In California, winter is comparatively milder than in most parts of the country. Still, the change in weather brings a significant shift in the activity of the pests common to California.
Most insects hibernate in the winter as they are cold-blooded. However, the presence of warm, climate-controlled homes, as well as a consistent source of food and water, may encourage some pests to come indoors rather than hibernate during the winter months.
As a result, you may have several unwanted visitors in your home during the winter. Here are some pests to be on the lookout for if you are living in California.
Rodents
In winter, rodents get attracted to the warmth and serenity of your climate-controlled California home. These pests can chew up your furniture, feast on your pantry, and contaminate your home with their excrement and urine.
Rodents have a lot more outdoor activity around the beginning of winter. If you have any broken screens, gaps, or holes in your roof, mice and rats will squeeze their way in and start seeking nesting material to construct a cozy home for their young ones.
Rodents are capable of spreading multiple diseases and introducing other pests into your home through their droppings. They can do significant damage to homes by nesting in insulation and ventilation systems and chewing on cables and roofing materials, costing thousands of dollars in hefty repairs.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches, one of the most challenging pests to eradicate, can be found all year round in California. They can devour almost anything and are unfazed by the cold. Cockroaches’ ability to squeeze through confined spaces and crevices makes it easy for them to invade a home, resulting in frustration and agony for the entire household.
Cockroaches are detrimental as they can cause several severe diseases to humans like leprosy, dysentery, giardia, and cholera. They tend to develop strong resistance against various insecticides, making extermination extremely difficult.
There are the five most pervasive species of cockroaches in California:
- Turkestan Cockroach
- American Cockroach
- Oriental Cockroach
- Brown-Banded Cockroach
- German Cockroach
Ants
It is estimated that there are around one quadrillion ants on our planet. To put that in context, it means that there are roughly 150000 ants for every person on the Earth. Ants dwell in large colonies and invade our homes regularly throughout the winter, searching for food, water, and shelter.
Ants are one of the most common pests in California and cause constant distress for the residents in winter. Ants are tough to eliminate as they are the smartest amongst all insects. They make their nests underground, in walls, under cabinets, and other difficult-to-reach locations where people cannot readily get to them. Ants can quickly migrate from one place to another due to their tiny size and agility.
Argentine ants are most prevalent in California, and it is difficult to eradicate them as this species has multiple queens. When these ants are threatened, one queen splits away and creates a new colony elsewhere, taking some of the worker ants with her.
Squirrels
California Ground Squirrel, also known as the Beechey Ground Squirrel, is a common pest in California. They make burrows that can cause serious tripping hazards. Ground Squirrels carry diseases such as bubonic plague, which can be transmitted to humans by their fleas. They can also cause structural damage to buildings, fences, and levee systems. Since their mating season occurs in the winter, squirrels remain highly active in California and continue to wreak havoc to gardens and landscapes throughout the winter.
Spiders
There are around 35,000 species of spiders across the globe, with roughly 3,000 of them living in North America. During the winter months, black widow spiders are among the worst offenders in California. They are highly active in the cold and weave their perilous webs near the entrances of your homes or beneath the steps. As they are very poisonous, keeping an eye on their numbers and removing them as soon as possible is a brilliant idea.
Conclusion
No matter what the season, our battle against ants, rodents, spiders, and other annoying insects is never going to end. One can try to plummet the number of these tiny creatures, but they tend to survive and return.
However, the treatments offered by pest control specialists, followed by rigorous commitment and attention to prevention, are the most pragmatic solutions to eradicate the infestation in any season.
Running pest control services is relatively easier than dealing with serious health issues and paying for hefty house repairs. These services are imperative for detecting pests and implementing an efficient pest control plan to keep your living space clean and healthy.
