Why Are There Still Bugs In Your Santa Clarita Home?
There is one question the No Bugs team hears every winter:
Where did all of those bugs go?
Yes, you’re still going to find spiders hiding in crevices, ants trailing down driveways, and clover mites scuttling in your lawn – we don’t get that cold in Santa Clarita. But the summer rush is somewhat over.
But where did all of those bugs go, how do they survive the cold, and why are you still seeing bugs in your home?
Are bugs trying to sneak into your warm home? Call (661) 294-0206 to speak with the Santa Clarita pest control experts at No Bugs Termite and Pest Control Inc. Our treatments can help keep your home comfy, safe, and bug-free.
How Do Bugs Survive the Winter?
The gift of living in Santa Clarita is that temperatures rarely hit below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. But it can still get really cold! Well, cold for Californians. Our “cold” is not the same cold as the east coast (as they bitterly remind us!)
Nevertheless, we all race to warm coffee shops, heated cars, and beds covered in blankets when it gets chilly. Insects are no different, and they have found interesting ways to survive the winter months. Some migrate for the season while others pause their development to prepare for winter, a process called diapause.
Do Bugs Hibernate During Winter?
Many bug species survive winter via diapause, a period of suspended development similar to hibernation. This biological survival tactic is a type of overwintering that helps insects survive unfavorable weather conditions and environmental issues, including floral dieback.
What’s amazing is that diapause is possible throughout different stages of an insect’s life cycle: eggs, larvae, pupae, and adulthood. It’s like pressing pause on a remote. The bugs stop all body processes and can even freeze until spring, at which point they return to their regular development.
How Does Diapause Work?
When bugs enter this state, their metabolisms slow down, and their bodies run on stored food and energy. Then, when the temperatures rise back up at the beginning of spring, their bodies will become active again, and they can go back to their normal lives, annoying and scaring us in the middle of the night!
For example, the Woolly Bear Caterpillar preps for winter by producing additional sugars that act as a natural antifreeze. If it has a safe place to hide for the season, it can withstand negative temperatures until spring arrives. When it wakes up, it will eat and gain enough energy to form a cocoon and evolve into a Tiger Moth!
What If It Never Gets Cold Enough?
What happens if temperatures don’t get cold enough for bugs to overwinter? This scenario is common in countries that enjoy tropical climates or humid temperatures, including Africa, Asia, and South American countries near the equator. As a result, they also have more insects.
The Mediterranean climate in Santa Clarita balances between short periods of cool weather and extremely hot springs and summers. So what’s our bug situation?
What Bugs Are You Likely to See this Winter?
Insects have evolved to withstand cold weather; some just do it better than others. In areas with warmer climates where there isn’t a true deep freeze, like here in the SCV, some bugs are completely unfazed by the “cold” and will not experience diapause or overwintering.
The downside is that they might try to bunker down in your warm house for food and shelter.
Bugs that stay active in Santa Clarita year-round include, but are not limited to:
- Ants
- Beetles
- Spiders
- Cockroaches
- Bed Bugs
And this is why regular pest control treatments are important, even in winter!
5 Places You Can Find Bugs on Your Property This Winter
1. Under the Soil
Bugs need a safe and comfortable place to shelter until it gets warmer. Soil can be an excellent option for an insect staycation: It’s dark, has a suitable temperature, and some minerals are healthy for bugs. The bad news? They may burrow into the soil of your lawn, potting mix, or house plants.
2. Inside Logs and Trees...or Firewood!
Many bugs, including beetles, can be found on trees and hiding inside the logs we use for firewood and landscaping. Beetles are harmless and would prefer to be left alone by people. The only time you’re likely to see these insects is if you disrupt them. For example, if you go to pick up some firewood and jostle a beetle, it will scurry away in a hurry to find a new safe haven.
3. Under Eaves of Buildings
Finding shelter is the #1 priority for bugs trying to escape the cold. Much like us! Nothing is more important than finding a warm place to defrost. For insects, the eaves of your house are an excellent choice.
An eave is the part of the roof that overhangs past the side of your home. It’s elevated, provides an attractive variety of nooks and crannies, may be covered in fall leaves, and is generally ignored by homeowners.
No Bugs technicians are always diligent about de-webbing eaves because it’s a popular hangout spot for insects, especially spiders.
4. Leaf Piles & Organic Clutter
Deciduous trees prepare for colder temperatures by shedding their leaves to conserve energy and water. The brittle foliage carpeting your lawn is a suitable habitat for bugs trying to wait out the winter, including our darling Woolly Bear Caterpillar.
A leaf is a dense plant organ that offers shelter, traces of water, and sustenance in the form of decomposing material. Your best option for keeping bugs off your lawn is to do a little yard work and clean up those leaves!
5. Inside Your Home
Bugs prefer to stay outside where there is easy access to food and shelter. But a brave few might make the journey into your house to escape the cold, feast on crumbs, seek water, and find refuge with your heater. If you’re noticing bug activity inside your home, it may be time to call the professionals!
Call the Pros & Say Goodbye to Bugs
When you come home from work after a long day, you want to sit by the (faux?) fire with a warm mug of tea or coffee. The last thing you want to deal with is ants in the kitchen or the large spider settled at the junction of your ceiling.
If you’re looking for pest solutions this winter, contact the Santa Clarita pest management experts at No Bugs Termite and Pest Control Inc.! Our licensed technicians can thoroughly inspect your property for access points and apply treatments to help you and your family enjoy a comfortable, bug-free home.
Dial (661) 294-0206 to schedule a free consultation with the expert Santa Clarita pest control technicians at No Bugs! We can inspect your property and use organic products to create a protective barrier around your home.
