Which pests are most common at which time of year?
At Pest Control Direct, we tend to find that pesky critters from insects to rodents and birds keep us pretty busy all year round. But customers often ask us in which months they’re most likely to find particular beasties.
And it’s always worth knowing which pests are most prolific during which season, so you can look out for them and prevent infestations in advance.
Here, we offer a calendar of which ones are most commonly found at which times of year.
JANUARY
Clearly, this is generally one of the coldest times of year, so you may not see pests in huge numbers during January. But mice and rats will be around, as they move in their hunt for the best warm and dry spots away from the worst of the UK’s winter. Proofing against Rats and Mice is a vital part in keeping them from entering your home or workplace.
Cockroaches may be another issue, since central heating means they get a nice, cosy temperature all year round – they’re no longer just a summer problem.
FEBRUARY
Clearly the weather isn’t likely to change all that much from the previous month, so things shouldn’t be significantly different from January when it comes to pests. However, if it’s a mild winter, with things warming up earlier than usual, certain nesting birds may make an early appearance, therefore proofing is required before they settle in for the Spring/Summer seasons. Some insects, for example Ants may also make an early appearance.
MARCH
Again, the variety of pests you’re typically likely to come across during this month isn’t that extensive. But you might see nesting birds in greater numbers, alongside more insects, with birds now here to stay until the end of the summer. Squirrels will now start to become a nuisance for the next few months with bird feeding increasing.
And especially nearer the end of the month, you may well notice more insect species, for example moths, who like the dark and warm, and love nothing better than working their way through natural fibres including cashmere and wool. Stock up on your moth deterrents !
APRIL
Insects such as bees and Cluster flies will all start to become more common this month, while rats, ants, cockroaches and mice will all begin to make their presence felt. In particular, Ants will become active in your garden or indoors, so be prepared for those early rather than later !
MAY
The mercury is now seriously rising – and so are numbers and types of pests, from spiders and flies to ants, cockroaches, rats and mice.
JUNE
Like most pest-control firms, we find this is one of our busiest month for requests to deal with bees, wasps, flies and ants. At the same time, many of our customers are finding they have uninvited houseguests in the form of bedbugs and fleas during this month. Wasps will be on the lookout for new homes, so now’s the time to inspect your sheds, lofts and garages for any indication these insects are making nests there.
JULY
Many of the usual suspects in terms of summer pests are peaking around now. All types of insects pose frequent problems at this time of year, so it’s worth not attracting them with left-out food or pet feeding bowls. Empty bins carefully, seal up rubbish bags and keep bin lids firmly closed. Carpet and Clothes Moth will be particularly busy eating your expensive fabrics by now.
AUGUST
Although the fly population dwindles as we move through the month, numbers usually remain pretty high, while wasps and ants are still likely to be problematic.
SEPTEMBER
Most insect levels begin to dip at this time of year, although wasps can still be a pain, and might be more aggressive than earlier in the year. This months also ushers in autumn spider season, which ends later in the year.
OCTOBER
Although most insects are now gone until next year, wasps (increasingly angry as they look for sugar) are the exception. As autumn deepens, we’re often contacted asking for advice on rodents like mice, rats and moles in October. As temperatures fall, they’re likely to be hunting for suitable sheltering places. Again, Cluster Flies come back into your homes looking for hibernation for the winter, meanwhile they will hang around for a month or so.
NOVEMBER
Even wasps should now have buzzed off, leaving just spiders as their season peaks. At the same time, we typically see far fewer bird, mice and rat problems during this month.
DECEMBER
Again, this is typically a relatively quiet month from a pest-control point of view. However, we often still see rats, cockroaches and mice. So keep an eye out for their droppings and urine stains, as well as for things like chewed cables.
Talk to us
At East Sussex-based Pest Control Direct, we supply a wide range of products to help control many different creatures, whether they have scales, fur or wings. Learn more about dealing with everything from moles to midges and squirrels to silverfish today – and do be in touch if you have any questions about anything we sell.
