
Halloween is here and after the past year, Texans are ready to celebrate more than ever before. Halloween does not only mean candy and silly costumes, though. It also marks an important change of season, when the weather starts to get colder and other scary creatures pose a danger.
Cockroaches, ants, rodents, and scorpions are just a few of the pests that cannot tolerate this colder weather and so, they try to find their way inside. Unfortunately, the shelter they seek is usually inside someone’s home. As you get ready for the festivities this year, it is essential you know the pests that may pose a threat, and how to ensure they do not cause a problem.
Do Pests Die in Cold Weather?
The weather in San Antonio and Austin is reasonably mild all year long, but the summer months are very hot and humid. By the time September and October roll around, it is not uncommon for people to want a cold snap that will kill the mosquitoes and wasps that have been annoying them all summer long. So, do pests really die in cold weather? Unfortunately, the answer in Texas is no.
Extremely cold weather for a period of several days may help to reduce pest populations but the reduction is slight and only temporary. Still, most pests have a relatively short lifespan anyway and so, their populations can still increase even when many of them do not survive the winter.
However, in areas such as San Antonio and Austin, the temperature rarely drops low enough, and for long enough, to really put a dent in pest populations. It may freeze for a night or two, but the temperatures soon rise, causing little change in the amount of pests in our environment.
Pests in Texas have also developed very clever strategies that can help them deal with any colder temperatures that may hit. Those are tolerance, avoidance, and migration. Essentially, pests will either tolerate the cold, even if they stay around your home while they do, or they will migrate away from it. When they do the latter, they will often migrate into your home and become a real nuisance. It is important all homeowners know the pests that may enter their home looking for warmth, food, and shelter, and how to avoid the problem.
Cockroaches
The two main types of cockroaches in Texas are the German roach and the American roach. German cockroaches do not live outside, so if you see one in your home, it is not enough to hope that the cold weather will kill them. These cockroaches climb into boxes, old appliances, and containers to travel from place to place. They also use shared walls in apartment buildings and other multiple family residences to move from one home to another.
American cockroaches do need warmth, and they will become much less active in the winter. Still, as the temperatures drop, they will move inside to seek food and shelter. To prevent these pests from coming inside, remove any rotten or decaying matter, such as a compost bin, away from the exterior of the home. Also clean up debris and fallen leaves in the yard, so they do not provide a place for roaches to take shelter.
Ants
Ants are cold-blooded animals and so, many people think they die when the colder temperatures hit. While ants can survive the cold, they are less active and they become more sluggish. Still, they will fight to survive, even if it means hiding under rocks, finding shelter under tree bark, or moving further underground. Often, they will even move into a home to wait out the winter, or to try and set up camp permanently. For this reason, it is not uncommon to see ants inside during the winter months even more than in the summer months.
Fortunately, it is possible to prevent ants from coming into the home, and the measures are largely the same as cockroach prevention. Clean up debris and leaves in the yard, and remove any unnecessary rocks and any other items that may provide ants with shelter.
Rodents
Mice and rats are some of the most common pests people have to deal with in the winter months. As the temperature drops, these critters also come inside to look for warmth, food, and water. It does not take much for them to get inside, either. Mice can fit into a space the size of a dime, while rats can fit in any space the size of a quarter. They will often first seek shelter in spaces that are not usually occupied, such as an attic or crawlspace, but they will soon take over a home.
To prevent mice and rats from entering a home, it is first important to perform a full inspection to ensure rodents are not already inside. Once you have ensured that, you can then seal any gaps and cracks that could provide an easy access point for rodents.
Scorpions
Unlike other pests, scorpions do not typically go in search of food. Instead, they prefer to wait for their main prey, insects, to fly by when they then grab them with their pincers. When food is in short supply, a scorpion can also reduce its metabolic rate by one-third, meaning they can save energy and go without food for a long period of time. Scorpions will also come inside to find warmth and food, but because they are not always on the hunt, it is often much harder to detect a problem. The best way to prevent scorpions from coming inside, clear the yard of debris, clutter, leaves, and wood piles.
Our Pest Control Experts in Texas Can Help All Year Long
People often think pest problems are worst in the summer, but that is not always the case. Many insects and other pests make their way inside during the colder months, creating a big problem for the people in a home. If you have a pest problem, or want to be proactive and prevent one, call our Texas pest control experts at Stride Pest Control today. We are available to help year round, know the unique challenges each season presents, and how to overcome them. Call us today at (512) 777-1339 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.