In some parts of the country, the hard freezes in a typical winter kill many summer insect pests. Here in south Florida, however, our mild climate doesn’t eradicate these annoyances. In fact, our moderate cold spells without freezing temperatures simply drive them indoors where they become even more of a problem. Winter is a time to prepare for insect pests you may not see inside your home during the rest of the year.

Some insects are genetically equipped with a kind of natural anti-freeze that allows them to weather outdoor exposure to winter temperatures. Almost all insect eggs, for example, will survive the winter outdoors, ready to hatch when the weather turns consistently warm next spring. Live insects such as grubs and beetle species know how to hibernate deep in the ground and avoid the cold, so they’re not an issue in your indoor living spaces, either. The primary winter visitors that seek survival indoors are cockroaches, spiders and ants. Warm-blooded rodents like mice and rats that summer outdoors will often migrate inside during cold snaps, as well. In either case, your home provides the perfect safe haven to wait out the winter.

Unfortunately, insect pests like cockroaches, and rodents such as mice and rats, are primary disease-carriers and should have no place in your home—even just for a season. They may threaten the health of you and your family and/or your pets. First take sensible DIY methods such as sealing outdoor cracks, gaps or other openings that give pests and rodents access to the interior of the house. Then contact a reputable pest control professional who can inspect your home and suggest a routine treatment plan with safe, approved chemicals that target the specific insect pests and other winter visitors you may be seeing at this time of year.

In Palm Beach and Broward County, Haggerty Pest Service has been your established source for professional pest control since 1985. Contact us for more information about effective treatments to eliminate the winter insect pests common to South Florida households.