Higganum Homeowner's Guide to Preventing Overwintering Pests

The cooler months in Higganum help to provide a break from the humid and hot summer days. This can lead both people and pests to seek shelter and warmth within indoor living spaces. As the temperatures drop, overwintering pests will exploit small gaps and crevices found around homes in order to seek shelter from the winter freeze and a place to remain protected until spring. Unfortunately, their presence can lead to a frustrating experience for residents as stink bugs, spiders, and other pests become more active within homes and lead to the need for professional Higganum pest control intervention.

Common Fall Invaders to Watch For

While mosquitoes, cockroaches, and flies are a common frustration for Higganum residents during the summer months, there are nuisance pests that become more active as the temperatures drop. Stink bugs, boxelder bugs, and Asian lady beetles will seek entry into homes as they escape the winter freeze. Spiders will become a heightened concern as they follow their pest prey into indoor living spaces and build webs near common points of entry. Additionally, rodents commonly create nests within Higganum homes as they seek access to food, shelter, and water.

How Overwintering Pests Get Inside

Overwintering pests in Higganum commonly enter homes through small gaps and cracks that are commonly overlooked by residents. Asian lady beetles, stink bugs, and boxelder bugs will swarm the sunny sides of homes in order to seek access through window frames, around doorways, or gaps around attic spaces. Once inside, these cold-blooded overwintering pests will seek access to wall voids in order to remain warm and protected until the spring season. Higganum pests such as rodents or spiders can commonly seek entry through gaps around utility lines, external pipes, soffits, and basement or ground-level gaps and crevices.

What Homeowners Can Do Before the First Frost

There are a few steps that homeowners in Higganum can take to reduce the entry of overwintering pests. During the fall transition, take a moment to conduct a property inspection to look for points of entry around doorways, foundations, attics, garage doors, and other commonly known points of entry. This will allow you to take proactive action to replace damaged door sweeps, torn window screens, and seal gaps and cracks with durable sealants. Reduce clutter in attics, garages, outdoor sheds, and basement areas at your Higganum home where pests can commonly remain undetected. For outdoor areas, regularly remove leaf litter and brush from near structures and underneath porches or decks where pests can access crawl spaces and basements.

What to Do If Pests Are Already Indoors

If you’re already noticing the signs of indoor pest activity at your Higganum home, there are remedies you can take before using chemical foggers and sprays. Designate a handheld vacuum or shop vac to address insect pests such as Asian lady beetles, stink bugs, or boxelder bugs. This will reduce contamination or staining, and will allow you to quickly vacuum and dispose of insect pests quickly. Resist the urge to smash or crush stink bugs or Asian lady beetles, as they are commonly known to stain and emit a pungent odor when crushed. If you notice the signs of spider eggs, vacuum and dispose of them, and consider cleaning the vacuum to reduce the possibility of spider eggs left behind. Take note of common areas at your Higganum home where pest entry has been noticed and take steps to reduce entry by using durable sealants or structural repair.

Professional Fall Pest Control in Higganum

If you’re noticing heightened pest activity within your home despite preventative measures, it can be beneficial to work with a reputable pest control company in Higganum.

Our team at Mosquito Squad of Middlesex, New London, and Windham County is committed to providing Higganum residents with comprehensive pest control services. Our trained technicians will conduct an initial property inspection to learn the layout, seek areas of risk, and create a tailored plan that suits your home and needs. Depending on your needs, recurring pest control service can help reduce and control pest activity throughout the season.

Call (860) 689-1975 or request a free quote online.