Pest activity tends to rise in summer and spring. During the warmest months of the year, different pests such as ants, mosquitoes, flies, and termites can invade homes in full force. When the temperature drops, pest activity tends to drop. But a lot of pests will still want to set up camp in your house. This makes it important to know how to protect your home from pests. This is possible by understanding their behavior and what draws them indoors. Also, you should contact a pest control company in Elmhurst for help. 

How Pests Behave During Winter

In winter, a lot of animals go into hibernation. This lets them conserve energy and survive the cold until the spring comes. Likewise, several pests go into hibernation mode through a process called diapause. During this period, they will look for shelter to protect themselves from the cold. These pests might burrow underground, under logs, in tree trunks, and in houses. Depending on the kind of pests, they may suspend their growth and movement in their current stage.

During diapause, pest infestations can occur in homes. Eliminating pests in diapause can be hard as they can survive without food. 

Common Invasive Winter Pests

Pests that can take up residence in your house are looking for a safe place to diapause, a warm environment, and a place where food is readily available. Pests that can invade your home in winter include the following:

• Rodents. Mice and rats can seek warmth in your home’s walls, and feast on your pantry items or your food.
• Roaches. Although cockroaches can be a year-round issue, they particularly look for a cozy home in winter. Roaches want to be in a warm, moist environment that has sufficient food supplies. 
• Silverfish. These pests set up camp in warm, humid locations in winter. They will consume paper, including book bindings and wallpaper. 
• Carpet beetles. The larvae of these pests eat through materials in carpets, textiles, and rugs. Such materials are readily available indoors. In winter, they can easily find their meals by infesting your house.
• Termites. Although these pests are quite active in summer, they continue to feed themselves throughout the winter. Subterranean termites, in particular, are aggressive feeders and can target your home’s foundation. Thus, it’s important to re-treat your house for these pests in winter to stop an infestation. 

Keeping Winter Pests Out

If some pests have infested your home, contact a pest control company to eliminate them for you. After elimination, pest control professionals will you pest-proof your home in winter by:

• Sealing up entry points. To prevent pests from entering your house, determine how they gain entry in the first place. Entry points can be cracks, crevices, and holes. Seal these openings to prevent pests from entering your house.
• Eliminate sources of food and shelter. Although pests are motivated to invade your home for the warmth it promises, they can be drawn to the availability of food and water in your house. To make your house less attractive to invaders, store food in airtight containers and eliminate standing water on your property. a