Dropping temperatures will always drive pests, including roaches and ants, into your home, but experts suggest keeping a vigilant eye out for rodents and bed bugs this fall and into the holiday season.
Rodent populations, especially in urban areas, continue to be larger than normal as rats and mice have thrived making homes in empty buildings following the pandemic. With weather cooling, those growing families that have enjoyed the outdoors will seek out warm attics and walls in which to nest, ultimately finding their way into closets and pantries. Aside from the damage they do, both rats and mice carry diseases and multiply quickly, making a minor infestation a serious problem.
Bed bug infestations are expected to be a growing concern this fall as more people are seeing opportunities to take vacations and travel for the holidays. These expert hitchhikers are easy to miss in your luggage and clothing, and no hotel or home is immune. Taking a few minutes to carefully check bags before bringing them inside is time well spent.
Whether you are taking precautions or you already see evidence of a pest problem in your Akron area home, your local pest control expert can help with eradication and treatment. In addition to rodents and bed bugs, the following pests are likely to make an appearance as the weather cools off.
- Cockroaches do not survive freezing winter temps, so fall begins their move into leaf piles and shrubbery near your home, where they will eventually find their way into the house through drainpipes and gaps in weather stripping. Once inside your sewer drains, walls, or basement, they will look for food in your kitchen. Cockroaches carry a range of diseases, including salmonella and plague, and they aggravate asthma.
- Ants, from carpenter ants to small brown ants, can do significant damage and are a big problem in the kitchen getting into food left out or not tightly sealed. Experts suggest treating regularly for ants throughout the summer to reduce the populations seeking shelter in your home during colder and wetter weather.
- Bees and wasps are especially active this time of year because fall is their food gathering time in preparation for winter. Shorter days are the signal for bees to increase honey production, and wasps seek out the abundance of fallen fruit that fall provides. Maintaining treatment around your home is your best bet for keeping stinging insects at a safe distance, and always contact a professional to handle swarms or nests.
Pest control in Akron OH
It is almost impossible to prevent every pest problem in your home, especially as the weather changes. You can reduce the risk of a pest infestation in Stow, Hudson, and the surrounding area by following these tips.
- Replace weather stripping around windows and doors and seal holes around drainpipes.
- Clear leaves and other debris from your hard.
- Store firewood away from your home or any other structure.
- Limit fall and holiday decorations, such as hay bales and pumpkins, to areas away from your home.
- Keep trash cans inside and outside the home tightly covered.
- Clean up clutter, including boxes and clothing piles, and keep laundry in closed hampers.
- Wash dishes and counters immediately and seal and store leftovers.
If you have a pest infestation in your Summit, Stark, or Portage County home or business, contact A&A Pest Control for quick, quality service that works. Click here for more information about our pest control services in Greater Akron.