Overwintering Pests

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Professional Overwintering Pest Control New York City, NY

An overwintering pest is an insect that enters a hibernation-like state before or after the winter season kicks in. Small crevices, gaps, and other openings are utilized to invade houses, apartments, flats, and townhouses. Overwintering pests are of various sizes and colors.

What Is An Overwintering Pest?

In New York City, the most common overwintering pest sightings include the box elder bug, stinkbug, ladybug, cluster fly, and leaf-footed pine seed bug. Learn more about these insect species by reading the content provided in the article below

Overwintering Pest – Box Elder “Boxelder” Bug

The box elder bug is a common pest found in industrial, commercial, and private gardens. The insect is identifiable by its dark black, bright red-outlined wings. The insect has wings that are only capable of flying short distances.

Seeds of the maple, ash, cherry, and box elder trees make up the diet. Box elder bugs do not transmit disease or parasites to humans or animals. These nuisance pests are highly recognizable by their foul odor. The secretion has agents that stain fabric and upholstery and smell retched.

The adult grows up to 0.5 inches long. Small crevices and holes are utilized to infiltrate homes. The insect does not bite.

Overwintering Pest – Ladybug “Lady Beetle”

The ladybug “Asian ladybug” is a small insect red, yellow, or orange in color. The insect’s wings are covered with a thin protective layer to minimize injury during mishaps. In their natural habitat, the ladybug seeks shelter underneath firewood or lumber piles, loose tree bark, in crevices in damaged siding, soffit, and eaves.

Ladybugs do not like to spend the winter outdoor in an overwintering state. Instead, the insects want to spend the winter indoors in a warm, dark, and damp environment

Overwintering Pest – Cluster Fly

The cluster fly is a flying insect species. Cluster flies share many of the same physical characteristics as the common housefly. The insect itself does not transmit disease or parasites. However, the cluster fly has been linked to what the medical community refers to as food- and water-borne illnesses. These diseases are caused by contaminated food and water. Cluster flies ingest contaminated food that is removed from the body through fecal matter. In many cases, the contaminated fecal matter ends up in the home’s food supply.

Like boxelder bugs, the cluster fly clusters in colonies while attempting home infiltration, foraging for food, and fighting off predators.

Overwintering Pest – Leaf-Footed Pine Seed bug

The leaf-footed pine seed bug is a small insect with three sets of legs, two antennas, and a dark brown body. The adult grows up to 0.75 (¾) inches in length. The diet consists of sap from seeds and cones from pine trees.

Leaf-footed pine seed bugs prefer the indoors to outdoors during the cold, harsh winter season. In their natural habitat, the insect seeks refuge in shrubs, underneath woodpiles, a pile of leaves, and old furniture.

Following home infiltration, the leaf-footed pine seed bug will head directly into hiding, where it will stay until next April. On some occasions, overwintering pests emerge from hiding when the ambient temperature inside the home reaches 70 degrees Fahrenheit or above.

Overwintering Pest – Brown Marmorated Stink Bug “BMSB”

The Brown Marmorated Sting Bug “stinkbug” grows up to 0.5 (½) inches in length. The shell-like wings are triangular-shaped and brown-marbled. The stinkbug originates from Asia, entering the United States in the late 1900s. The diet consists of orchard fruit (apples) and various vegetable crops.

The stinkbug is similar to the ladybug and box elder bug, in that it secretes a substance that stains and stinks. It is not recommended to injure or kill stinkbugs, but instead, suction them up into a vacuum cleaner debris bag. The debris bag should be replaced immediately after each use. Release the stinkbug(s) back into the environment as soon as possible.

Stinkbugs are easily identified by their foul scent and marmorated coloration. However, the insect’s odor is very similar to that of the box elder bug and ladybug.

What Are The Most Commonly Reported Overwintering Pest Infestation Signs?

Overwintering pests enter a dormant state before or after winter sets in each year. The insects remain in the overwintering state until the following year when the weather begins to warm outdoors. Overwintering pests generally emerge from their hiding places inside of buildings in late April. In the post-dormant state, overwintering insects start preparing for the breeding season.

The signs of an overwintering pest infestation include the following:

  • Live insects inside your home
  • Insect fecal droppings
  • Foul odor
  • Stains on upholstery, drapery, and various surfaces
  • Damaged food packaging

Avoiding Overwintering Pest

Overwintering pests will always try to enter your home in late fall. Prevent this from happening by securing your home. Find and seal all gaps in exterior walls. Take care of all gaps and cracks to ensure these pests cannot easily invade your home. Doing this will make a major difference.

Small Entry Points

You’ll want to block small entry points. Doing so will prevent overwintering pests from invading your home. Block these gaps to ensure that you can maintain a pest-free home throughout the year.

Protection Barrier Treatment

Our company offers protective exterior barrier treatment. Our professional battier treatments provide longer-lasting results. The treatment is a good way to defend your property and prevent pests from approaching. Contact us to take advantage of our protective exterior barrier treatments today.

Overwintering Pest Entry Points

Brick Joints

Check gaps between the bricks. The mortar is thinner so the bricks will have a gap between them. Bugs can climb under the gap and enter your attic. You need to seal these gaps to stop overwintering pests from entering your home. Since the gap will not experience changes due to erratic temperatures, you can seal the gap using a sealant.

Around Window Frames

Windows need to be sealed after they’re installed. They’re usually sealed on the top and sides, but the bottom may not be sealed. If this is the case, you need to seal it immediately. Seal the bottom so pests can’t climb inside.

Clapboard & Fascia

You’ll find gaps between the fascia and clapboard. Overwintering pests can slip through these gaps and invade your home. Caulk can be used to block the gap. However, it is easier to use a foam insulating cord.

Vents For Attics And Soffit

Bats, bugs, and other pests may be able to invade your home using attic vents and gaps around the soffit. These holes need to be filled to prevent pests from invading.

Openings For Utilities

Your utilities have to enter your home at some point. Pipes and electrical cables have to enter the home so they can be utilized by you and your loved ones. You might find small gaps and holds around your pipes and cables. If so, you’ll want to stuff these gaps to prevent pests from entering. Be sure to use a breathable and flexible material. You can fill these gaps using old pot scrubbers.

Are you interested in learning about more ways to keep pests out? If so, call our office. We’ll give you advice for keeping overwintering and other pests out of your home.

Exclusion Materials

Use exclusion materials to keep pests out of your home. These materials are designed to stop pests from invading. Any pest-proofing products fit into this category. Although these materials are primarily used for stopping overwintering pests, they’ll stop other pests as well.

Pick The Right Material

Don’t forget to use the right material for the surface. For instance, some surfaces will move due to temperature changes. When dealing with these surfaces, use a sealant. If you’re dealing with brick and other surfaces that won’t move, a caulk is best.

Other Materials To Use

You’ll want to use other materials to keep pests out of your home. For instance, you can use foam insulation to block lengthy gaps and cracks. Although spray form insulation is helpful, it is difficult to remove once it has dried.

Aluminum screening is effective as well. It is inexpensive and effective for the long term. Using hardware cloth is an effective way to block certain gaps. Finally, you should consider using pot scrubbers to block small gaps.

Take advantage of used pot scrubbers because they’re easier to use.

Do you need more help keeping pests out of your home? Contact us so we can help.

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Overwintering Pest (Cluster Flies)

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