TIPS TO PREVENT PESTS IN AUTUMN
It’s been a warm couple of months – perfect for going to the beach, relaxing and spending a whole lot of time outside. As the autumn weather forces us back indoors, you’d be forgiven for thinking pests are also going into hibernation and you won’t have to worry about them anymore.
Unfortunately this isn’t quite the case… rats, mice and cockroaches are just some of the pests still active in the cooler months.
If you’re keen to stay on top of nuisance pests this autumn, read this guide to find out what to do. We’ve covered which pests to look out for and our recommendations for keeping them away from your home or business for good.
What questions will this article answer?
Why pests are still a problem in autumn
With the onset of cooler weather, pests are drawn inside to shelter in warmer places like your shed, garage, as well as roof and wall cavities.
Pests to look out for in autumn weather
Keep an eye out for rodents, cockroaches and ants.
Identifying and treating a pest outbreak in autumn
Here are some ways to tell if cockroaches, rodents or ants are infesting your home, and how to manage them.
How to prevent an autumn pest outbreak
Taking some small steps to prepare your home or business in the summer months is the key to keeping pests away in autumn.
Choose Allstate for reliable and effective pest control in autumn
We’re available 24/7 to all suburbs of Adelaide for urgent callouts and advice, so if you’re experiencing any unexpected pest outbreaks this autumn, our expert technicians are here to help.
Why pests are still a problem in autumn
If you thought that pests would go away at the end of summer, you could be in for a surprise. While it’s true that many pests do not adapt well to cooler weather, preferring to hibernate instead of breeding during the colder months, there are still plenty that will hang around your home or business.
With the onset of cooler weather, you’ll tend to find an increasing number of pests being drawn inside to shelter in warmer places like your shed, garage, as well as roof and wall cavities.
Other pests like birds and termites have not only evolved to adapt to cooler weather, but they may also become even more active. For example, pest birds like pigeons have waterproofing in their feathers. Some species of termites are drawn to moist, damp areas and can increase their activity by consuming more wood to boost their energy stores to survive.
Pests to look out for in autumn weather
The most common pests you’ll find in autumn are usually rodents, cockroaches and ants. However, some species of termites are also very active, particularly if your yard has woodpiles, fallen tree trunks or damp and shady areas.
Identifying and treating pest outbreaks in autumn
Here’s some ways you can tell if cockroaches, rodents and ants are infesting your home, and how to manage them.
Cockroaches
Active at night, if you’re noticing more and more cockroaches hopping about after dark, or even during the day time, you may need act fast to prevente an outbreak.
Look for droppings that resemble coffee grounds, skin shedding, eggs, an unpleasant musty odour and brown smear marks along walls and floors.
For professional treatment, we prefer using cockroach control dust, applying insecticide to treated zones, aerosol insecticide sprays and gel baits. Learn more about Allstate’s cockroach control program here Cockroach Control
Rodents
As nocturnal creatures, rats and mice will look for food at night, so if you see or hear them moving around, chances are, there are many more hiding away.
Pay attention to droppings, scratching and scurrying noises coming from your roof and walls, gnawed food and crumbs, bite marks on walls and electrical products, burrows and tracks in your garden, a musty odour and grease marks along your walls and skirting boards.
Rat nests are usually hidden away, but are usually fashioned out of piles of scraps such as paper and cardboard.
To manage rodents, we use a combination of chemical baits and traps, depending on the severity of the outbreak. Learn more about our rodent control options here Rats and Mice Removal
Ants
If you notice more ants marching around your home travelling along defined ant trails, this is a clear sign that you may have an outbreak.
When you follow the trail back to their colony, the entrance will look like a small mound of dirt with a central hole known as an ant mound or anthill.
Carpenter ants are known to damage wooden structures, so and leave behind discarded wood shavings, dirt, droppings or ant parts around the place.
At Allstate, we prevente ants by using a combination of treatments, including ant control dust, insecticide spray and chemical baits. You can learn more about our nontoxic ant prevention treatments here Ant Control
How to prevent an autumn pest outbreak
Taking some small steps to prepare your home or business in the summer months is the key to keeping pests away in autumn. Here’s our recommendations:
Block entry points
Rodents can easily squeeze through small gaps to enter your home, so it’s useful to regularly inspect for potential entry points and either cover or fill them. This can include fitting door seals underneath exterior doors, sealing holes and cracks within pipes and gaps in kitchen cupboards or installing mesh or screens over larger openings such as water tanks, chimneys and vents.
Learn more about sealing rodent entry points with our guide here How Rats get in your House
Building maintenance
With ants being very small in size and cockroaches having a flatter profile, this means that they can easily enter buildings through easily overlooked tiny cracks and crevices. However, these can easily be sealed over with filler and expanding foam. Look out for damaged drains and pipes which should be replaced quickly, as water leaks can attract cockroaches.
Garden maintenance
Regularly trimming your plants, bushes, shrubs, trees and mowing the lawn doesn’t just keep your yard looking tidy. It also limits hiding and nesting spots for rodents.
By reducing the amount of vegetation touching your building, this limits access points for ants and cockroaches.
Remove piles of organic waste, pet waste and fallen fruit also reduces the availability of potential food sources which attract pests.
Keep less frequented areas tidy
Storage areas such as garages, sheds and attics are preferred safe areas for pests to hide out, but not if you regularly clean and declutter.
Practice safe food handling, preparation and storage
Reduce pest access to food sources and avoid leaving food uncovered. Keep all food items stored away in the fridge, cupboards or drawers in sturdy, tightly sealed containers or packaging. Make sure all food preparation utensils, cutlery and dining surfaces are clean and wipe away spills immediately.
Practice proper waste disposal
Ensure that rubbish bins are properly covered and that bin bags are intact and tightly sealed.
Choose Allstate for reliable and effective pest prevention
At Allstate, we’ve seen firsthand how pests such as rodents, ants and cockroaches can still be a nuisance long after the summer peak season has gone.
This is why we recommend staying vigilant to deter pests from coming inside your home or business to seek warmth in the cooler autumn weather.
Fortunately, our fully-equipped Allstate pest technicians can help you avoid the disruption of having unwanted pests in your home when it’s cold. Since 1986, we’ve helped many clients all over Adelaide resolve pest outbreaks in residential, commercial and industrial settings.
We take care to use tailored treatments which are nontoxic to pets, children and the environment. All our services are covered by competitive warranties and a 100% money back satisfaction guarantee. Payment plans are also available.
We’re available 24/7 for urgent callouts and advice, so if you’re experiencing any unexpected pest outbreaks this autumn, our expert technicians are here to help.
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