Seeing the occasional bug in the house is a normal part of life, especially in Massachusetts, where the thriving natural environment often butts up against homes and businesses.
However, if youโve noticed an increasing number of insects in your building, or if you want to stop a full infestation before it starts, itโs important to prepare your home or business strategically. Most people concentrate their efforts during the spring and summer โ when bugs are coming out for the year to repopulate and find food. But donโt forget that winter can be just as challenging for bug problems.
MA pest control doesnโt stop once the warmer months end. Uncover essential tips and tricks to fortify your Massachusetts home against winter bug invasions, ensuring a pest-free season.
Manage Snow Melt
Like any other living thing, bugs need water to survive. They must drink and stay humid enough to shed their exoskeletons and grow. Rain isnโt the only contributor to moisture in and around your home or business.
If you allow snow to pile up against your building, the heat from your temperature-controlled structure will create small areas of snow melt that are ideal for bugs looking for water.
Whether this moisture is outside near your walls or inside a leaky basement wall, bugs will find it and take advantage of it to grow and thrive. Keep snow away from your building using regular maintenance and even roof installations to funnel the melt away from your structure.
Store Firewood Properly
Insects crave a safe place to shelter from the weather and their natural predators, and few locations are as ideal as a pile of firewood. Never store firewood inside your home or garage; this is like setting up a move-in-ready apartment complex for bugs!
Instead, keep firewood outside and store it in a location off the ground whenever possible. Such storage makes it less accessible for bug visitors, and as an added benefit, it will stay drier when you need it.
Check Seals and Seams
Bugs must find an entry point if they are going to make their way into homes and businesses. The easiest places for them to sneak in are through cracks or seals that have worn down. For instance, is the seal around your door tight enough to stop intruders?
Are your windows properly caulked? Do the many pipes and outlets that exit the building have protection around them? All of these areas provide a gateway for bugs to sneak in and find warmth in the winter months.
Thankfully, insufficient sealing is usually an easy fix. In the case of windows or other installations with gaps, caulking or sealant can get the job done. For masonry with cracks or similar issues, a quick visit from a professional to repair or mortar the problem may be all you need. As an added bonus, properly sealed buildings are more comfortable and cost less to heat!
Prepping the Outdoors for MA Pest Control
Bugs will be looking for warmth, shelter, and food during the coldest months of the year. Many find safety in plants, which is why you should keep shrubbery and weeds trimmed back from the sides of your building.
Remove brush and other safe areas from the space immediately next to your structure so that bugs have a harder time making the journey from their outdoor homes to your interior.
Secure Food for Humans and Pets
Bugs can go a long time without food, but when they have access to a ready meal, theyโre very disinclined to leave. If you provide consistent food sources through improperly stored garbage, edible debris, or even pet food, youโll likely see a surge in the bug population as new visitors stay and old residents readily breed.
Be especially vigilant of large food sources such as compost piles or dog food bags, in which bugs can burrow down and enjoy a consistent food source for months at a time. Keep garbage in a plastic or metal bin with a secure lid, and store consumables in plastic or glass containers so the bugs cannot chew through.
Get Help with Your MA Pest Control ProblemโOr Stop It Before It Starts
Winter is an inhospitable time for bugs, which means theyโre on the hunt for a warm, safe place to stay until the weather improves. If your home is hosting these unwanted visitors, there are many steps you can take to get them to leave.
The experts at Spartan Animal & Pest Control can advise you on ways to make your property less desirable or help you tackle a full infestation quickly and effectively. Contact Spartan Animal & Pest Control to reclaim your business or residence from insect invaders and discourage their return.
