Where do insects go in the winter?

Very few insects thrive in the winter. Those who live in colder climates will often notice a distinct drop in pest problems once the cold moves in. Unfortunately, this isn’t always good news. Though many insects respond to the winter by migrating to warmer areas or by burrowing underground, others find safe habitat in human homes. Once the heat of the summer sun no longer provides the temperatures these pests need to live, they may seek out the artificially warm comfort of your house.

Insects that decide to bundle up for the winter in your home may not feel like leaving when summer returns. Once a colony has found a reliable food source, it will not move on without some direct encouragement. This sets up the conditions for a full-scale infestation.

A pest infestation can be bad news for a homeowner even if the insects are harmless. No one wants to live in a house crawling with bugs after all. But when you are dealing with termites, ants, cockroaches, and other troublesome insects, the threat can loom much larger than simple annoyance. Cockroaches, for instance, have been known to worsen allergies in people susceptible to them. They also carry bacteria like salmonella, contaminating your food supply as they forage for nutrition. Ants can contaminate your food sources as well. Termites pose an enormous threat to your home’s structural integrity, and fleas can make life miserable for you and your pets.

A can of bug spray can be effective against a single insect or a trail of ants, but it won’t do anything about the ongoing infestation. Killing off a pest population with do-it-yourself methods is as impossible as emptying the ocean one bucket at a time. If you have a pest control problem, you’ll get far better results by calling the professionals.