The Great Migration (AKA: No More Roommates)

It’s officially winter, and while many of us are dreaming of cozy fires and hot cocoa, our six-legged (and occasionally eight-legged or four-legged) friends have the exact same idea.

In the pest world, there’s a common misconception that once it gets cold, all the bugs just… disappear. I wish it were that simple! While some go into diapause (essentially insect hibernation), others decide that your heated facility or home is the perfect place to ride out the chill.

Here’s the rundown on our most common uninvited winter guests and why they’re making themselves at home.

The Overwintering "Vacationers"

If you’re seeing brown marmorated stink bugs, lady beetles, or boxelder bugs clustered around your windows on a sunny winter day, you’ve got overwintering pests. They aren't there to eat food, ruin products, or damage the structure; they’re just looking for a warm spot. They crawled into the wall voids back in autumn and are now just chilling in the corner.

Since these are already inside, the best bet is a good vacuum and, more importantly, a note in your "Spring To-Do List" for better exclusion before next fall. And, you can also make a note that there will likely be more seen inside in the spring because they are crawling out of all the hidden hiding places.

The Permanent Residents

Unlike the vacationers, some pests are happy to stay year-round if the conditions are right. Cockroaches, bed bugs, and rodents don't "go away" in the winter; they are perfectly happy enjoying the same indoor conditions we are. If they have been a problem earlier in the year, nothing is stopping them from being a problem now.

It’s a great reminder of how important sanitation is. Like us, all our pests need to eat. When they are deprived of that, their populations suffer, and control gets much easier. Check the hot spots first – literally! Look at appliances and other areas that are just a tad warmer than everywhere else.

The "Hidden" Pests

Winter is also a prime time for stored product pests. Think Indian meal moths or sawtoothed grain beetles. Because we tend to keep larger amounts of food during the winter (especially for those holiday gatherings!), or maybe that bag of birdseed is sitting in the garage, these pests can go unnoticed for months until you suddenly have "small moths" flying around.

These require good inspections to find the infested goods and eliminate them. It’s not that easy because sometimes you will find an infested product, but the problem persists. They have moved on to another product and now we have to find that.

The Winter Checklist

Since I love a good puzzle, here are the pieces you should be looking for right now:

1. Check the Perimeter: Look for "light" under doors. If you can see daylight, a pest can get in. Install sturdy door sweeps. As a structure is sealed up, it should also help keep heat in and energy costs down. You don’t want uninvited holiday guests this year.

2. Monitor the Heat: If you know me, you know I HATE vending machines. Not only do they have the motor keeping things warm, but they hardly ever get cleaned behind or under. Check behind any equipment that generates heat. If I’m a German Cockroach, that’s where I’m throwing my holiday party.

3. Watch the Moisture: Winter air is dry, so any leak (even a tiny one under a sink) becomes a magnet for every thirsty pest. Don’t forget about those pretty poinsettias, live trees, and vases of flowers.

Just because it’s cold outside doesn't mean we can let our guard down. In fact, winter is the best time to focus on cleaning, sealing, and monitoring. That’s also going to help in the spring when the next set of pests looks to invade.

Stay warm, stay vigilant, and as always… Go ahead, bug me! We can solve these puzzles together.

Urban pest consulting