Having a few pests visit you on the twelfth day of Christmas is definitely not what the song promises. Although many bugs are inactive during winter, a few still like to stop by your home. Check out which pests could be crashing your holiday festivities.
1. Moths
On the first day of Christmas what pest did you see? A moth eating your favorite Christmas sweater. When the weather turns frightful, bugs have to find a way to escape the cold. The clothes moth will hide out in homes and its larvae are notorious for nibbling on fabric.
2. Aphids
On the second day of Christmas what pest did you see? Two aphids on your tree. Live trees are a great hiding spot for plant pests like aphids. You’ll want to examine your tree and shake out the branches before bringing it inside.
3. Ticks
On the third day of Christmas what pest did you see? Three ticks on your dog. Some tick species, like the blacklegged ticks, are still active in the winter. Make sure to keep an eye on your furry friends so you can remove any uninvited pests.
4. Spiders
On the fourth day of Christmas what pest did you see? Four spiders spinning webs. Just like other pests on the list, spiders stay indoors throughout the winter to avoid harsh weather conditions.
5. Stink Bugs
On the fifth day of Christmas what pest did you see? Five smelly stink bugs. These pests start moving into homes in the fall and stay until it’s warmer. They have a habit of releasing an unpleasant odor when they are disturbed or crushed.
6. Weevils
On the sixth day of Christmas what pest did you see? Six weevils in your pantry. Rice weevils and other pantry pests are often brought inside with groceries. Once they make it to your pantry, they will stick around and nibble on your cooking ingredients.
7. Cockroaches
On the seventh day of Christmas what pest did you see? Seven cockroaches scurrying. Cockroaches like areas that are warm and moist, which makes your kitchen and bathroom the perfect spots to hide. These pests can contaminate cooking surfaces and food if they make contact with them.
8. Fruit Flies
On the eighth day of Christmas what pest did you see? Eight fruit flies buzzing. Fruit flies are attracted to ripe or decaying produce. Like cockroaches, they can contaminate food so it’s best to store food in containers with an airtight seal or in the refrigerator. Though most active when temperatures are warm, these flies can be active in winter.
9. Mites
On the ninth day of Christmas what pest did you see? Nine mites on your tree. Mites are another pest that likes to infest trees. Keep your eyes open for small red or brown spots on the branches of your tree.
10. Fleas
On the tenth day of Christmas what pest did you see? Ten fleas a-hopping. These tiny pests look for hosts that offer them a blood meal. Unfortunately, they often target your furry family members. If you notice your pet scratching more than usual, you’ll want to make sure they aren’t battling fleas.
11. Ants
On the eleventh day of Christmas what pest did you see? Eleven ants gobbling up cookies. Ants aren’t usually active in the winter, but they have been known to pop up every now and then. Seeing ants during winter months could be a warning sign that a colony is living in or close to your home.
12. Bed Bugs
On the twelfth day of Christmas what pest did you see? Twelve bed bugs sleeping. It’s hard to sleep tight when bed bugs are in your home. These pests hide in the cracks and crevices of your bed and furniture. Bed bugs multiply rapidly, so it’s important to control an infestation as quickly as possible.
Dealing with pests isn’t anyone’s definition of the most wonderful time of the year. If pests are giving you a fit this holiday season, we want to help! Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective Pest Control products for an environmentally and family friendly solution.