Fall is almost here! Soon, we will enjoy less-humid breezes as we stroll through our city and state parks. Even though fall weather is moving in, we can still swim on a nearby beach without fighting the summer crowds.
While we make our fall plans, we need to prepare for fall pests. As the temperature cools, outdoor pests will look to our homes for warmth, shelter, and food. Now is the time to protect your home against a fall pest invasion by partnering with your long-time Jacksonville pest control company, Trad’s Pest Control. We have been serving the Jacksonville community since 1971; we know about fall pests and how to stop them from infesting your house.
Pests To Worry About In Fall
As we enter into fall, Florida insects looking to invade our homes include the following:
- Flies
- Ants
- Cockroaches
- Spiders
- Termites
In addition to these Florida bugs, cooler temperatures drive rodents such as rats, mice, and raccoons into Jacksonville homes.
Steps To Take To Prevent Common Fall Pests
Your house does not have to become a haven for pests looking for a place to raise a family during the fall and winter months. The first line of defense is your lawn. Remove rotten stumps and logs to discourage swarming subterranean termites from finding a location for new colonies. Put metal flashing around the base of any wood in contact with the ground. Elevating firewood and relocating it several feet away will reduce the spiders in Florida from getting into the woodpile and later into your home when the wood is brought inside for burning. Removing leaf piles and providing better air flow and sunlight to high moisture areas will help keep cockroaches away. Keeping outdoor garbage cans closed reduces flies, cockroaches, and rodents on your property.
Here are simple steps you can take to keep insects and rodents out of your Jacksonville house:
- Seal all cracks and crevices in the foundation and below windows and doors.
- Close all gaps between the home’s structure and incoming wires and pipes using caulk or steel wool.
- Screen all vents, doors, and windows.
- Replace outdoor lights with bug lights or LED lighting.
- Maintain a clean interior by regularly vacuuming.
- Wipe clean kitchen surfaces after meals.
- Keep interior trash can lids closed.
- Store food products in plastic or glass containers.
- Remove unused cardboard boxes, magazines, and clutter from the garage.
- Keep the garage door closed as much as possible.
Preventing rats in Florida and other pests from invading your Jacksonville home begins with good yard defense and making your home unappealing.
The Dangers Of Leaving Pest Infestations Unchecked
Failure to prepare for the termites flying in the fall and other pests may make you vulnerable to problems later in the season and beyond. For example, subterranean termites or carpenter ants may start a new colony in the house, and in a few years, you may experience sagging floors and structural damage.
Cockroaches, such as the Florida-favorite German cockroach, may enter through cracks in the walls and set up a nest in your basement or crawlspace. Within a few weeks, you will have roaches contaminating food as they move through your home from drains and open garbage cans to their nest. Many pests such as ants create pheromone trails attracting other ants to food sources in the house.
Professional Pest Control Is The Way To Go To Prevent Fall Pests
If you live around Jacksonville and type in “pest exterminator near me,” you will see Trad’s Pest Control at the top of your search because we are a quality-focused, A+ rated, family-owned pest control company with a long history of satisfied customers. Contact us today and schedule an inspection. We will create a custom strategy to stop fall pests before they cause a problem in your Jacksonville home.