Upstate New York is a beautiful and seasonal section of the northeast. New York weather creates cold nights and warm fall days, but this past week has delivered late spring-like temperatures topping off into the mid-70s. As humans, we were given a lease on life to ride our bikes, hike the peaks, and perhaps even hang our outdoor holiday lights without gloves and heavy coats.
Well, guess who else spread their wings and headed out into the sunshine?
You guessed it. Pests that were about to settle in for a long winter’s nap have awoken. We humans are so happy to feel the warm air that we open our doors and windows, oblivious to small cracks and gaps. The perfect storm of open access and warm temperatures welcome these pests back into our day-to-day lives.
As the temperatures climbed to the mid-70’s, homeowners were calling for assistance with an influx of these five common pests:
Ladybugs
For those of you hoping the influx of ladybugs would bring good luck, we are sorry to tell you that is not true. Ladybugs are looking for warm places during the day and are most likely to be found on the sunny side of your home. An infestation is still possible at this time of year, so please call should you find many ladybugs in your home.
Wasps/yellow jackets
Wasps and yellow jackets are worse and more active in the fall because their food supply is running low, and the drive to prepare the hive for winter is significantly heightened. Just like the ladybugs, they are looking for a warm place indoors. The rising outdoor temperatures have facilitated this process, and their aggressive behavior should be observed.
Stink bugs
Stink bugs are quick and agile and can fit through an opening as flat the size of a nickel. Homeowners call us well into the winter months, complaining of stink bug sightings in their homes. If the temperatures rise to a higher level during the dead of winter, stink bugs will come out from hiding, looking to get outdoors.
Stink bug on a window glass surface in sunlight
Western conifer beetles
Simply put, it is a nuisance pest! These bugs are aggressive in their need to get indoors before the weather significantly changes. Conifer bugs need the warm protection your home or structure provides.
Closeup of a Western Conifer Seed bug on a wall
Cluster flies
Often confused with the standard house fly, cluster flies are more substantial in size and nowhere near as quick. Often called attic flies, cluster flies, as the name implies, live in large groups in the warmth of your attic, crawl space, or storage closet. They do not reproduce but hibernate, lying in wait for the warmth of springtime to call them back to the outdoors.
How can I get rid of these pests?
Prevention is the key. Keeping your doors and screens tightly closed can help keep these pests from entering your home. When outdoors, be diligent, and if you are experiencing an infestation, please call our 24/7 emergency response number at tel:1-518-374-0357
A pest control maintenance plan with Accurate Pest Control ensures consistent treatment and regular inspection of your property by a trained professional technician. Please do not take matters into your own hands. Bee stings, especially, can be dangerous if you are unsure of the reaction you may experience from bee stings.
Contact us in the Albany, Schenectady, or Saratoga, New York area for a free home estimate. Ask us for information on annual maintenance agreements and keep your family, home, or business healthy and pest free!
