5 Fall Pests to Keep an Eye Out For…

Fall is here again! Fall in North Texas and DFW in general is beautiful. It’s the perfect time to wrap yourself up in warm throws, sipping warm apple cider or pumpkin latte as you watch the beautiful fall of leaves through the windows.

Yeah right…

Even though we can pretend it’s nice and cool we all know that we are sweating through that warm throw blanket and the warm apple cider just isn’t hitting the way it would be if you were in Portland right now… While our weather hasn’t had a drastic shift just yet, our bugs are changing. The summer dominate bugs have decided to calm down for a bit and make way for fall pests. Sharing is caring, right?!

If you live in North Texas here are the common pests you’re likely to encounter in your home during fall. 

1. Rodents

Although rodents are a common nuisance all year round, their infestation is at its peak in fall as they seek warmer conditions indoors.

Rodents can get into your house through cracks and openings and are exceptionally adept at squeezing themselves through very tiny gaps.

When inside your home, they can chew or damage your furniture and clothes. They also litter clean surfaces with food particles and their droppings. In extreme cases, they can track bacteria around your house and cause fire accidents if they chew through electricity and power cables.

The most common types of rodents in the DFW are Norway and roof rats.

The roof rat is a gray, squirrellike vegetarian rodent, while the Norway rat is a big, black, burrowing meat-eating rodent. Sure they may be a little bit cute, but they are still 100% uninvited and we will show them the door! 

Rodents rapidly reproduce and can be hazardous to your family and costly to get rid of.

2. Cockroaches

While your first reaction to a cockroach may be to burn the house down… maybe take a beat and give us a call! We totally get why you don’t want these gross little punks in your home and we are trained to eliminate them and keep them out swiftly! 

These fall pests can contaminate your food, countertops and food pre areas with bacteria spreading a wide range of diseases such as typhoid fever and salmonellosis. They can also trigger asthma attacks in asthmatic individuals through their feces and molted shells.

The common types of house roaches in Dallas/Fort Worth Area include:

• American cockroach: Reddish-brown or mahogany in color, measuring about 50mm long

• German cockroach: Can be about 11-16 mm and is often tan or almost black

• Brown-banded cockroach: Have a dark brown or brown coloration and is about 10-14mm long

Typically, if you spot a cockroach in your home, it might be a sign that you are hosting a whole intrusion of these bothersome fall pests..

3. Spiders

House Spiders

They have elongated bodies that are yellowish-brown with unique dark chevron markings. They are harmless but notorious at building webs in every corner of your home.

Brown Recluse Spiders

Brown recluse spiders are venomous arachnids with distinct violin-shaped markings on their body. They are mainly brown in color and not aggressive but may bite to defend themselves.

Black Widow Spider

These are venomous spiders with a red hourglass figure on their back. They are shiny black and may have red or white spots on their abdomen and back. They aren’t overly aggressive but may bite out of fear.

4. Crickets

The chirping of crickets outdoors is a sure sign of fall. However, these bugs can be a real nuisance when they invade your home.

Besides disturbing your peace with their chirping, did you know that they also feed on your clothing, fruits, vegetables, and grains?! 

Crickets also stain your belongings through their fecal matter and breed rapidly!

5. Stink Bugs

Stink bugs or brown marmorated stink bugs are another common fall pest in DFW and just as their name suggests, they stink!

They produce a foul-smelling chemical when threatened or squished.

Typically, these pests are harmless, and you’ll find them feeding on grass and weed. However, their stinky excrement often damages furniture and belongings.

You’ll mostly find these bugs in quiet places within your home, such as attics, crevices, and wall cracks. When stink bugs find a comfortable place to hide during fall, they release pheromones to signal their fellows that they have found conducive shelter and that they should come too.

And as a result, you end up with many stink bugs at different corners of your home.

Fall Pest Preventive Measures

Fall pests can be a nuisance, but learning how to deal with them can go a long way in helping you handle their infestation. Here’s how you can keep these pesky pests out of your home in the fall season:

• Declutter your home to reduce hiding spots

• Reduce their entry paths by sealing cracks, gaps, holes, and openings in your foundation and walls

• Keep your home clean by maintaining a clean kitchen, lounge and emptying all garbage

• Drain stagnant water and fix any leaking seals

• Be cautious of your fall decorations; live pumpkin, wood, and straws attract pests

Fall in Dallas is a beautiful season, don’t let pesky fall pests ruin your moments.

 Contact us today for professional pest control services at affordable rates.