Winter is coming! Just like every other season in Ohio, winter brings with it specific pests that will invade your home. This is the time of year that pests try to take over your home to keep warm. The pests that you will often find in your house this time of year are pavement ants, mice, and spiders. Just like any other pests, this requires a unique treatment in order to properly rid your house of them, or to prevent them from coming in the first place. There are many pests that people see invade their homes this time of year, the most common being mice, pavement ants, spiders, and stink bugs. Mice are very good at finding ways into your home, all they need is about a pencil sized hole to get in. Once inside your house they will be evident by their droppings, and the occasional sighting. If they get into your pantry, it can lead to food being eaten, and contaminated.
Mice, along with spiders head into your house for warmth, and shelter. Spiders, while the natural species to the area are not harmful, they are unsightly. Spiders are one of the tougher insects to control, as their bodies are usually far away from any treatment with their long legs. Being on a regular maintenance program is the best way to keep the spiders away. Stink bugs will also come into your house in search of warmth. In recent years the brown marmorated stink bug has been invading Ohio, originating from China. They can get into your home through any small crack or crevice, making prevention the best method of control.
Pavement ants are a tiny ant only getting up to around 3mm in length. They nest under stones, sidewalks, foundations, or even in walls. They are most commonly seen in a slab house, and are a year round pest as they come in foraging for food. The first sign of pavement ants is the worker ants searching for food in your home. Once a larger number of ants are present, small piles of dirt can be found as the excavate for their nest. If you want to get your home ready for the winter months, give us a call at 216-348-3379.