Identifying Active Critters and Bugs in Wisconsin Per Season

While pests are problematic all year, some are more prevalent depending on the season. Certain species thrive in warmer weather, while others are particularly  troublesome during the cold months. To better protect your home, let’s explore seasonal pests in Wisconsin and how to prevent infestations.

Spring Pests

Rising temperatures and heavy rainfalls encourage termites and ants to mate and seek suitable environments for building new colonies. Termites and carpenter ants cause structural damage by feeding on and tunneling through wood. Other ant species infiltrate homes for food, contaminating them and potentially transmitting diseases.

Bed bugs are also common, clinging to traveling people’s clothes, linens, and luggage or hiding in secondhand furniture. To protect your home, you must:

• Cover cracks around windows, doors, and other exterior areas

• Thoroughly clean your interiors and maintain your yard

• Store food in airtight containers

• Clean up food crumbs and spills

• Regularly wash clothes and bedding and inspect secondhand furnishings for bed bugs

Summer Pests

Warmer temperatures and humidity are perfect for breeding among flies and mosquitoes. Abundant food sources and longer daylight hours for feeding also contribute to their fast growth. Flies mainly contaminate food, while mosquitoes bite humans and animals, but both carry diseases like dengue, yellow fever, E. coli, and salmonella.

Wasps, hornets, and other stinging bugs are also out and about in summer, growing nests in residences and foraging fruits and other food in preparation for winter. Here are some tips to keep them out of your property:

• Seal gaps and installing screens on doors, windows, and air vents

• Properly store and discard food

• Frequently clean trash bins to get rid of food residue

• Tidy up your yard, especially if you have fruit-bearing trees

• Eliminate stagnant water and other breeding grounds for mosquitoes

Fall and Winter Pests

Once the chilly months roll in, rodents, stink bugs, beetles, and boxelder bugs seek warmth and food inside homes. While most of these bugs don’t cause significant structural damage, they can be a nuisance in large numbers. Conversely, rats and mice can chew wires and insulation and spread bacterial and viral diseases.

Some tick species are also active in winter and transmit illnesses to humans and pets. They typically hide under dense vegetation and tall grasses. To pest-proof your home in fall and winter, you must:

• Seal cracks and crevices and install weather stripping on south-side and west-side walls

• Ventilate and keep attics, basements, and crawl spaces dry

• Remove clutter and place firewood that pests can nest in away from your house

• Keep food in sealed containers and discard waste appropriately

• Clear your yard and trim your lawn and shrubbery

Got a Pest Problem? Let Us Help You

Learning about seasonal critters and bugs in Wisconsin can help avert infestations. However, to ensure year-round pest protection, it’s best to seek professional help from Premier Pest Elimination. Call us today for a free inspection or to inquire about our services in Wisconsin.