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Turn Aside Pests Now
By
Carol L. Spence
 LEXINGTON,
Ky., (Oct. 3, 2007) – It's been a long hot summer, but all
things eventually come to an end. Before cold weather arrives,
now is the best time to pest proof before warmth-seeking insects
turn their sights on your home.
Lee Townsend, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture
entomologist, says the annual migration of beetles, crickets,
and caterpillars to the warm environs of our homes is part of
nature’s survival plan.
“If you’re going to make it through the winter here in Kentucky,
you’re going to have to have some sort of strategy to do that,”
he said. “Some spend the winter as eggs that we never see. Some
spend the winter as pupae down in the soil. It varies with the
insect. But for the ones that are spending the winter in an
active stage, they’re the ones that can wander indoors
accidentally because they’re just looking for a crack or crevice
to get into. When they get inside and it’s warm, they’ll be able
to be active the rest of the year.”
An invasion by over-wintering insects doesn’t necessarily carry
the seeds of destruction for your home. Instead, they are
primarily nuisances. Some, such as the lady beetles, have odors.
Some will stain if mashed. Aside from that, they are not
directly harmful, Townsend said.
So what can a homeowner do to seal a house against six-legged
invaders? Townsend says there are some simple things that can be
done to turn them back before they enter your abode, and maybe
even decrease utility bills at the same time. Install door
sweeps on exterior doors. Seal utility openings where pipes and
wires enter the foundation. Seal cracks and crevices around
windows and doors. Install quarter-inch wire mesh on attic and
soffit vents to keep out creatures. Also, an exterior or barrier
insecticide treatment can be applied around the foundation of a
home to prevent insects from coming in that way.
And don’t forget about firewood. Wood boring insects and those
that are over-wintering beneath the bark can come inside on
logs. These types of wood borers are not typically ones that can
damage a house, but an influx of them can create an annoyance.
Townsend recommends bringing in only what you need and burning
it within two or three days, rather than bringing in a large
load of firewood for long periods.
“There are no good alternatives for dealing with these pests
once they get indoors, so prevention is really the key to
avoiding problems later on during the winter,” he said.
For more information about managing household pests, contact the
local Cooperative Extension office. |
Contact: Lee Townsend, 859-257-7455
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The UK College
of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission, reaches across
the commonwealth with teaching, research and extension
to enhance the lives of Kentuckians. |
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Copyright © 2001-2006 University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture,
Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
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