Overwintering is a term that’s often used in the context of birds and plants. Unfortunately, it’s also accurate to use “overwintering” to describe the habits of certain pests when temperatures start to drop in late fall or early winter.

What Does Overwintering Mean?

According to Merriam-Webster.com, overwintering means “to last through or pass the winter.” When it comes to pests, this often means they take refuge in a structure used or occupied by humans.

To survive the winter, bugs will seek refuge in warm places to stay protected from low or freezing temperatures. In addition to taking shelter in structures, overwintering pests may take cover in or under natural matter such as soil, hay, straw, leaves, or mulch.

What Are Some Examples of Overwintering Pests?

The types of overwintering pests you might have to contend with may vary depending on your location. While that’s the case, there are some common overwintering pests found in many places throughout the United States, including:

• Brown marmorated stink bugs
• Western conifer seed bugs
• Boxelder bugs
• Elm leaf beetles
• Asian lady beetles, which are widely known as ladybugs
• Caterpillars
• Crickets
• Moths
• Cluster flies 
• Mosquitoes
• Pine seed bugs

It’s worth noting that overwintering pests aren’t limited to bugs. For example, mice and bats are also overwintering pests.

How to Prevent an Infestation of Overwintering Pests

As we explained earlier, it’s common for overwintering pests to seek shelter indoors as it starts to get colder and the end of a given year approaches. Once they’re inside a structure, it can be difficult to find or control overwintering pests, even when thousands of these critters invade a building.

In general, overwintering pests stay in their hiding places until the spring, when temperatures start to rise, although they may make an unwelcome appearance on a warm winter day or occasions when your HVAC system sufficiently warms up your home. Because they are so difficult to find and control during winter months, your best protection against an infestation is to be proactive.

At our family-owned and operated exterminating company, we provide pest control services that are based on a five-step process. Part of that process includes preventing pest problems before they start. One of the smartest things you can do to avoid having an infestation of overwintering pests is to use our insect control services no later than the fall before temperatures drop too severely.

In addition, you should actively seal up possible points of entry that overwintering pests might use to gain access to the warm, often difficult to access spaces inside your home. Here are some of the things you’ll want to seal or cover:

• Areas around doors where light can shine through
• Frayed window screens
• Openings along your roofline
• Vents
• Chimney Flashing
• Foundation cracks
• Electrical or plumbing lines

You should also clean out your gutters and get rid of any piles of debris in your yard to prevent overwintering pests from nesting in them. Keeping your home clean will also help you avoid being overrun by overwintering pests when they re-emerge in the spring.

Schedule Regular Pest Control Now

Overwintering pests aren’t the only critters you need to concern yourself with, which is why regular pest control is a must year-round for many Queen City-area residents. To schedule pest control service, contact Action Pest Control in Charlotte, NC today.