01/25/19

Stoping Overwintering Nuisance Pests From Invading Your Home

Stoping Overwintering Nuisance Pests From Invading Your Home

1/25/2019

Considering the mild winters of the southwest, some common pests will continue to be a problem throughout the fall and winter. Infestations of earwigs, crickets, and silverfish can cause stress and some can damage fabrics. Let’s take a look at these creepy little creatures more closely.

Earwigs are reddish brown or dark brown in color. They have long narrow bodies and appendages that look like a pincer on the end of their abdomen. They are attracted to light and will be drawn to porch lights in the evening. They find their way into your home through cracks and crevices to find food, ideal temperatures, and humidity. They are a nuisance pest, and are not considered to be dangerous to humans or pets. Although they can look intimidating, their pinchers cannot puncture the skin.

Crickets are usually yellowish brown in color. They have large hind legs and wings that cover their abdomen. They have 3 bands that go across their head. They are attracted to plants, dead insects, and fabric materials. They usually prefer to live outdoors in dark moist places but will seek refuge indoors if conditions become too dry, hot, or cold. They can enter homes through cracks and crevices in foundations. They will seek moist warm places, like the basement, crawl spaces, laundry rooms, and closets. They can chew holes in cloth and fabric furniture but they are not dangerous to humans or pets. The males produce a high pitched chirping which can be highly annoying.

Silverfish are brown in color with silver scales. They move in a quick fish-like manner that can be startling. Outdoors they prefer dark damp areas but get into homes underneath doors or through cracks and crevices. Sometimes they get indoors on bags and boxes that are carried into your home. Silverfish are attracted to bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and laundry areas. They are not dangerous to people or pets, but they do feed on items such as cloth, book bindings, and pictures.

You can stop these nuisance pests from infesting your home by following these prevention steps, however, in the end, you may need to look to professional pest control for help:

  • Seal off all entry points.
  • Keep food in sturdy sealed containers.
  • Vacuum on a regular basis.
  • Get rid of clutter.
  • Run dehumidifiers in damp rooms and the basement.

These steps are a good start, but for complete prevention and eradication, call on the professionals at Schendel Pest Services for help. No matter the pest problem, the experts at Schendel Pest Service can handle it safely and effectively. Give us a call today for more information.

Stoping Overwintering Nuisance Pests From Invading Your Home