Pest Control in Cypress: Winter Invaders from the Attic to the Pantry

Our experts on pest control in Cypress know now that Santa has departed. This means that any sound you hear on your rooftop that sounds like reindeer hooves prancing or pawing is probably coming from another four-legged (or flying) creature.

As a refuge from the cold, attics are a popular destination for pests, particularly in the winter. Because of the attic’s inaccessibility and the evasiveness of many of the pests you may encounter, it can be challenging to determine what kind of wild animal you have there.

In this article, we will go over the telltale signs that you may have unwanted visitors in your home, including a list of the most common attic invaders.

Pest control in Cypress: Mice

Mice will make a screeching sound as they dig or knead the insulation in your attic to make a nest. Nighttime is typically when people start to pay attention to these noises because, during the day, most homes are bustling with activity and people talking.

Pest control in Cypress: Squirrel

The nocturnal squirrel is a voracious eater and an active animal all day long. Squirrels are known to chew wires in attics, which can lead to major damage or even fires in your home. Acorns and other nuts that squirrels may drop can roll around in the attic, and you can also hear them running and chewing.

Pest control in Cypress: Raccoons

Nighttime is when these pests go on their hunt for food, so you might hear them coming and going from your attic around sunset and sunrise. Along with other animals, raccoons can squeeze into a home’s foundational wall and climb all the way to the top, sometimes even without making their way into the attic. Our Cypress pest control experts explain that when raccoons are in an attic, you might hear a lot of thumps and scuttling.

Pest control in Cypress: Bats

Our Cypress pest control experts know that the nighttime and early morning hours are prime times to spot bats because, like raccoons, they are nocturnal. Bats will climb the attic soffits and then probe the interiors of walls for the sweet spot in temperature. Bats could be invading your attic and house if you hear swooping, rustling, or clicking sounds.

To get rid of these unwanted guests and get your home back to normal, you need to identify the type of animal that has invaded and then use the right removal methods.

In order to identify the type of pest occupying your home, a professional Cypress pest control company says that you should have an exterminator will search the attic, walls, foundation, and potential food sources for signs of:

• Droppings
• Nests
• Fur
• Hair
• Trails through insulation
• Accessible entry and exit points

Your Cypress pest control expert will be able to remove the pests in a safe manner using the appropriate technique once the animal has been identified. Other winter invaders of the flying variety may be dwelling in your food pantry, not rodents.

Pest control in Cypress: Pantry Moths

If you open a cabinet or pantry door and a moth flies out, it might be easy to ignore. The bug must have just become stuck inside, surely? Well, it’s debatable. Pantry moths are a pest problem if you find them in your pantry or other food storage areas. These pests lay their eggs in dry goods like:

• Grains
• Cereal
• Flour

Because they can feed on cardboard and lay up to 600 eggs in a single clutch, pantry moths pose a significant threat to your household. Even though they don’t actually spread disease, finding them increases the unsettling possibility that you’ve been consuming their:

• Waste
• Molted skin
• Larvae
• Other parts

Moths can get into a house through any number of openings, but the most common way they infest is by laying their nearly invisible eggs on food packaging that is brought inside. Indian meal moths, the most prevalent kind of pantry moth, emerge from their eggs as larvae. The presence of a single moth in close proximity to the kitchen light should be sufficient cause to open the cabinets and inspect their contents.

Pest control in Cypress: Do you know how to identify pantry moths?

Our Cypress pest control experts say that given their reproduction rate, pantry moths need to be dealt with promptly; if left unchecked, they will spread across the kitchen. The eggs are hard to see, and the larvae can blend in with dry goods like rice and grain, so it’s often too late when they’re discovered. Remember these signs that pantry moths may be present in your home.

Look inside cabinets and food containers for silky webs spun by pantry month larvae.

• Verify the aroma—In rare cases, the clumping of food particles caused by the secretions left behind by pantry moth larvae can lead to an unpleasant odor.
• Keep an eye out for caterpillars—The presence of a cream-colored caterpillar, whether it be on the packaging or within the food itself, is indicative of an infestation.

Be on the lookout for adult moths; anything as little as a reddish-brown or grey moth, less than an inch long, should send alarm bells ringing in the kitchen. Where can I find moth bait? How can I eradicate them from my pantry?

Pest control in Cypress: Getting Rid of Them

To get rid of pantry moths, you may need to call a Cypress pest control company. Never use mothballs near food because they use a contained gas to kill moths that feed on clothes. The same holds true for pesticides; they are best handled by trained experts. The following are some of the first steps in eliminating pantry moths:

Take everything out of the afflicted cabinet or pantry. Look for larvae in the food items. If anything isn’t airtightly sealed, throw it out. Get the contaminated food containers out of the house entirely, not just toss them in the trash.

• Cleaning up—The first step in removing any potential hiding places for eggs is to give the pantry a good vacuuming, making sure to get into all the cracks and crevices. Take out the bookcases if at all feasible. Take the vacuum bag with you when you leave the house, just like the contaminated food. After that, use a vinegar and water solution to wash everything down.
• Pay close attention—Have we already said that the eggs are tiny? If you let any of them go, moths will come back. Check the inside of cabinets with a flashlight, throw out or replace any worn or torn shelf paper, and think about sealing any holes or cracks in the cabinet.
• Take your time—Restock the cabinet won’t be done right away. Restock the pantry only after you’ve given the pests at least a week or two to prove they haven’t returned. Plus, think about putting everything in sealed containers this time.

Pest control in Cypress: In the future, how can I avoid being infested?

Pantry moths are a shocking sight for any homeowner, but they don’t always indicate a dirty or unclean home. Paying careful attention to the bags and boxes that store your cereal, rice, and other dry goods on the grocery store shelf is the first line of defense against these pests, the Cypress pest control experts say they often bring eggs into the kitchen on packaging.

Other methods exist for domestic use in the fight against pantry moths. Store any dry goods in airtight containers. You might want to think about storing some natural pesticides like cedar chips, peppermint leaves, or bay leaves in the cabinet with your food. Keep an eye out: Check your cabinets on a regular basis and be prepared to take action if you notice anything out of the ordinary in your pantry.

Preventing pest problems, such as pantry moths, can be as simple as having your home inspected on a regular basis. The best way to keep pantry moths at bay is to inspect them often and treat as needed.

Pest Stoppers is More than Just a Name. It’s What we do every day.

In the greater Houston, Texas area, Pest Stoppers LLC is your termite company and reliable source for pest control in Cypress. Pest Stoppers is a mosquito control company in Cypress that has been in business for 18 years and is family owned and operated. Our experts on Cypress pest control offer dependable services to both residential and commercial customers.

As one of the top companies for organic pest control in Cypress, we provide free consultations to assess the requirements of your home. Our team will inspect your property from top to bottom, inside and out, looking for and treating any problematic areas that may be found. In addition to this, we seal any and all potential entry points into your home that could be used by pests. This ensures that you will have lasting protection against these annoying creatures.

Contact Pest Stoppers for all of your pest control needs, including organic pest control, termite control, mosquito control, and ant control in Cypress! Our expertise incorporates the most recent advancements in both technology and research, resulting in a service that is both risk-free and efficient. As a result, we can guarantee that your home or place of business will be free of pests for the duration of our treatment.