Bugs to be Wary of While Hanging Christmas Lights
When you step outside to tackle the holiday decorations, bugs are probably the last thing on your mind – until they get in the way. Even though it’s winter, that doesn’t mean the creepy crawlies aren’t still lurking around in the crevices and corners. They’re seeking shelter from the cold, and your house provides the perfect coverage.
However, if you know what to look for and where to look for them, insects won’t be sneaking up on you while you’re decorating.
Black Widows
One of the most dangerous spiders on the planet could be resting quietly around the stack of firewood you’re climbing over and around. The black widow spider is a common resident of the South that likes to hide in dark, undisturbed places close to the ground. They can survive outdoors even during the winter, but to do so they must seek covered shelter.
Be careful around woodpiles and holes in the ground, as well as crevices and holes in the structure of your home. These protective spiders are much more likely to bite when they are on their web, so keep away from the wispy white stuff.
Brown Recluse
If brown recluse spiders haven’t already gotten in your home for the winter, they are looking for a way in. As the name suggests these guys don’t like the company of others, so you won’t find them hanging out in the open.
Watch out around cluttered areas, clothing that’s been sitting outside and outdoor furniture, which are three of their preferred hiding spots. They aren’t aggressive, and bites usually happen in self-defense when people make accidental contact with the spider.
Stink Bugs
This year, stink bugs are becoming a big problem for homeowners. They need a warm place to overwinter, so hanging out inside and along the outside of heated homes is the logical choice.
Stink bugs like to worm their way into cracks and crevices, but they can also be found around windows and doors where warmth is radiating. They are attracted to lighter surfaces, which is another reason why windows and doors are popular stink bug spots.
If you see these bugs, don’t swat or squash them unless you don’t mind the pungent smell and stains they leave behind. Instead use a vacuum to suck them up or call an Alabama pest control company if the infestation looks significant.
Lady Bugs
Like the brown recluse, lady bugs like to spend the winter indoors if they can. While they do bite they don’t have venom, and lady bugs can be quite a nuisance since they travel in large packs. If they’ve gotten in your home, there’s a good chance you may see them when you’re getting decorations down from the attic.
Lady bugs were extremely active in October and early November in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama because the weather was just right and food sources were abundant. If you see large clusters on the outside walls of your home, in the attic or in the garage, it’s best to give a professional exterminator a call.
Beetles
Two types of beetles in particular like to overwinter in wood around homes – the Notch Tipped Flower Longhorn Beetle and the Spangle Flower Beetle. When you’re working around woodpiles and old stumps, be aware that larvae and adult beetles could be eating away. They don’t pose any real threat, but could give you a good scare.
Image Source: simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Black_Widow_11-06.jpg
Original Source: https://www.vulcantermite.com/garden-pest-control/bugs-to-be-wary-of-while-hanging-christmas-lights