Pest Proof Your Holiday Gathering

When you’re expecting company to your home for the holidays, the last thing you want to see is a bug crawling across the table. Luckily, with some basic pest prevention tips, you can keep holiday pests away from your gathering.

Common Household Pests During the Holiday Season

With all the excitement of the holiday season, it’s easy to end up with a pest control problem. On Long Island, we see a number of common household pests this time of year, including: 

Ants

Though there are a number of ant species that end up invading Long Island homes, little black ants are one of the most common this time of year. These ants are attracted to meats, greases, and sweets, which are often readily available food sources in kitchens when holiday cooking is in full swing.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are another common pest this time of year with holiday travel underway. Bed bugs are hitchhiking pests, meaning it’s easy to pick them up in hotel rooms or on public transportation, among other places, and then unknowingly bring them into your home.

Roaches

Like ants, there are several species of roaches Long Island homeowners see in their houses this time of year, as these pests seek out basic needs like food, water, and shelter. 

Mice

House mice are another common pest during the holiday season, and are considered commensal rodents, which means they’re at least partially dependent on humans for their basic needs.

Causes of Household Pests 

Like humans, household pests have basic needs: food, water, and shelter, so the more readily available these essentials are, the more likely you are to end up with a pest control issue. Especially this time of year with temperatures dropping, pests are in need of warm places to stay. Most need just a tiny amount of space to make their way into a home, so any crack, crevice, or opening is an open invitation to come in and get cozy for a while. 

While it’s true that even the cleanest of homes can end up with pest control issues, pests like mice, in particular, thrive in places like cluttered basements inside boxes of holiday decor, for example.

Pests also enter homes through hitchhiking. Bed bugs, as mentioned, are a common pest control issue this time of year with holiday travel in full swing, as they’ll jump onto clothing or luggage and make their way back home with their new host. Likewise, live Christmas trees and greenery brought in from outdoors can be a source of holiday bugginess.

How to Pest Proof Your Home

Along with an Annual Pest Protection Plan, the best way to protect your home from any pest invasions this holiday season is with some basic pest proofing tips.

1. Inspect any trees or greenery for pests before bringing them into your home.
2. Carefully unbox your holiday decorations to ensure you’re not bringing in any unwanted pest guests. Check for chew marks and droppings in particular.
3. Store your firewood in a dry location at least 20 feet away from your house.
4. Be mindful during your holiday bake-athon—clean up crumbs and spills, and store ingredients and holiday treats in sealed containers, inside the refrigerator when possible.

Don’t Let Household Pests Ruin Your Holiday

Sometimes, even despite careful pest proofing, a professional is needed to eliminate a pest control problem. If you find yourself dealing with pests of any kind this holiday season, call or text Suburban Exterminating at (631/516) 864-6900 for a free inspection.

Happy Holidays!