Most Georgia homeowners stop worrying about pests invading their homes in September. Unfortunately, fall pest control is something that has to be considered.
During the fall, pests that typically spend their summers outside begin to seek shelter to stay warm or to bed for the winter. Winter’s harsh conditions cause many pests to die. Therefore, taking precautions to prevent these fall pests from entering or invading your home have to be considered. The precautions needed depend on the pests. So what type of fall pest control do we have to consider in Georgia?
Fall Pests
While most Georgia homeowners consider the summer prime-time for pests, we still have many pests we have to deal with in the fall. Many are left over from the summer while others are specific to the fall. Here we outline a few different pests that Georgians deal with each year.
Bugs
From wasps and carpenter bees, to flies and ants, bugs are everywhere during the hot Georgia summer. Even Will Smith acknowledged Georgia’s bugs in filming for a recent movie.
But, as we prepare for fall, many of these pests stick around due to the warm temperatures while others appear only during the fall. Some stick around and become even more active or aggressive.
Summer Insects
Bees, flies, wasps and other typical summer flying insects do stick around during early fall in Georgia. As the season ends, the number of these flying stinging insects are at their peak. While bees and wasps do start to die as temperatures drop, those that do remain become more aggressive in the fall season. It’s best to have any flying stinging insects removed from your property.
Experts believe that most termite swarms occur in spring or summer, however it can happen at any time of year. During this time of year, termites mate and form new colonies. It’s very possible that a new termite colony can form in the fall. Make sure that your home has been treated for termites so you can prevent your home from being a termite’s fall playground.
Lastly, Georgia is known to be a breeding ground for many types of ants. Even if you’ve destroyed all of the ant hills in your yard, ants may begin seeking shelter and food that they cannot find outside. Make sure to tidy up your home and ensure all food is sealed and kept off the ground.
Seasonal Insects
When most people think about fall insects, they first consider those that invade their homes seeking warmth: kudzu bugs, lady bugs, and stink bugs. These pests aren’t necessarily dangerous, but can be obnoxious and occasionally carry allergens into your home. To prevent them from overtaking your home, contact us and we can help prevent these unwanted pests in your home.
Fall Pest Control
The best way to deal with fall pests in Georgia is prevention. There are a number of steps that you as the homeowner can take to prevent these bugs from invading your home this fall.
- Inspect and seal your home. Inspect doors, windows and other areas to ensure that proper weatherstripping is installed to prevent those pests outside from getting inside. Using caulk to trim areas where gaps may be present and fill other gaps with expanding foam or even copper mesh to prevent it being chewed through. You can even inspect the underside of your siding using a mirror and seal found entry points to prevent bugs from entering.
- Cleaning cobwebs. Get rid of any webs or cobwebs from around your basement or home. Also, if you can lower the humidity in your basement or crawl space to 40 percent, you’ll see a reduction in spiders in your home.
- Keep things clean and tidy. All pests, from ants to rats, love food. Keeping food off the floor and shelves clean in cabinets can help prevent pests. Also, placing foods in sealed containers, even pet food, can help. Outside, remove wood and debris from leaning against your home as well as trash cans.
- Hire a professional. Call Zone for all of your fall pest control needs. With 5 convenient locations in Georgia, we can help ensure your fall is a pest-free season.