerably aid your winter pest control efforts.

Monarch Butterflies are a prime example of migrating winter pests. They run away from the extreme temperature by migrating to warmer climates to the south and beginning a new life cycle. Some others opt for hibernation when they undertake a dormant period to slow down metabolism rates to save energy and revive in spring.

And, to your disappointment, many common pests are not going anywhere rather than your house. For example, ants, termites, bed bugs and fleas are some of those that never leave your house. Throughout the winter, ants and termites remain clustered together in large to keep their queens warm and well-fed. Meanwhile, stink bugs will seek someplace calm and secluded, such as your attic, crawling space and wall voids to enjoy the warmth.

How irritating can pests be

While winter may disturb you with ‘mystery bites’, there is little clear evidence about pests involved in itching or irritation during the cold season. However, as many insects remain active during this time, insects or mites are the true culprits in some mysterious bite cases. For example, bed bugs have become increasingly common, and their bites are potential irritants. They usually bite people at night while sleeping, followed by a typical reaction of itchy red welts on exposed skin.

However, since bed bugs are not visible to bare eyes, some might mistakenly identify winter bug bites as a condition known as a ‘winter itch.’ This happens because of moisture loss and increased sensitivity triggered by a drop in temperature. Sometimes, bug bites in winter are not necessarily the source of irritation. For example, stink bugs neither bite nor spread disease, but they can still release compounds that can trigger an allergy in some people. So stink bugs in winter should still be considered a potential allergen.