Top 3 Winter Pests to Lookout for in Laurens, S.C.

Laurens Pest Control: Common Winter Pests

During the winter season, we don’t typically see a lot of pests around, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t present! Certain wildlife pests tend to look towards our Laurens home to escape the cold, causing damage and posing a health risk in the process. For homeowners, it’s important to understand the types of winter pests that could invade and the winter pest control methods needed to keep them out. Check out our top 3 winter pests to look out for in Laurens, South Carolina.

Cockroaches

During the winter, cockroaches enter our homes to search for heat and humidity. Common roaches found in homes are American roaches, oriental roaches, and brown-banded roaches. These pests can pose a serious health risk to humans, as they’re known to transmit diseases and trigger allergies and asthma. Roaches will utilize any open gap or hole to find their way inside homes. These pests will also hitchhike on grocery bags, boxes, and used appliances. You will often find them in areas where food and water are available, such as our kitchens and bathrooms.

Termites

Termites are year-round pests and will destroy the structural integrity of homes. The damage termites can cause will often cost billions in repairs. Termites, such as subterranean termites, will eat the wood from the inside out, usually staying hidden until the damage is done. These termite types need soil to live, creating mud tubes to search for a food source. Firewood and mulch are two major attractants to termites and will provide a way inside your home. If they’ve infested, you can often find them in the home’s baseboards, crawlspaces, and wooden beams.

Silverfish

Silverfish prefer to live in damp, colder places. These pests are quite common in the winter months and are often found in basements or bathrooms. If they’ve gained access to your living space, it’s usually because they’ve hitched a ride when you’ve taken items out of storage in your garage or attic. While these pests are harmless to humans, if they infest in large numbers, they can become a nuisance. Silverfish will feed on your books, glue, wallpaper, and boxes.

Preventing Winter Pests

There are several methods and preventative measures you can implement to keep these pests from invading your home! Consider these winter pest control tips when you want to keep these pests away:

• Seal any holes, cracks, or gaps around your home
• Avoid leaving your pet food and water out overnight
• Clean up leftover food crumbs and spills
• Fix any leaky faucets or pipes found as soon as possible
• Avoid leaving your dirty dishes in the sink overnight
• Take your garbage out on a regular basis and utilize a trashcan with a tightly secure lid
• Remove old newspapers, mail, and cardboard that is laying around your home
• Inspect boxes, groceries, and used furniture before entering your home
• If you utilize mulch, place it at least 20 feet away from your foundation
• Consider reaching out to your pest control company to get a customized plan to prevent pests year-round