Do I still need pest control in winter in Western Kentucky?
Published Updated
By John Stopka, Co-Founder & CEO · Reviewed by John Stopka
Short answer
Usually, yes. Cold weather doesn't get rid of pests. It pushes them toward your house. Mice look for shelter as it cools off, and stink bugs that slipped in during fall can show up indoors on warmer winter days. A plan visit every 3 months keeps someone checking the outside of your home all winter.
Don't pests go away when it gets cold?
Some slow down, but a lot of them just change address. University of Kentucky entomologists say "many pests seek refuge in homes and other buildings in response to changes in weather, such as extended periods of rain or drought, or the onset of cooler temperatures in autumn" [1].
They also point out that "most pests encountered indoors have either flown or crawled in from outdoors" [1]. So in winter the real question isn't whether pests are around. It's whether they found a way in this fall, and whether that way in is still open.
Why are there stink bugs in my house in January?
Because they've been there since fall. Stink bugs move into walls, attics and other quiet spots to spend the winter, and UK Entomology says they "tend to be more active indoors throughout the entire winter, especially on warmer days" [2].
The good news is they aren't multiplying in there. Stink bugs "do not breed or reproduce indoors," so the ones you see in winter "are the same individuals that entered the previous fall" [2]. UK suggests picking them up with a tissue or gloves, or using a broom or vacuum [2].
Every Liberty pest control plan covers stink bugs. You can read more in our article on stink bugs and Asian lady beetles.
What about mice in winter?
Mice are the other winter regular. UK Entomology says a gap about 1/4 inch wide, "the diameter of a pencil," is "large enough for entry of mice" [1]. Look closely at the bottom corners of doors, since that "is often where rodents and insects enter" [1].
Winter is also a good time to check the garage door. UK says garage doors should have a bottom seal made of rubber, because "vinyl seals poorly in cold weather" [1].
All rodent problems start with a free inspection.
What does a winter plan visit actually do?
The same thing it does the rest of the year. Plans run on an every 3 months schedule, so one of your visits lands in winter.
Your Service Specialist comes back every 3 months to inspect and treat around your home.
"They walk all the way around your home first. They look for ways pests get in, nests, ant trails and standing water."
That walk matters just as much in winter, because a gap left open this winter is still open next fall. Sealing those gaps pays you back in other ways. UK Entomology notes that door sweeps, sealed utility openings and caulked cracks "will also conserve energy and increase the comfort level during summer and winter" [1].
If covered pests show up between visits, just text us.
Should I wait until spring to start a plan?
You can, but think about what's already inside. Stink bugs that came in during fall don't head back out until spring, and UK says they "emerge from hibernation from March to May" [2]. Mice don't wait for spring either.
If a contract is what's holding you back, the Quarterly Plan has no contract. The Patriot and Freedom plans include a 1-year service agreement. You can compare all three on the plans page.
What this means in Murray and Benton
We serve Murray and the rest of Calloway County, including Almo, Dexter, Hazel, Kirksey and New Concord, from our Paducah office. Homes around Murray range from rentals near campus to family homes and Kentucky Lake houses. If you want a weekend list of things to check before the cold settles in, our Murray winter pest checklist walks through it. You can read more about pest control in Murray.
Over in Benton, we cover Marshall County too, including Calvert City, Gilbertsville and Hardin along the Kentucky Lake shore. If you have a lake house or shed that sits closed up all winter, this part is for you. UK Entomology says unheated attics are often the most important spot inside buildings where stink bugs spend the winter, and that they also winter in "garages, outbuildings, vehicles, HVAC units, gas grills" [2]. On a seasonal property, it's worth checking before the season opens rather than after. You can read more about pest control in Benton.
When to call a professional
Call when you keep seeing pests indoors through the winter, when you've found signs of mice, or when you aren't sure where pests are getting in. Our pest control page explains how plan visits work.
More answers are on the Pests by season page.
Common questions
Is winter pest control a waste of money?
Not usually. Pests that moved in during fall are still around in winter, and mice keep looking for a way in while it's cold. A winter visit keeps someone checking the outside of your home for gaps.
Do stink bugs lay eggs in my house over the winter?
No. UK Entomology says stink bugs do not breed or reproduce indoors. The ones you see in winter are the same bugs that came in the fall before.
Why do I see stink bugs on warm winter days?
Stink bugs spend the winter in walls and attics, and they tend to get more active indoors on warmer days. They head back outside in spring, from March to May.
Are mice covered on Liberty's plans?
Yes. Mice and rats are on the covered pest list for all three plans. All rodent problems start with a free inspection.
Sources
- University of Kentucky Entomology. Michael F. Potter. "How to Pest-Proof Your Home" (ENTFACT-641). https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef641 (opens in a new tab)
- University of Kentucky Entomology. Michael F. Potter and Ric Bessin. "Stink Bug Infestation of Dwellings" (ENTFACT-654). https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef654 (opens in a new tab)