Overwintering Pests

In Raleigh NC, you’ll encounter a handful of overwintering pests. Although these pests aren’t aggressive or dangerous, they can still create numerous problems for you. These pests can take shelter in many places, but many will hide in residential structures and commercial buildings. Below, you’ll learn more about the pests that commonly overwinter in Raleigh.

Which Pests Overwinter In Raleigh NC?

Again, a handful of pests are going to overwintering in our area. Below, you’ll find out about the most common overwintering pests in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Boxelder Bugs

First, you may encounter boxelder bugs. These pests are going to destroy your garden during the warm, summer months. They consume the seeds of certain trees including maple trees and boxelder trees. However, they’re going to become a nuisance before winter. They cannot tolerate cold temperatures. Therefore, they’re going to find a place to take shelter. They may hide in your home. These pests are only half an inch.

They’re black with a few distinct red marks on their wings. They’re small enough to slip through cracks and enter homes. They’re not dangerous.

Asian Lady Beetles

You’ll also encounter Asian Lady Beetles. They look like ordinary ladybugs, but they’re much different. For instance, they can bite. They’re not dangerous, but they can still bite. They enter your home using the smallest holes. Don’t crush these ladybugs because doing so will cause them to release a nasty odor in your home.

Cluster Flies

Cluster flies are large flies that want to stay outside. They start life as a parasite in an earthworm. Eventually, they’ll emerge as larvae and begin living outside. Flies are incredibly annoying. Cluster flies are too. It is pertinent to find a way to keep these pests out of your dwelling. Doing so can help you avoid a major headache in the future. These flies tend to cluster so you’re going to find them in large numbers. When it gets hot in Raleigh, the cluster flies in your home are going to leave. Since they’ll be in a large group, they’ll likely scare you.

Leaf-Footed Pine Seed Bugs

The leaf-footed pine seed bug is likely the largest overwintering pest in our area. They can create a new generation every year. They’re dull brown and grow up to three-quarters of an inch. When it is hot outside, the leaf-footed pine seed bugs in your home will go outside. Once outside, they’re going to feed on pinecones. They cannot tolerate cold weather so they’re going to sneak into your before it gets too cold. They can also hide behind tree bark. They’ll leave your home in large groups. As a result, their presence is going to be unnerving. Just remember that the leaf-footed pine seed bugs around your home can’t hurt you.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs

Brown marmorated stink bugs are common in our area. These pests are half an inch in length and have a black that resembles a shield. They have a marbled pattern so they’re easy to spot. Stink bugs haven’t been in the United States for long. Instead, they arrive in the mid-1990s and have rapidly spread across the country since then. They’re native to Asia and quickly become a major problem in the United States. During warm weather can destroy an entire field of crops. Before it gets cold, they’ll take refuge in your home. Don’t crush them because this will cause them to make your home stink.

You can use your vacuum cleaner to suck them up. Once you’ve done that, you can dispose of the pests away from your home.

Identifying an Overwintering Pest Infestation

Unfortunately, it won’t be easy to spot the overwintering pests in your home. Many people live with them for months without realizing they have a problem. You may do the same. These pests want to enter your home and hide there until the warm weather returns. They’ll hide anywhere in the home, including in bedrooms, cabinets, shelves, and elsewhere. They often remain hidden until they detect warm temperatures nearby. Once this happens, they’re going to come out of hiding and find a place to leave.

These pests do not want to be inside during warm weather. Therefore, you should try to lead them back outside. Either way, you likely won’t realize that you have a problem until you find boxelder bugs, Asian lady beetles, cluster flies, or stink bugs in your home.

Avoiding Overwintering Pests In The Future

It is pertinent to do what you can to keep overwintering pests out of your home. It might seem easy, but it won’t be. These pests are incredibly smart and tricky. They can slip through the smallest gaps and enter your home. They want to enter homes in late fall. Once this happens, they’re going to stay put until the warm temperatures return. Therefore, you should take steps to keep them out before winter arrives. There will always be a risk that these pests are going to enter your home.

Still, you should use the tips below to stop these pests from entering your home.

Finding The Smallest Gaps

First and foremost, you need to focus on sealing the smallest gaps around your home. Most buildings have small homes and gaps. These small openings need to be dealt with. Sealing them will greatly increase the likelihood that your home is going to remain free of pests throughout the year.

Using A Protective Barrier Treatment

Talk to your favorite exterminator about an exterior protective barrier treatment. Using this technique will prove to be well worth it in the long run. We’re proud to offer this service because it’ll make a big difference in the long run. We’ll spray the industrial-strength product around your home to stop prevents from approaching. Stick with professional services because they’ll deliver more impressive results. Plus, you’ll obtain longer-lasting results from a professional’s services.

Where To Look For Gaps

Bricks & Mortar

Your home may have bricks for exterior walls. If this is the case, you need to check the bricks to ensure there aren’t any gaps. There could be. In most cases, you’ll find small gaps around the bricks and mortar. A small gap will be found where the mortar reaches the molding or siding. It might be small, but overwintering pests can use it to enter your home. Therefore, you need to fill it in right away. Use a sealant to block this entry point.

Window Frames

It is vital to deal with gaps around window frames. In most cases, windows are caulked when they’re installed. However, the bottom portion of the window will likely be left untouched. Installers usually don’t caulk the bottom of the window and the gap is going to let pests sneak inside. Therefore, you should caulk this gap to block this entry point.

Fascia & Clapboard

The clapboard around your home has an uneven surface. Although it looks great, it can create gaps around your home. For instance, you’ll likely find gaps on the edges. Fill these gaps or pests are going to use them to sneak inside. Use a foam insulating cord because it’ll be easier.

Vents In Your Attic & Soffit

Your attic is going to have vents to help eliminate excess moisture. The only downside is that the vent is going to leave an opening to your home. Therefore, it is pertinent to properly seal this gap. Make sure the vent is covered by a protective screen. Once you’ve done that, you can guarantee that these pests won’t be able to sneak inside. Check any existing screens to make sure that they’re in great shape.

Openings Around Pipes & Utilities

Finally, you need to make sure that you deal with gaps around pipes and utility lines. Your plumbing pipes must enter your home at some point. You’ll also have to check around your electrical wires. If there are small gaps around these things, you need to fill them inside right away. One of the best ways to fill this gap is by using an old pot scrubber. Squeeze the pot scrubber and force it into the small holes.

Unfortunately, these pests may still enter your home. You can’t eliminate the risk that they’ll enter. Therefore, you should get in touch with us. If you find these pests in your dwelling, call our office. We’ll do what we can to take care of the problem for you.

Using The Right Materials

Be positive that you’re using the right materials to block your home. Exclusion materials are designed to stop pests from entering your home. Exclusion materials work exceptionally well. They’ll block overwintering pests from entering your home. In addition to this, they’re going to stop other pests from finding a way inside. Below, you’ll learn more about the materials you can use.

Using Caulks & Sealants

You can use caulks and sealants to defend your home from overwintering pests. Which material should you use? Ultimately, it is simple. If the surface is going to expand or shrink due to temperature changes, you need to use a sealant. If the surface will remain the same throughout the year, use a caulk.

Other Materials To Use To Defend Your Home

• Don’t forget to use foam insulation to defend your property. Although spray foam is helpful, it is not best. Instead, you should use long, flexible foam insulation.
• You’ll need to use aluminum screening too. It is inexpensive and reliable for blocking holes of all sizes.
• Using hardware cloths can help you keep pests out of your dwelling.
• Finally, make sure you’re using pot scrubbers to block small gaps.

Call us to get more advice for keeping these pests out.

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