Pest Calendar: Which Pests Appear in Which Season? – Infographic

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With new seasons come an influx of different pest problems. Because the majority of pests find their way into predictable places and have usual habits, you can be one step ahead of the problem. Pest Defence are here to share with you the things you can do to prevent or reduce the arrival of unwanted guests before it gets out of hand. Knowing what to look out for during the different seasons is the perfect way to tackle pests.

Which pests are most common in spring?

Termites

When the temperature begins to rise during spring, termites start to mate, resulting in large colonies. As springtime is their swarming season, you can be sure to expect termite infestation. They can silently destroy your home or garden without you realising by feasting on cellulose-based plant materials such as bark, wood and plants.

There are some indications that you have termites; these include swarms of insects in and around your home (mainly coming from the soil), cracked or bubbling paintwork, termite droppings, hollow wood beams and shedded wings.

Termites can work their way through the soil in the garden and into the foundations of your home, finding defects such as cracks in walls and pipes in order to make their way in. They love wooden structures, firewood, damp soil and foliage that is close to buildings.

Termite prevention

Repair any leaking taps or broken water pipes, keep your gutters debris-free, remove any wood mulch, keep vents clean and open and seal off visible entry points around piping or utility lines.

Moths

Moths like spring because they thrive in warm, moist weather. The majority of indoor infesting moths are attracted to your home because it offers a great place to lay eggs and feast upon a variety of household items. They enjoy eating all dry goods including clothes, nuts, chocolate, flour, curtains – they’re not at all fussy!

The signs that you have a moth infestation will include damaged fabrics, webbing and cocoons. They can generally be found anywhere in the home but they prefer dark, undisturbed corners. Subsequently they’re likely to be found in the attic, basements, wardrobes and food cupboards too so be sure to check your flour and spices before using them. Although moths are harmless, they can be an expensive threat to the home once they have made their way through your tasty furnishings.

Moth prevention

Seal your food items well, don’t simply flip over the top of your flour bag. Clean your carpets regularly, vacuum to remove eggs before they have time to hatch, wash and dry your clothing quickly and put seasonal garments in airtight boxes or packing bags. If you like the smell of lavender, go wild; it’s a moth repellent too. For more info, take a look at our moth guide.

Pigeons

Although they mean no harm, pigeons aren’t the most clever pest going. They can unintentionally find their way into your attic because it’s an ideal location that will offer them not only safety but also an ideal roosting location. Unfortunately, pigeons can be noisy and carry diseases (more info on the diseases carried by pigeons here), so it’s important to get rid of these pests. If you have a pigeon infestation, it’s likely that you will notice droppings, feathers and hear loud cooing sounds.

Pigeon prevention

Fill in any entrances to your roof so that pigeons can’t roost here. Should you have a pigeon problem, be sure to get in touch with the professionals to avoid spreading disease. 

Which pests are most common in summer?

Bees and wasps

Bees and wasps enjoy the summer and can become quite the pest when they build a nest in or around your home. If you notice that there are an unusual amount of bees and wasps near you, it’s likely that they’re residing nearby. Should you notice this, it might be because there are sweet foods or rotting meat readily available.    

Bee and wasp prevention

You should not try to remove a bee or wasp nest because if you are sensitive to a sting, it could prove to be fatal. The only prevention you can enforce would be to remove any accessible foods, so that they must move further afield to find nutrition. Always call qualified professionals to treat these pests quickly, safely and effectively.  It’s important to handle bees ethically. 

Mosquitoes

Mosquitos are dangerous pests that thrive in the summer. They fly through windows and doors and come out at night to extract your blood to sustain their own existence. Mosquitoes cause serious illnesses and even fatalities, so it’s vital you get rid of a mosquito problem as soon as possible. Mosquitoes can be found around water, so they might be coming from buckets of standing rain water, overflowing gutters, bird baths and swimming pools.

Mosquito prevention

You can use mosquito nets over your doors and windows. However, if your problem is still occurring, it’s important to get in touch with the professionals who can offer better assistance and thorough extraction.

Ants

Ants multiply during the warm months of summer and search for food and sugary substances. It’s likely that they will find their way into your home through any minute cracks, holes, loose doors or windows. By leaving dirty dishes out, food residue and open bins, you’re inviting ants into your home and once you have them, you have thousands.

Although tiny, they carry bacteria which spreads everywhere because they can make their way up and over countertops, inside drawers, cupboards and even all over the ceiling.

Ants prevention

You can use powders and other methods to kill the majority of ants but annoyingly, because they’re so small, it’s almost impossible to get rid of them all. Home remedies may help the situation at hand but it’s important to get to the root of the cause, so it doesn’t happen again. Read more on how to get rid of ants.

Cockroaches

Summer is the breeding season for cockroaches, which is why they’re abundant at this time of year. As always, it’s very important to keep a clean house to prevent pests but when it comes to cockroaches, they can find their way indoors through drains and sewer pipes as well as cracks and breakages in the foundations.

Cockroaches can affect the food inside your home with E.coli and Salmonella, which means it’s incredibly important to put a stop to these pests. Their dead bodies and excrement can also exacerbate asthma and allergies.

Cockroach prevention

Unfortunately, with these pests, it’s almost impossible to get rid of them through over-the-counter products. With cockroaches you’re better off calling in the experts who can use more effective methods. Read our guide to cockroaches for more info. 

Flies

Whether you have Fruit Flies, Crane Flies, Horse Flies or any other type of fly, they find their way into the home through windows, doors and any small crack or crevice. Flies mainly breed in the summertime and swarms of them can leave pathogens around your home, meaning that they contaminate everything they touch. See the diseases transmitted by flies here.  

Flies prevention

Fly nets over windows and doors are ideal during the summer because closing them isn’t always ideal when it’s sweltering outside. Keeping food well contained and rubbish in a sealed bin means flies won’t be so interested in your home. You can invest in UV fly lights that attract them or tape. We’ve written a guide to preventing flies in your kitchen, but if your problem still persists, call in the experts. 

Which pests are most common in autumn?

Bed Bugs

These sneaky pests are hard to spot – they can go unnoticed easily but it’s important to rid your home of bedbugs as soon as possible. They can infest the home quickly, as they like to travel in your handbag, purse and soft furnishings (things you bring back into the home). As they come out at night, it can be difficult to know that you have them in the first place. This being said, the signs showing you have bed bugs include skin cases, droppings and small dots of blood.   

Bed bugs prevention

If you notice that you are infested with bedbugs, you will want to wash your upholstery, bring your bed away from the walls and vacuum your entire home. Don’t forget also to wash your linen on a high temperature and vacuum the seams of your mattress.  Take a read of our bed bugs prevention & removal guide.

Squirrels

Squirrels enjoy nesting in attics because it offers a safe, dark place for them and their young. The problem with squirrels is that they can be very destructive and cause a lot of expensive damage (read more into why squirrels are pests). They also like to find a secure nest in autumn time because this is when they have their second litter of the year.

Squirrels prevention

It may be tempting to cover the entrance to their new home but doing this can cause much more damage in the long run. Squirrels are very protective over their territory, especially if they have their young to look after. Blocking their entry can only cause your home more damage. When you suspect squirrels, professional treatment is required.

Bats

Bats like to make a home in your attic – they can squeeze through exceptionally small gaps. Bats also like to remain around the edge of your roofline because here they can make roosting spots and enter and exit with ease at dusk. To see where they are coming from, simply watch them at this time and you will get an idea of their location and how many you have in your home.

Bats prevention

Whilst it might seem simple to cover the entrances, there are laws in place to preserve bats and ensure their well being. Should you notice bats in your attic, speak to pest professionals who can help you with your pest problem.

Spiders

With low temperatures come an influx of spiders, as your home offers countless places to nest. They will their way in via cupboards, cracks, skirting boards, doors, window corners – just to name a few! House spiders prefer the dark, however, if you keep your light on and windows open, you’re welcoming them in for a feast of moths and flies which they enjoy feeding on.

House spider prevention

Seal your windows and doors properly, keep your windows and curtains closed at night. Keep any foliage away from your walls and sweep/vacuum regularly. If you find yourself with far too many spiders, you can call the experts for quick, effective treatment.

Which pests are most common in winter?

Mice

Mice enjoy a cluttered area where they can nest, hide and breed in the warmth during the winter. Dirty plates and food cupboards also offer these small rodents a great buffet during the cold months. Mice can be very harmful to your health because they transmit disease and can cause food poisoning.  

Mice prevention

It’s important to keep on top of the hygiene in your house; remove clutter, clean your kitchen thoroughly and take the bins out regularly. Should you notice mouse droppings or hear strange noises (more info on how to know when you have rats or mice), get in touch with the experts who can quickly and efficiently rid you of these pests.

Rats

When the temperature begins to drop, rats like to find a warm and cosy home, so of course, your property is the ideal place for a rodent to take refuge for free shelter and an abundance of food. Rats are extremely damaging to your health and home; they carry disease and although you may not see them often, they can leave droppings and destroy your foundations whilst out of sight.

Rats prevention

Fit strips under the bottom of your doorways because rats can squeeze into extremely small spaces. Rats can also enter through cat flaps, holes in foundations, cracks in pipes and even access your home through the toilet, so get into the habit of doing DIY as soon as you see any holes, cracks or notice any signs of damage within your home. Lock your cat flap at night, have your pipes fixed and close your toilet seat. You can use rat traps and poison, however, when dealing with rats it’s better to turn to the professionals.

With over 25 years of experience evacuating pests from domestic and commercial properties, you can ensure we have everything under control. With a high customer satisfaction and a great success rate, you can put your trust in us to remove any type of pest safely and securely. For more information or for advice, talk to our friendly team today. We provide our services across Billericay and the Borough of Basildon.