The holiday season is a time of joy, family gatherings, delicious food, and festive decorations. However, it can also become the perfect setting for attracting pests into your home. From mice and cockroaches to bedbugs and ants, pests also “celebrate” this season by taking advantage of environmental changes and people’s habits. In this article, we explore some curious facts about pests during the holidays and how to keep them at bay.
Increase in Pests During Celebrations
During the holidays, homes are often filled with food, decorations, and increased activity. This creates ideal conditions for pests like mice and cockroaches to find shelter and food. The accumulation of food scraps, sweets, and crumbs can attract these unwelcome visitors. Additionally, the cold winter weather motivates many pests to seek warmth inside houses.
Practical Tip: Keep your kitchen clean, store food in airtight containers, and check dark corners as they are favorite hiding spots.
Mosquitoes and Outdoor Celebrations
In warm climates, outdoor evening gatherings can attract mosquitoes. These insects are especially active in warm and humid conditions. Interestingly, only female mosquitoes bite because they need blood to develop their eggs.
Fun Fact: Mosquitoes are attracted to the CO2 we exhale and body odors, making them a common nuisance at crowded parties.
Practical Tip: Use insect repellents, set up citronella candles, and avoid wearing sweet-smelling perfumes during outdoor events.
Bedbugs During Travel
The holiday season is also a time for travel. Hotels, buses, and airplanes are hotspots where bedbugs can hide and hitch a ride on your luggage or clothing. Once home, a single fertilized female can start an infestation that spreads rapidly.
Fun Fact: Bedbugs can survive for months without feeding, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Practical Tip: Inspect beds and furniture where you stay. Upon returning home, wash your clothes in hot water and vacuum your luggage before storing it.
Christmas Decorations as Hiding Spots
The boxes where we store our holiday decorations can become shelters for pests throughout the year. Materials like cardboard and paper are ideal for insects such as cockroaches and spiders to hide.
Practical Tip: Inspect decorations before using them. Store them in sealed plastic containers to prevent pests from settling in.
Food Safety During the Holidays
The holidays often involve feasts and leftovers. Leaving food out or improperly storing it can attract rats and mice. These rodents are expert climbers and swimmers, making them difficult to keep away.
Fun Fact: A rat can jump up to three feet and swim for 72 hours straight.
Practical Tip: Dispose of food scraps promptly and clean up any spills. Keep food out of reach of pests.
Ants and Holiday Sweets
Ants love sweets, and during the holidays, the abundance of desserts and sugary treats can attract them. These tiny insects work as a team to collect food and bring it back to their colony.
Fun Fact: Every ant has two stomachs—one for its own food and another to share with other ants.
Practical Tip: Clean surfaces and store sweets in sealed containers. If you find an ant trail, use vinegar to disrupt and clean their path.
Pests can become unwelcome guests during the holiday season, but with a bit of prevention and attention to detail, you can enjoy pest-free celebrations. Keeping your home clean, storing food properly, and checking decorations and luggage are simple steps that can make a big difference.
At Eco Fauna Control, we are experts in pest prevention and control. If you need help keeping your home or business pest-free this season, don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to help!
So this year, as you enjoy the festivities, remember these tips and fun facts to keep your home safe and pest-free. Happy holidays!