As the snow starts to fly, many people assume pests are no longer an issue due to the dropping temperatures. “The cold kills all the bugs, right?” Wrong. Colder temperatures do not eliminate bugs, they simply drive the pests inside for the winter. Inside your nice, warm, cozy home. “What kind of pests move in for the winter?” We’re glad you asked! We have compiled a short list of the most common household invaders to watch out for, and will be posting a series of blogs about them and what to do to prevent or resolve infestation.
Weevils
What is a Weevil? “Often called flour bugs because that is where they are frequently found, weevils are a type of beetle with an elongated snout. There are actually around 97,000 types of weevils.” (Lupo 2021) Weevils are unique in that they eat and live inside grains and rice. Females will chew a hole in the grain, lay eggs, then seal the hole. Because of this weevils can be brought into the house with your regular groceries, or make their way in from outside. Weevils can cause quite a bit of damage to unsealed food, can spread to other unsealed food items, and will continue to multiply and expand if not taken care of.
Once you discover weevils in the home, there are a few things you can do to try to eradicate them. Remove any unsealed dry foods, vacuum and wipe down cupboards, and dispose of any dry goods that were stored in the same cupboards as the infested foods, to ensure all bugs have been removed.
Fruit Flies
Fruit flies are not necessarily dangerous to have in the home, but they are very pesky and can contaminate food with bacteria. Fruit flies multiply very rapidly, with eggs hatching 24 hours after they are laid. So needless to say they can become a larger problem quite quickly. Fruit flies are attracted to ripened fruits and vegetables in the kitchen, but they can also breed in drains, garbage disposals, trash containers, and even mops and cleaning rags. Fruit flies can be already present on food when it’s brought in, or they can fly in from outside through open doors, windows, or cracks and crevices in the home.
To avoid problems with fruit flies use, discard, or refrigerate ripened fruits and vegetables, and spills need to be cleaned promptly. If you find you already have an issue with fruit flies, start by eliminating breeding areas by cleaning spills, discarding ripened fruits and vegetables, and cleaning out trash cans.
Stay tuned for more information on common household invaders. And if you are overrun with weevils or fruit flies, give us a call to schedule your 365 Protection Plan and be protected year ‘round!