Does Florida Have Bugs In Winter?

The short answer is yes! Although pest activity peaks in the summer months, winter brings rise to other bugs Florida homeowners need to look out for.

While some insects die off in the winter months, others hibernate in the soil, some convert their body fluids into glycerol that keeps them warm during the cooler months, and still, others try to find warmth, shelter, and food in your home. Due to South Florida’s moderate winters, pest activity may slow down as pests become inactive below 50 degrees. However, some pests could be causing damage to your property and posing health threats to you and your loved ones during the winter months. Termites, roaches, ants, and bed bugs are some of the bugs that are found during South Florida winters along with rodents that can also attract feasting insects, such as roaches and flies.

Roaches

Cockroaches are some of the most resilient pests in the world, preferring dark, warm, moist places to hole up in for the winter. Roaches like the cardboard boxes that are stored in your attic or garage as they provide hiding places and can be a food source. Under your fridge, in out-of-the-way cabinets, and appliances such as coffee makers, microwaves, and toaster ovens are favorite hiding places for roaches. Cockroaches track bacteria and germs into homes after crawling around in the sewer and other unsavory locales. Contaminating food with their discarded exoskeletons, cockroaches’ skin and waste byproducts can trigger, induce, and cause other illnesses, especially in children.

Silverfish

Silverfish are active in the winter months in many Florida homes. Not commonly known pests, silverfish can be just as harmful as termites and carpenter ants. As your home has no shortage of clothes and important papers, silverfish have plenty to eat. To prevent silverfish from entering your home, don’t place anything against your house that silverfish can climb on to access your home, repair any leaky faucets and water-prone areas, and store important papers and clothes in airtight containers, ideally away from attics.

Termites

Aggressive Asian and Formosan subterranean termites don’t go away in the winter, they just dig deeper into the soil to regulate their body temperatures. Termites continue to dig tunnels that they use to transport the wood in your home to their massive nests, outside near your home, in order to feed their huge populations that can run into the millions! The most insidious thing about termites is that you might not even know termites have invaded your home until significant damage has been done. Aggressive subterranean termites are on the rise in Southern Florida and the Formosan and Asian termites can damage your home in half the time it takes drywood termites, with larger affected areas. Keep on the lookout for mud tunnels running up the side of your home or nearby trees. If termite activity is confirmed in your home, Petri Pest Control Services offers both a tent and no-tent solution for drywood termites and a baiting system for subterranean termites.

Rodents

Like termites, rodents can go unnoticed for a while, due to their nocturnal natures. According to PestWorld Magazine, “The National Pest Management Association estimates that rodents invade about 21 million homes in the United States every winter.” Able to squeeze through nickel-sized cracks in your home’s foundation, mice and rats can hide in wall voids, basements, and attics, coming out only at night to search for food and water. Settling down for the winter in cozy nests, rodents use the winter to increase their populations. Rodents chew on everything they can because they have to keep their fast-growing teeth in check. Many house fires of unknown origin are attributed to rodents chewing through wiring and starting electrical fires. Rodents also attract feasting insects, such as roaches and flies that are associated with many health risks such as Hantavirus.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs, also nocturnal, can also go unnoticed for a while. Usually, when victims start to notice red spots on their neck, arms, and shoulders, a full-blown infestation is most likely underway. They can enter your home in luggage, computers, clothing, and other items when people return home from traveling. While bed bugs pose fewer health threats than ticks and fleas, they’re unpleasant and difficult to eliminate. Contact a professional pest control provider, such as Petri Pest Control Services, as soon as possible, to eliminate bed bugs from your home and property. Our techs will guide you in prepping your home for bed bug removal. To avoid further bed bug infestations, always take care when you book hotel rooms. When you arrive at your hotel, check the mattress for any signs of bed bugs, most notably, dark red spots on your bedding or mattress. When returning home, wash everything you traveled with in hot water and dry on the high heat setting. Vacuum items that can’t be washed such as shoes, bags, computers, etc. as soon as you get home from your trip.

Ants

Winter isn’t a problem for the many species of ants that thrive in South Florida. While most ants are nuisance pests and don’t pose health threats to humans and pets, ants are almost impossible to eliminate. Getting rid of ants should be left in the hands of a professional pest control company. Petri Pest Control Service’s techs strategically place baits in your yard that ants transport to their underground nests, to eliminate ants, at the source.

Making Your Home Unattractive to Pests

To keep bugs out of your home, start by making your home unattractive to them. These steps will help reduce bug activity.

• Sealing all cracks, crevices, and holes in your foundation and around all entryways.
• Vacuuming or sweeping floors in food prep and dining areas after each meal or snack.
• Wiping down all food prep and dining surfaces after each meal or snack.
• Wash dishes after each meal or snack.
• Declutter your home and yard.
• Keep your grass cut short and limbs trimmed away from your house

Proactive homeowners don’t let their guard down during the winter months. Petri Pest Control Services offers programs to keep your home pest-free year-round. Treating the perimeter of your property, our techs prevent pest infestations where they are likely to start, stopping pests before they can enter your home.

Petri Pest Control Services wants to be your trusted, South Florida, pest control service provider in every season. Schedule a free pest inspection!