It can accelerate the process, but many fall invaders begin looking for protected shelter before temperatures suddenly plunge.
Cold snaps can make pest activity seem like it’s gotten very bad, very quickly. You can suddenly find yourself dealing with stink bugs, boxelder bugs, the fake “ladybugs” called Asian lady beetles, and even rodents. One day the house looks normal and the next it feels like you have pests everywhere.
When this happens, it’s the result of a lot of other things that happened first over a longer period of time. Insects and rodents may already be looking for shelter as temperatures drop and days get shorter. Insects tend to mass on walls and explore cracks to get inside. Rodents, particularly mice, can squeeze through openings around 1/4 inch wide and will sometimes scurry right in.
As weather gets colder, some pests may seek more protected shelter. So they take advantage of every gap they can find around places like windows, doors, soffits, vents, utilities, or siding. Others may just cluster outside nearby in debris, vegetation, or woodpiles. Once indoors, pests try to stay hidden for most of winter and reappear when the heat turns up.
If you have a lot of pests inside after a cold snap, the deeper problem is pest exclusion. Fall preparation helps you here because you have a chance to do things like repair damaged screens and seals, inspect exterior seams, and seal unnecessary openings while the weather is still comfortable enough for exterior work.
If pests are becoming a problem around your West Michigan Lakeshore property, Mosquito Squad of West Michigan Lakeshore can help with pest control around the property. Call (616) 426-6776 or request a free quote online.
