With the holiday season here, many homeowners are placing festive decorations, wrapping presents, and putting up the Christmas tree! Unfortunately, certain pests like to take advantage of this time of year, often hitching a ride into your home through stored Christmas trees, wreaths, firewood, and more!
Every Florida resident should be aware of the types of pests that can infest this winter season and what preventative measures to take.
Inspect Your Christmas Tree
Many of us love the appeal of having a fresh Christmas tree inside our home. While it’s nice to walk inside and smell the fresh-cut tree, certain pests will use it as a means to get indoors. Insects, such as spiders, mites, bark beetles, and more, are often found on Christmas trees. While it can be hard to spot some of these insects, before you bring your tree inside, shake it to help remove them.
Check Storage Boxes
Before you start unloading your decorations from the attic or closets, it’s essential to inspect them first. Cardboard boxes are a perfect harborage and food source for silverfish. These pests can be a major nuisance if they start to infest inside your home. In fact, an adult female lays up to 100 eggs! Use plastic storage bins instead of cardboard boxes to store decorations to prevent silverfish issues. Also, look around the interior and exterior of your home for any cracks or holes. If you do find any, seal them up as soon as possible.
Be Cautious with Firewood
Every homeowner wants to get the most out of their fireplace during the colder months, even in Florida! Unfortunately, bringing in firewood can expose your home to a pest infestation. Termites, cockroaches, carpenter ants, wasps, and beetles will take advantage of your stored firewood. Damp firewood or firewood stacked directly on the ground is a major attraction to these pests. Before you bring in your firewood, make sure to inspect it. Store firewood off the ground, away from your home, and with a tarp over it.
Keep Holiday Pests at Bay with McCall Service
As you prep for the holidays, the last thing you should worry about is dealing with a pest infestation. At McCall Service, our professionals will inspect for pests, identify them, and provide a treatment and prevention plan. Request a free quote today!
