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If you’re like most people, you probably assume that bugs die off in the winter. Your experience likely backs up this theory, since you don’t see mosquitoes buzzing around your yard or ants out and about on your driveway in the coldest months of the year. However, that’s not the full story.
Many bugs survive winter, either by entering a hibernation-like state called diapause or relocating into warmer habitats. Unfortunately, these warmer accommodations often end up being inside your home. Find out more about winter pests and how you can protect your home from them below.
What Happens to Insects When Temperatures Drop?
Insects are cold-blooded creatures that cannot produce their own internal body heat. This makes winter deadly for many of them. As soon as the temperature gets too cold, they can no longer regulate their body temperature. Although the winter proves deadly for many pests, others have developed strategies to survive or avoid the cold.
How Do Some Insects Avoid Freezing Temperatures?
There are various things that insects do to avoid freezing temperatures. Some migrate. By moving to warmer climates, they avoid the cold winter temperatures that can be their undoing. An example of a migrating insect is the dragonfly.
Other insects find spaces where they can overwinter. They may burrow into the soil, under leaf litter, or deep under bark to escape the freezing temperatures. Many ant colonies dig deeper underground in the winter to get below the frost line, where they can survive with relatively little activity until spring.
Then there are the insects that move into homes for the winter. Some, like boxelder bugs, get into wall voids or attic spaces and overwinter without causing too much trouble. Others, like termites, remain active through the winter, damaging your home for as long as they’re allowed to remain.
Which Insects Stay Active During Cold Weather?
The insects that stay active in the winter usually do so because they have moved into a warm environment, like your house. When living in a climate-controlled home, they can keep doing all of the things they do during summer, as long as they have food and a water source. Common insects that stay active include:
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Cockroaches- These pests thrive indoors and don’t enter diapause.
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Ants- If a colony has moved indoors, it will continue to forage in your heated home.
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Spiders- These pests often move inside in the fall and continue hunting year-round if insects are available to them inside.
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Silverfish and termites- These pests remain active inside homes where moisture and warmth are available.
Do All Bugs Survive Cold the Same Way?
As all of the examples above show, bugs survive the winter in a variety of ways. Some don’t survive, some go into diapause, some have adaptations that allow them to survive, and some find a warm space where they can stay active throughout the coldest months.
Various factors can also lead to different outcomes. An extremely cold or prolonged winter may cause more pests to die off than usual, whereas a mild winter might allow more pests to survive. In the latter case, you’re likely to see earlier spring pest activity and larger-than-normal populations.
How Does Weather Impact Bug Populations in Spring?
A mild winter or an early spring doesn’t automatically mean we’re in for a bug-filled year. In fact, pests that wake up too early often struggle. If they come out before food is available, many end up starving, which can actually lead to smaller populations. And even if they start moving around on a warm early-spring day, a sudden cold snap can hit and wipe them out before they ever really get going.
Should You Worry About Winter Bugs in Your Home?
Although you don’t want large pest populations outside next spring or summer, your main concern is likely within your own four walls. You don’t want a pest infestation, but if you start seeing bugs in your house this winter, do you really need to worry? It depends.
Some of the pests that get inside during winter are harmless. Boxelder bugs, stink bugs, and Asian lady beetles are all nuisance pests that you may not want inside, but that you also don’t need to worry about damaging your home or making you sick. They also won’t reproduce while in your home.
However, there are other winter pests that do cause problems. If termites or carpenter ants get inside, they will chew on wooden structures all day, every day. Since these colonies can have hundreds of thousands of members, it’s easy to see how wood beams and supports can grow weak from all of the tunnels created in them.
Other pests, like cockroaches and pharaoh ants, spread diseases when they get into homes. They will contaminate surfaces and food, putting you and your family at risk of contracting a variety of harmful illnesses.
How Can You Protect Your Home from Cold-Weather Pests?
There are a number of things you can do to protect your home from cold-weather pests. Making it difficult for them to get into your house in the first place, and making your house inhospitable to them if they do get inside are the best ways to avoid an infestation. All-American Pest Control recommends the following prevention tips:
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Seal cracks, gaps, vents, and other potential entry points
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Store firewood and garbage bins away from the house
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Maintain your landscaping and yard
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Keep your home dry and free of water leaks because many pests seek moisture
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Keep your kitchen clean and store all food in airtight containers
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Inspect for pests before bringing in firewood, boxes, or holiday décor
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Reduce clutter, especially in storage areas
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Consider preventative pest control treatments before winter begins
Call All-American Pest Control for Effective Winter Pest Protection
From pest inspection, treatment and prevention, All-American has you covered. Our Perimeter Plus Pest Control is designed to eliminate and prevent common pests, and it’s tailored to each season so that your home gets the protection it needs based on the time of year and type of pests that are active in each season. Don’t let winter pests catch you off guard. Contact All-American Pest Control to schedule a seasonal inspection and keep cold-weather invaders out.
Your Trusted Nashville, TN Pest Control Experts in Nashville, TN & Nearby Neighborhoods
Since 1961, All-American Pest Control has been your go-to team of trusted pest experts for homes, businesses, and home builders throughout Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Our expert team offers termite treatments, mosquito reduction, rodent removal, ant and spider control, and wasp nest removal—keeping your property protected year-round. As a local, family-owned company, we take pride in offering reliable, professional pest solutions with outstanding customer service.
We proudly serve: Gladeville, Laguardo, Lebanon, Mt. Juliet, Norene, Rural Hill, Statesville, Tuckers Crossroads, Watertown, Green Hill, Greenvale, Belinda City, Harbor View, Indian Lake Farms, Hurricane, Langford Farms, Beckwidth, Old Hickory, Mount Juliet City Center, Lakewood, Cedar Creek, and the entire Greater Nashville area.
For trusted pest control in Nashville, TN, and these surrounding communities, contact All-American Pest Control today! Call (615) 824-8814 or Schedule a Free Consultation online.