Top Reasons Insects Encroach Into Homes When the Weather Turns Cold
This time of year, you probably notice a lot more bugs—whether you see them buzzing around your windows, collecting on the outside of your house, or even see them inside your home—these bugs are around for a reason. Keep reading to learn why bugs want inside your house so badly when the weather turns cold!
Just Like You, Insects Love Warmth
Insects, just like you, want a comfortable and cozy place to live! For a lot of the year that place is outside, but when the weather starts to cool off, your house starts looking pretty inviting.
While a lot of people assume that all bugs die in the winter, that’s simply not true. There are a lot of different ways insects survive the winter! Some of them really do die—leaving eggs behind to hatch the following spring. Some bugs will congregate outside your house where it’s sunny and warm. Others will migrate to warmer weather. And yes, a lot of them will seek shelter inside your home.
Any space or crack in your home big enough for a bug to crawl through is basically an open invitation to a creepy crawly house party. Make sure you inspect your house thoroughly for old weather stripping, poorly caulked windows, and cracks in your walls. Remember—just because you don’t see any bugs doesn’t mean they aren’t there! Most insects will hide out inside the walls of your house but, if a random warm winter day comes along (as it often does in Alabama, they’ll make themselves known.
Insects Have Friends, Too
Where there’s one bug there are usually more to follow. Just like ants work together to lead each other to food sources, a lot of insects will let their friends know when they’ve found the perfect winter getaway spot. In fact, some insects use aggregation pheromones to let other bugs know they’ve found shelter. Once they make it inside your house, they’ll release these hormones like a chemical bat signal!
Here’s What You Should Do
Most insects you’ll find inside your home during the winter are harmless. They’re simply looking for shelter to survive the cold weather, just like you! If you have an infestation, don’t panic. In fact, a lot of these insects will release very foul odors or ooze things when squished, so it’s best to let a professional take care of the problem safely. If you see too many bugs for your liking, just give Vulcan Termite & Pest Control a call. We’ve been taking care of pests in Alabama since 1965, and we look forward to serving you, too!