As it continues getting colder, you should keep an eye out for creepy crawlers that will enter your home to stay warm this winter. Here are a few winter-weather insects to watch out for!
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Termites
Nobody wants termites in their home. They can cause serious damage to your property. Unfortunately, they are year round pests and you can find them any time of the year. They’re usually between a quarter to a half inch long, range between white to light brown, and have straight antennae. Here are tips on What to Do When You Find Termites.
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Bedbugs
Bedbugs can cause issues during any season, but during cold weather months they can travel on coats, bookbags, books or luggage. It’s especially important to keep an eye out for bedbugs when traveling. Make sure you check your luggage and clothes before heading home. These unwelcome traveling companions can bite and cause rashes or other skin irritation.
Bed bugs are small, ranging between 5 millimeters to a quarter of an inch. They are flat and oval shaped with two antennae and six legs. They appear rounder after feeding. Learn more about how to Protect Your Home From Bed Bugs.
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Beetles & Ladybugs
Beetles and ladybugs look for warmth and light, so if they find their way inside, they’ll often be in window sills, on lamps, or wherever they find warmth and light. They typically don’t bite humans or cause property damage, but you still may not want them for roommates this winter. Most beetles are brown or black, but come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They have wings, antennae, and chewing mouthparts.
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Stink bugs
Like beetles, stink bugs want a warm place to stay in the winter. Although they won’t cause you or your home harm, they can still be a nuisance in your home, and, as the name indicates, if crushed, they let off a stinky odor. Stink bugs are larger insects when adults, reaching around 2 cm in length. They are brown and “shield shaped.”
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Box Elders
Box elders are common house guests in the colder months. Similar to stink bugs, they let off an unpleasant odor if crushed. However, Box Elder bugs also bite. The bites are only mildly irritating, but of course, they’re uninvited guests. Their shape is a flat and elongated oval, and they’re about half an inch long. They are black with red-orange markings.
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Silverfish
Silverfish like cold, damp places. You’ll often find them in attics, basements, or bathrooms. One female can produce 3,5000 eggs, so an infestation can become large quickly. Silverfish are destructive to paper, clothing, and wallpaper, but also like sugar and may be found near food, too.
They can come in a few colors, white to brown-gray or blue-silver. They have a teardrop shape and can be between 12 to 19 millimeters long. Silverfish have three long tails. Learn more about this holiday invader in our article Silver Bells and Silverfish.
If any of these pests give you the winter blues, just give our team a call. We’re happy to help.
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