Homeowners throughout the Midwest are experiencing a growing plague of pests entering their homes and spreading around the outside of midwestern homes. From Illinois to Ohio, families are finding unwanted pests getting cozy in basements, attics, and in their homes. Unique climate patterns within the region, along with aging housing stock and increased urban development, could provide ideal breeding grounds for pest species. These invasions are not just a nuisance; they represent health risks, property damage problems, and great expense to residents.
Things have gotten so bad that the average homeowner is inclined to give up their battle against the millions of available types of pests that have come into their home. Due to this increase in infestation, professional pest control intervention from Reliable Pest Solutions has become more necessary in order to gain control of the infestation, prevent property damage, and protect family health.
Common Pest Spikes In the Midwest
Numbers show that 84% of Midwest homes experience pest activity during peak seasons. These are the most troublesome invaders:
Primary Residential Pests:
- Rodents (Mice & Rats) – Active October to March; looking for warm shelter.
- Ants – During the spring and summer months, sugar ants and carpenter ants can surge
- Spiders – House spiders and wolf spiders become more common inside during the fall
- Cockroaches – German and American cockroaches love humid basements and live there all year long
- Termites – $2.5 billion in Midwest property damage annually due to subterranean termites
- Stink bugs – Brown marmorated stink bugs that invade homes in the fall
- Cluster flies – They are mass invaders looking for winter shelter, and this is in the late fall
Why is there a Spike In Residential Buildings?
Climate and Weather Patterns
Extreme Midwest weather makes pests enter structures that offer climate-stable shelter. Rodents, spiders, and insects are looking for warm shelter in the cold winters, while the humid summer is the perfect breeding ground in your basements and crawl spaces. Sudden drops in temperature and other extreme weather events prompt mass migrations into buildings, particularly in this area of unpredictable weather patterns.
Housing Infrastructure Factors
Often, Midwest homes are decades old, perfect for older foundations, damaged weather stripping, and holes around utilities, as well as an open door for pests. In cities such as Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland, older neighborhoods have much higher infestation rates based on structural weaknesses and the ability for pest populations to quickly move from one (often interconnected) home to another.
Urban Development Impact
Fast-expanding suburbs destroy the native habitats of pests, causing wildlife and insects to adjust to humankind’s lifestyle. As construction projects disturb established pest colonies, pests find their way to nearby residences for a new home. Increased food waste and landscaping modifications attract and support larger populations of pests around houses.
How Can You Prevent Pest Infestation?
Your best defense against Midwest pest invasions is prevention. Seal entry points into your home, cracks in foundations, gaps around windows, and spaces around utilities coming into the house. Maintaining gutters, sealing food, and moisture create far fewer incentives for pests to move in.
DIY pest control, despite your expertise in your craft, cannot rival the coverage of professional pest control services. They know how pests behave in each region, including their migration cycles for each season, and how to treat the pest for Southeast conditions. Companies like Reliable Pest Solution provide specialized knowledge of local pest species and the unique challenges they pose. Their inspections are detailed, their treatments personalized, and their follow-up addresses both the current infection and any possible future issues.
Conclusion
Midwest residential pest spikes are an emerging issue that requires fast, professional help. Climate variables such as rising temperatures and phasing out ageing infrastructures, coupled with urbanization, ensure pest infestation in homes.
Only professional pest controllers have the technical experience, advanced treatments, and preventative care needed to tackle these issues correctly and constantly. Procrastination leads to minor pest problems, developing into large infestations that can ruin your home and your family’s health.
