The holiday season brings deliveries, decorations, guests, and festive treats into the home. Unfortunately, it also brings conditions that make it easier for pests to slip inside unnoticed.
As families begin preparing for gatherings, putting up trees, and unpacking shipments, the team at Nvirotect Pest Control Services, your trusted Tampa pest control company, wants you to be prepared for potentially increased pest activity in your home, and what simple steps can prevent them from trying to join the festivities.
1. Pests Arriving Through Holiday Deliveries
With a major increase in buying online or shipping gifts, homes receive more cardboard during the holidays than at any other time of year. Cardboard and packing materials can contain German cockroach eggs, especially when boxes have been stored in warm distribution centers for long periods. These eggs can be unknowingly carried inside on the flaps and seams of packages and may hatch once they reach the indoor environment. German cockroaches can contain up to 40 babies, so an infestation can occur quickly.
The easiest way to reduce this risk is to break down and discard cardboard packaging outdoors immediately instead of keeping the boxes inside for days at a time.
2. Live Christmas Trees and Hidden Hitchhikers
There is nothing quite like a live Christmas tree as a holiday centerpiece, but they can also carry pests such as small mites, fleas, and ticks hidden deep within the branches. These pests often go unnoticed until they become active indoors.
We recommend thoroughly inspecting the tree before bringing it inside, shaking it well, and brushing through the branches to significantly reduce the likelihood of bringing pests into your living room. If pests are discovered, have the tree treated before bringing it into the house.
3. Ants Seeking Warmth and Holiday Sweets
Cold weather drives ants indoors, and the holiday season is filled with their favorite food: sugar. Cookies, candies, and baked goods left uncovered can draw ants from surprising distances. Once they find a reliable food source, they may establish trails and nests inside walls or flooring.
To prevent ants, keep sweet foods covered, clean your counters frequently, and make sure to properly store all holiday treats in sealed containers.
4. Guests Who May Carry Pests Indoors Accidentally
The holidays mean both large and intimate gatherings with loved ones, and with them comes luggage, coats, and belongings that may have been stored in garages, sheds, or other environments where pests live. Although a guest would never mean to, their possessions can actually introduce pests unknowingly.
Making sure to consistently clean before and immediately after gatherings and keeping an eye on your home can help you to respond quickly if any pest is brought in unintentionally.
Simple Seasonal Prevention Steps
Take it from a Tampa pest control company when we say that a few small home maintenance measures go a long way during the holiday season.
- Replace worn or missing door sweeps to block gaps and prevent insects from crossing the threshold.
- Make sure that your weatherstripping is intact to ensure that pests cannot move indoors.
- Inspect live trees and firewood before bringing them inside.
- Dispose of cardboard packaging outdoors.
- Take out your garbage often.
- Reduce clutter / hiding places for pests.
Though they may seem too easy, these tips can make a noticeable difference in preventing pests from spending the holidays with you and your family.
Nvirotect Pest Control Services Wishes You a Safe and Pest-Free Holiday Season
Professional pest control service in Tampa from Nvirotect Pest Control services will give you peace of mind with consistent, reliable results throughout the holiday season and beyond. We proudly provide Green-Certified and environmentally responsible treatment options strategically designed to keep pests out while protecting the safety of you and your loved ones.
Nvirotect Pest Control Services wishes everyone a safe, happy, and healthy pest-free holiday season.
Prepare for the holiday season today! To schedule your pest control service in Tampa, call us at 813.968.7031 or complete our contact request form for a competitive quote.
