December 20th, 2019 by Chris Chapman

Most pests are much more active in the hot summer months. However, that doesn’t mean you’re completely safe for the rest of the year! In fact, some pests can cause much more trouble in the winter months. This is because most pests will start looking for shelter from the cold, so they’ll be drawn to our houses! These are the problematic pests you need to worry about this winter.

Rats and Mice

Most rodents prefer the freedom of the outdoors during summer, but this all changes when winter falls. Food and shelter are scarce in winter, so rats and mice are forced to be bold! This means they’ll be more likely to investigate homes, sheds, and garages in search of food.

Generally, neither rats or mice hibernate, so they’ll be constantly foraging for food and looking for somewhere to nest. Keep a lookout for rodents in your garden and especially in your shed or garage. They’re very cautious, so you might only catch a glimpse of one, but if you do it’s worth investigating further. Telltale signs of a budding rodent problem include greasy smears on walls, chewed wood and cardboard (especially around food cupboards), and droppings. For more information on identifying a rodent problem, check out our guide to dealing with rats and mice here.

Wasps

At first glance, including wasps on this list might seem strange. After all, wasps almost entirely die off by wintertime! The only wasps left alive by the time winter falls are the queens, who’ll be looking for a place to hibernate. Once in hibernation, queen wasps won’t wake up until the spring no matter what happens, so you’re not at risk of being stung. So why do you need to worry? Well, depending on how warm autumn was, you might still find queen wasps buzzing around at the start of winter. As they’re looking for a sheltered spot to hibernate, you might find them flying around your house. Given that queen wasps are massive, they can give you quite a shock, especially if you’re scared of wasps!

More importantly, though, you need to watch out for hibernating wasps to prevent a potential infestation from appearing next year. Queens only hibernate once they’ve mated – after they wake up, they immediately start building nests and laying eggs. It’s worth doing a quick sweep of your shed or garage to check for any hibernating wasps. They tend to hide in cracks and crevices or under piles of wood. When a queen hibernates, it might look like they’re dead as they tuck their wings in and are completely motionless. It’s worth giving them a spray of Protector C just in case!

Cluster Flies

If you’re reading this in December, chances are you might know if you have cluster flies already! These tiny pests live outdoors in massive swarms through the summer but move inside once the weather starts to get cooler. You’ll usually find them in attic spaces as they’re quiet and warm, so many people don’t even realise they have a cluster fly problem until they go to get their Christmas decorations down!

The real problem with cluster flies is that unless you get rid of every one while they’re in your attic, they’ll leave a scent marker that allows the swarm to find their way back year after year after year. As swarms can be made up of thousands of flies, this is easier said than done. It’s important to start checking for cluster flies as soon as summer ends – especially if you live in a rural area where flies are most common – and use a cluster fly killing kit to get rid of them as quickly as possible.

Bed Bugs

At a time when you’re already stressed about heating bills and Christmas shopping, the last thing you want to deal with is a winter bed bug infestation. Bed bugs do breed (and therefore spread) more slowly when it’s cold, but they’re still a very real problem for millions of people across the country.

Prevention is always the best cure when it comes to bed bugs. If you take public transport, always check the seats before you sit down. Run your hands along the fabric and check your palms for any bed bug shells, eggs, or bloody smears. It’s not pleasant, but this is especially important in big cities where the bugs are more common. You should also check if you’re buying any pre-loved or re-gifted clothing as a Christmas present. This is becoming more common as people look for eco-friendly gift ideas, and while it’s a nice thought, it’s one of the ways bed bugs can be spread between homes.

Getting rid of bed bugs is tough and can take several weeks, so we recommend you read more information in our bed bug guide here.

Spiders

Spiders, like most pests, need to be out of the cold to survive. This means they’ll start to make their way into houses at the end of summer, marking the start of “spider season” – that’s the time of the year arachnophobes dread as it’s when you’ll see most spiders! As most houses have hot water pipes running inside walls, spiders can stay active all year round.

Now, spiders aren’t really harmful pests and they actually do an important job of keeping other pests away. However, they still pose a hygiene risk and, with arachnophobia being so common, can make house guests uncomfortable even if you yourself aren’t afraid.

Spiders are so common that it’s better to try and keep them out of your home altogether. You can use some spider repellent spray to deter them from entering any room – it’s available in two main varieties which you can learn more about here.