Cooler Weather and Pests: Insects Hibernate While Rodents Propagate

During winter months there may appear to be less pest activity in your home. Don't be fooled! Many insects pass the cooler part of the year in hibernating, while rodents are looking for shelter to make a nest.

Insects Escape the Winter by Hibernating

Some insects escape the cold by digging deeper into the soil or wood in which their colony is located. Others may be in a developmental phase (larvae, nymph, or pupae stage) where they go unnoticed. Even the delicate life inside an insect egg is protected from the cold with a thick cocoon waiting for the right time to reveal itself. So, as far as insects go, it is important to maintain your home with the pest management service you have chosen (yearly, quarterly or bi-monthly service). This will help to control the insect population as they come out of hibernation in the spring.

Rodents Look for Shelter and Nesting Material

One unpleasant habit of rodents that is common to Florida during the cooler weather is to seek shelter in the warmth of your home, garage, or car! Yes, even your car can become home to a female rodent about to give birth…as we experienced a few years ago.

Common Roof Rat (aka Fruit Rat)

The Roof Rat (more often referred to as the Florida fruit rat) is the most common rat found in Florida. Fruit rats consume and destroy stored food, attack fruit crops, and take up residence in attics, soffits, hollow walls, and out-buildings. When they invade buildings they chew through wires, gnaw through plastic and lead water pipes, make holes in walls and cause other structural damage.

The secretive, nocturnal nature of rats means that they often go unnoticed in a neighborhood until citrus fruits start to ripen. Then they make their presence known, usually with a circular hole in the fruit and the whole fruit hollowed out.

Fruit Rats are Reproductive Machines

One of the challenges with fruit rats is that they are capable of reproducing quickly with large litters of offspring. The fruit rat is known to have 4-5 litters a year and 5-8 offspring per litter. When you do the math, that's a lot of baby rats running around.

How Do Rats Enter to Your Home: Anyway They Can

Did you know a large rat can fit through an opening as small as 1/4"? So, don't think a rat in your home is due to bad housekeeping. Rats are capable of squeezing their way into the cleanest of homes.

Things that go Bump in the Night and What to Do?

Rodents are responsible for carrying many mammalian (human) diseases. So ignoring those things that go bump in the night in the attic is not wise.

Getting Help with Rodents

If you suspect fruit rats are invading your property, feel free to contact Dean Soles Pest Control at 727-397-5297 or use the “quote request” on this page . We will be glad to help!