Seasonal Invader Identification & Prevention

What Are Seasonal Invaders?

Seasonal invaders are those insects that do as their name describes: they move into our homes or businesses during certain times or “seasons” of the year. Seasonal invaders tend to live outside most of the time, but when living close to buildings, they often find their way inside, seeking shelter, moisture, or food. Most often, they are looking to escape harsh weather conditions.

Some of the most common seasonal invaders living in our region include silverfish, millipedes, and centipedes.

Are Seasonal Invaders Dangerous?

Seasonal invaders are not pests that typically pose much danger to people or our property. However, it can’t be denied that these nuisance pests, while low risk, are still unwanted in our yards and homes. The only time seasonal invaders are completely harmless is when they live outside, well away from people. When they are in our yards, it puts them near our homes, and if they find a way inside our houses, they have the potential to create a few problems:

• They are difficult to eliminate.
• Some may stain or chew on fabrics.
• Some will feed on and contaminated dry pantry goods.
• They can stain surfaces with their excrement.
• They will contaminate surfaces with bacteria they carry on their bodies.

Why Do I Have a Seasonal Invader Problem?

Seasonal invaders normally live outside, feeding and breeding. However, either accidentally or by instinct, they will migrate indoors at certain points of the year. Millipedes, centipedes, silverfish, and other seasonal pests often have high moisture needs and excess moisture building up in and around your home is often the biggest reason they are near. Things like leaking pipes, clogged downspouts, low-lying areas, and dripping air conditioners can provide the moisture these pests are searching for.

Where Will I Find Seasonal Invaders?

Seasonal invaders usually live and enter our homes at ground level. Outside, they live in the damp soil found under mulch, leaves, brush piles, woodpiles, landscaping ties, and rocks. They may also gather under containers like trash cans, recycling bins, and flower pots.

When these pests move into our homes, they usually travel through cracks in the foundation, vents, gaps under doors, and spaces around utilities traveling into your home. Once inside, they like to gather in damp, dark areas like basements, crawl spaces, wall voids, under sinks, and pantry areas.

How Do I Get Rid of Seasonal Invaders?

Keep your home free of seasonal invaders and other pests throughout the entire year with the help of the professionals at Freedom Pest Control. We are dedicated to our customers and helping them eliminate pests from their Massachusetts or New Hampshire properties, no matter the season! We know how stressful dealing with pests is and will act fast to provide you with a customized solution. If you would like to learn more about our innovative and eco-friendly residential or commercial pest control services, reach out to our friendly professionals today!
 

How Can I Prevent Seasonal Invaders in the Future?

To prevent seasonal invaders from finding their way into your home, you can take a few preventive steps:

• Use caulk or another material to seal spaces in your home’s exterior. 
• Cut back overgrown vegetation from your home’s exterior.
• Repair dripping pipes, leaking hoses, and clogged drains.
• Use dehumidifiers to lower moisture levels in your home. 
• Create a barrier between any mulch or soil and your home’s foundation. 
• Remove harborage sites from your property that will attract these pests to your yard- woodpiles, brush piles, leaf piles.
• Store trash cans, recycling bins, plant pots, and woodpiles up off the ground to stop occasional invaders from gathering underneath.

Learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control solutions.