It’s not uncommon to spot pests in your home throughout the winter. Common winter bugs or pests include:
- Cockroaches
- Spiders
- Ants
- Flies
As the temperatures start to drop and you start to pull your coats and jackets out of storage, you may be anticipating what many refer to as “bug-free season.” It’s true that insects are way less active in the colder months than they are in the spring, summer, and early autumn. But that doesn’t mean they go away completely when winter rolls around. It’s possible and common to still see some amount of insect activity from November to March before they begin to increase in population and activity again throughout the warmer months.
What Insects Are Most Active in the Winter?
There are several insects and arachnids that remain active and particularly pesky throughout the winter, including winter bugs like:
Cockroaches
You may think that the number of roaches in your house peaks in the summer, but it’s actually common to experience more indoor roaches during the colder months. Why? Homes create a warmer environment than the one outside, and roaches are more drawn to the heat of the furnace than the frigid temperatures outdoors.
Even though they can survive close-to-freezing temperatures, cockroaches of all kinds—including Georgia’s American cockroach, German cockroach, Florida-woods cockroach, and smokybrown cockroach—would rather not be out in the cold if they can help it. They will seek indoor areas where there is shelter and moisture.
Typical areas where you can find a winter roach include:
- Kitchen
- Bathroom
- Laundry room
- Storage closets
- Attic
- Basement
While some insects stop reproducing during the winter, roaches will continue to reproduce while inside your home. If you spot an indoor roach or two, it’s wise to have a trusted pest-control company treat your home to stop the reproduction cycle.
Spiders
Like cockroaches, it’s common to spot more spiders inside your home during the winter months. But unlike cockroaches, seeing more spiders inside does not mean they have entered to seek out warmth. It’s more likely that the spiders were already inside your home; they’re just coming out of hiding to hunt the other bugs that did migrate inside for warmth.
The majority of spider species reproduce starting in late summer, and their breeding season can last throughout the fall. Female spiders already inside your house can lay eggs sacs that hatch during breeding season. Once winter rolls around and their prey moves inside, these spiders will likely venture out of their hiding spots to hunt, making it seem as if you are suddenly experiencing an influx of spiders.
Common winter house spiders include:
- American house spider
- Black house spider*
- Black widow spider*
- Brown recluse spider*
- Daddy long leg spider
- Jumping spider
- Wolf spider
*Denotes venomous spiders.
Ants
While it’s not entirely common to deal with ants in your house during the winter, it’s still a very real possibility.
Typically, ants do what’s called “overwintering,” where they cluster up in a huddle to maintain body heat, protect the queen, and remain dormant until temperatures rise again. This can occur deep in the soil underground, under tree roots, under rocks, or in any other spot where there is warmth and shelter.
Occasionally, a community of ants will make their way inside where there is shelter, heat, and, most especially, easier access to food. In fact, it’s often the food that draws them in, whether it’s:
- Crumbs on the floor
- Food debris on stovetops, counters, or sinks
- Exposed food in the pantry
- Food left out in pet bowls
If you spot ants inside your home at any point throughout the winter, chances are you will experience increased ant activity in the spring and summer.
Flies
Having flies in the house during the winter is not uncommon for Georgia homeowners. Flies migrate indoors for the same reason many other insects move inside—shelter and warmth.
Some of the most common fly species you may find inside your home during the colder months include:
- Cluster flies – Cluster flies are slightly larger than your average house fly and exist in large clusters. Female flies will lay their eggs in warm, quiet areas of the house, like in attics, basements, under baseboards, behind walls, etc.
- Fruit flies – Fruit flies tend to stop developing or repopulating during the winter, but you can still experience them during the colder months if the conditions are right. If a fruit fly makes it into your warm home and has access to rotting or decaying fruits or veggies, they can reproduce and feed on their food sources, creating an irritating infestation.
- House flies – Like cluster flies, house flies can use your warm home to survive the winter season. Female flies will lay eggs in quiet areas of the home, including attics, basements, and other areas of the house. When inside, they will seek out food sources in the kitchen, pantry, or your pet’s room or area.
Dealing With Frustrating Winter Bugs and Other Pests in Your Home This Season? Call Bizzy Bee Exterminators for Effective Pest Control in the Winter.
We offer the solutions and advice you need to treat any bug or spider activity this winter and avoid further pest invasions in the future.
Call us for winter bug control today: 1-800-273-4958
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