Year-Round Pest Control Tips for Colorado Homeowners
Few issues bother homeowners more than bugs and pests in their homes or yards. Bed bugs, mosquitoes, rats, and other pests are notoriously hard to remove once they dig in. Many homeowners hire top-notch pest control services for year-round home protection and seasonal pest prevention.
However, as we'll see in this article, you can keep your home and outdoor spaces pest-free between scheduled professional visits by following a few year-round pest control tips for Colorado homeowners.
Common Colorado Pests By Season
Different pests and bugs behave differently depending on the season. For example, some pests all but disappear during the winter months, like mosquitoes, which slip into dormancy until the temperature warms again. Conversely, other pests see the cold weather as an invitation to move inside, like rodents or spiders, who want to find a good place to stay warm that also provides a food source. Our list of top offenders, broken out by season, gives homeowners a good idea of who’s looking to move in and how to deal with pest problems.
Winter: The Hidden Infestation
Some bugs and pests, especially the creepy crawly kind, stage a mass migration with hundreds, possibly thousands of them on the move, looking for food and shelter. Top of the list are spiders that, in the warmer months, are content to live and feed outside. However, when the weather turns cold, they seek warmth, food, and nesting — the best place for that is inside a house. They aren’t coming for you, per se, but they are looking for a safe place to set up until Spring.
Like spiders, rats and mice also head your way. They, too, want to get out of the cold and into more comfortable living situations, leading them directly to your home. While spiders are silent, rats and mice make noises in walls, ceilings, and even cupboards as they forage for food.
Boxelder bugs seek warmer temperatures fairly early in the Fall. Look for them in cracks in siding, attic spaces, or open spaces in walls. They don’t reproduce in the winter, but they can ‘wake up’ temporarily on a warm winter's day and start poking around your home.
Spring: The Population Boom
Many of the most troublesome pests and bugs reawaken in Spring. Those that have died off over the winter reproduce spontaneously through a mysterious act of nature. In contrast, others awaken from their dormancy, ready to get out into the sunlight and search for food and water. The list has a few familiar names.
We don’t see many ants in the colder months, but they awaken in the Spring. Cold-blooded ants enter winter dormancy to regulate their body temperature and conserve energy. Their goal is to stay alive until Spring, when their food sources reappear. They love anything sweet, crumbly, or greasy, so they march straight for your kitchen by the thousands.
Cold-blooded termites burrow into the ground, below the frost line, when cold weather approaches. When Spring comes and the temperature gets warmer, swarming termites reproduce rapidly and generate infamous infestations. Subterranean termites, common in Colorado, eat more than just wood. Famous for their insatiable appetite, they’ll eat paper, cardboard, and plant debris — anything that contains cellulose.
Like ants and termites, wasps overwinter and come out strong when the temperatures rise. Look for the Queens to emerge from winter hiding to build new nests and set up with their colonies.
Summer: The Outdoor Onslaught
The summer months bring on some of the most dreaded pests that sting and bite, and can cause serious problems for anyone allergic. The prime offenders are well-known, but here’s a look at where and how they make it into your yard.
Mosquitoes thrive in hot, damp, or wet conditions. They breed quickly and in massive numbers right after it rains. We’ve all seen standing water with adolescent mosquitoes skating across the surface, looking for their next meal.
Flies buzz and dart around quicker than most other insects and multiply profusely. They become a nuisance inside and outdoors on patios and poolside. You’re sure to catch the attention of several flies when having an outdoor barbecue or family gathering that involves food or drinks.
Stinging insects include bees, yellowjackets, and hornets, and they are especially troublesome because many people are allergic to their stings. They start out reproducing and creating nests in the spring, and as the summer wears on, their nests grow larger, and the insects become aggressive.
Fall: The Great Migration
When Fall approaches, the cycles start again, and some pest activity increases, while others diminish. Unwanted guests like spiders, rats, and mice migrate towards food and warmth to shelter indoors. Spiders spin more webs, mice gnaw at entry points, and boxelder bugs amass on walls and sun themselves in a last push to conserve energy.
Year-Round Pest Prevention Strategies
Homeowners can adopt simple strategies to prevent pests and bugs from entering their homes.
Sealing entry points is one of the best ways to keep out pests. Repair cracks in your foundation and around windows. Also, check your siding for loose boards where pests can easily creep in.
Keeping your yard clean also keeps pests away. Leaves and mulch piles can quickly become homes to rats and mice, and a compost pile can attract bugs and pests.
Don’t leave food on tables or countertops, making it easy for pests to find and return to food sources. Store food pantry items in airtight containers. Clean out gutters, birdbathers, and planters — anything that could have standing water.
Non-Toxic Professional Pest Control Services in Douglas County
Colorado's four seasons attract a full roster of bugs and pests, from ants and termites to mice and spiders. Zero Bugs pest control experts use the safest, non-toxic methods to eliminate pests and critters before they invade your home or take over your yard.
We live and work in the same area as our customers, so we know the types of pests found in Colorado homes. Contact us for a free quote if you’re having pest issues at any time of year. Call us at (720) 776-5724 and talk to one of our specialists for more information or to schedule an appointment.
