Fall can be a busy time, especially when it comes to pest control. It’s only a myth that pests disappear as soon as temperatures begin to cool. Many are very active in fall, trying to find food and shelter for winter. Consider these five reasons homeowners commonly call pest control companies in October and November.

The Most Prevalent Pests in Fall

1. Mice

Mice can enter buildings through holes the size of small coins, and these opportunistic intruders will follow the scent of food until they find it. Worst of all, rodents can carry fleas and lice into your home with them. That’s why food should be stored in airtight containers, and homeowners should inspect and seal any cracks along their home’s foundation. If mice have entered your home, a pest control company can place traps and cover all entryways.

2. Cockroaches

Cockroaches are common pests year-round, and they can tolerate cold weather easily. However, their ideal environment is around 70 degrees, so if they can get inside as fall changes to winter, they will. Since they are carriers of hundreds of bacteria, they can trigger allergies and asthma in a home’s inhabitants, making effective pest control essential to a family’s well-being.

3. Ants

Ants are most active during summer and fall as they work frantically to store food for colder weather. There are different species of ants, and some are more of a nuisance than others. For example, carpenter ants will infest and destroy your home by eating away at its structure. Ways to prevent them are sealing food in airtight containers, keeping windows closed, and sealing cracks along the foundation. 

4. Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are tiny parasitic insects that come out at night to feed on living hosts. Commonly found in seams on mattresses, bed frames, and boxes, they multiply quickly. While they are difficult to control, there are many ways a pest control expert can treat your home. Elimination includes ridding your home of infected mattresses and thoroughly cleaning the entire house.

5. Beetles

Lady beetles and boxelder bugs are also active during the fall, and while they don’t always enter or infest homes, they can damage the trees in your yard. Their droppings can stain fabrics, and they leave behind a stinky odor when crushed.

Whether you need help sealing cracks, repairing broken screens, or treating your yard, the pest control experts at Select Pest Control have served the Greater Cincinnati, OH, area for more than 30 years. Rocco the bed bug dog is one of their most valued members of the team, rooting out bed bugs for elimination. If you need help with any of these pests or others, call them at (513) 352-0080 or visit them online today.