Winter Pest Control in Northern Virginia

Insects appear to vanish during the colder months, but just because we cannot see them, doesn’t mean they’re not there. Pests are annoyingly durable and, as such, they have found different ways to not only cope but survive the inevitable cold each year.

Insects are ectothermic creatures, meaning that they are warm blooded and particularly susceptible to the cold. As such, they seek shelter underground, in trees, etc. during the winter months in order to stay warm enough to survive. While hiding in their shelters, most insects will enter a state of extraordinarily deep sleep in which their metabolic processes slow to a stop. This process is known as diapause and it is essentially the insect version of hibernation. During diapause, some insects can reduce the water concentration levels in their own bodies and dilute present water by introducing more sugars into their cells in order to drastically lower the freezing rate of their bodies, thereby allowing them to survive the frigid temperatures. Other insects are able to fight the freezing temperatures through the natural production of glycerol cryoptectants, which are like a biological anti-freeze. Meanwhile, their bodies survive off of a system of stored energy, which can last up to a year for some insects, and, when the warmer weather eventually begins to return, the diapause will wear off and insects will begin to awaken.

Some pests do not engage in diapause however, and instead, they engage in migratory behavior. Insects East of the Rocky Mountains tend to travel to Mexico for the winter while their fellow bugs to the West of the mountain range will make their way to California and surrounding areas to wait out the cold. Probably the most famous insect that is known to take part in such migration is the monarch butterfly, who travels south between August and October each year.

When pests, don’t hibernate or migrate… they’re often making their way into homes…

Winter pest control is rooted in preventative treatments. Our technicians take a very targeted approach through both thorough inspection and careful applications to best fit your pest control needs.

During this time, we rarely spray outside as our eco-friendly products freeze before the active ingredient can bond with the surface. Instead we focus on using a granular repellant that is specially equipped for working in winter weather as it is water activated – thereby working in tandem with the snow as opposed to being thwarted by it. We also place a precedence on interior inspections of both homes (specifically basements) and garages as these are key targets for rodents and other pests to inhabit during the frigid weather. Attic inspections are also encouraged when possible (attic inspections can only be completed if there is a finished floor in the attic).

Even if you’re lucky enough to not be plagued by pests joining you for the holiday season, winter treatments are still very important. Solid preventative treatments in the winter will drastically decrease your risk of an infestation come spring. In fact, some customers fondly refer to our winter service as their “pre-spring treatment.”