Can Ticks Survive Freezing Winter Weather?

It’s easy to assume that the onset of the winter means the absence of the summer pests that have been bothering us for months. All kinds of pests scramble to get inside our insulated structures once the weather turns for worse, and the ones that fail to see dramatic population decline. However, some pests are more resilient than others, and ticks are included in this category. Even though they are closely associated with the heat of the summer, it’s important to keep watch for ticks through the winter, too. Read on to learn more about ticks in winter and what you can do to stop them from our experts at Griffin Pest Solutions.

When is Tick Season?

Ticks are certainly most active in the summer; many of us associate tick problems with walking our dogs or going on hikes. It’s important to always conduct a tick check after being outside around tall grass in the heat. However, heat is just one crucial contributor to their health. Ticks also need humidity to survive. Because they don’t drink water, ticks seek out environments with high average humidity to remain hydrated and comfortable.

Although a harsh winter can kill off a significant portion of a tick population, these pests have a few survival strategies that can get them through the cold season. Here are some ways they respond:

  1. Ticks can find a host animal to latch onto that will provide them with body heat and essential nutrients through the winter
  2. If no hosts are available, ticks can find success hiding in leaf litter for protection and insulation
  3. Soft-shell ticks will burrow underground during the winter for increased protection

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Avoiding Ticks in Michigan this Winter

Ticks are far less active when temperatures fall consistently below 45° in the ground is wet or icy. That said, even though you’re less likely to deal with them, they can still pop out to cause problems for you and your pets. Here are some ways to protect yourself from ticks this winter:

  • Regularly remove yard waste. We often find takes hiding in leaf piles, so it’s best to dispose of them sooner than later.
  • Check your pets often. Ticks love to latch onto dogs, so make sure to inspect them every time you return from a walk.
  • Have a professional tick inspection. Setting up a barrier treatment in your yard can shut down tick activity through the winter.

What Can Tick Exterminators Do for Me?

Deer ticks, which are infamous for their ability to induce Lyme disease in humans, live right here in Michigan. If you want to ensure that your family is safe from the dangers of ticks, reach out to your local tick exterminators today. Our expert technicians at Griffin Pest Solutions are highly-trained in the safest and most effective methods of tick control for our climate. We can ensure that your property stays tick-free through every season. Contact us today for a free quote!

Michigan’s Most Common Summer Pests

Mosquito swarm

By now, you don’t need us to tell you which pests are the most active this summer. In fact, you probably never want to think about these four pests ever again. For these four particularly prevalent pests, the heat and humidity of Michigan’s summer is paradise. They’ve been growing, breeding, spreading… and probably bothering you like there’s no tomorrow.

No matter how bad the bugs, however, you don’t have to suffer them without recourse. Even at their most populous, there’s always a reason why pests choose a particular place to infest. If you can make sure you don’t provide them with what they want, they’ll leave you alone. Here’s everything you need to know to keep your least favorite nuisances away from you this summer.

Mosquitoes

mosquitoes in summerMosquitoes are so prevalent in summer for a couple reasons. First, they either hatch in spring or start reproducing. Either way, it means a lot of mature mosquitoes come early summer. Hot weather also allows mosquitoes to grow through their life cycles faster. They hatch faster, grow faster, and reproduce faster. The hotter and more humid the environment, the more mosquitoes breed. The more mosquitoes breed, the more mosquitoes hunt for blood and bother you.

Mosquitoes need moisture to stay active, breed, and lay eggs. They prefer to live and hunt near sources of standing, stagnant water. You’d be surprised just how many sources of stagnant water mosquitoes can find and use. Any kind of ditch, basin, or bucket can collect water, and mosquitoes only need the tiniest amount. Look for and remove sources of water mosquitoes could use to reproduce or lay eggs, outside and inside. You’ll be surprised what a difference it makes!

Ticks

ticks in summerSeveral different factors conspired in 2018 to give us the worst tick season in years. Weather from La Niña produced a milder winter and an earlier spring. The mild weather allowed ticks to emerge and lay eggs much sooner than usual. In addition, the white-footed mouse population grew substantially last year. Small rodents like the white-footed mouse are a great food source for ticks. Between the weather and food availability, 2018 is a perfect storm for tick activity.

Ticks hunt by climbing shrubs and grasses. From their perches, the ticks simply wait for their prey to walk by and then grab onto it. The fewer places they have to hunt, the harder it will be for ticks to infest your property. Keep grass, shrubs, and bushes trimmed short during tick season. Take care to wear bug spray, long pants, and long sleeves when you’re in an area where ticks might live. Always check yourself for ticks after spending time outside. Tick-borne diseases are on the rise this year, so keeping yourself safe from ticks is more important than ever.

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Silverfish

silverfish in summerUnlike the other pests on this list, silverfish aren’t more prevalent during summer because of their natural lifecycle. Silverfish live for two to three years or more and produce more 50 offspring each. They can remain active and reproduce as long as they have access to warmth, darkness, and humidity. They seem more active in summer because heat and humidity let them move around more and stay out longer.

Silverfish are nocturnal and live in dark, humid, and secluded places. Indoors, you’re most likely to find them in places like your basement, attic, closets, or crawl spaces. Often, you’ll find them under furniture, boxes, bags, and other stored materials. They’ll generally stay close to food sources, such as flour, cereal, fabric, paper, clothing, paste, glue, or paper. Controlling your home’s humidity is the best way to keep silverfish out. Find and correct moisture problems like leaking pipes, especially in at-risk areas like your basement. Reducing the number of hiding places silverfish could access and depriving them of food will also help.

House flies

house flies in summerHouse flies become especially prevalent in summer because they begin reproducing in late spring. Mother house flies deposit up to 150 eggs on an appropriate food source, such as garbage. During the heat of summer, these eggs hatch very quickly–sometimes only hours after they’re laid! House flies grow faster in hot weather during every other stage of their development, as well. In summer, house flies can complete their entire four-stage life cycle in as few as 7 to 10 days.

If you seem to have a house fly problem, it’s probably because they are laying eggs in your home. House flies lay eggs on food sources, which is usually garbage. House flies can only eat liquids, but they can liquefy various food items such as sugars and starches. Keep all your garbage in sealed plastic bags. Rinse out any liquid containers before you throw them out. Take garbage out to your outdoor dumpster frequently, and make sure it doesn’t spill.

 

Hopefully, these tips prove that no summer infestation is too intense to beat. Know your enemy and follow these strategies, and you can enjoy a pest-free summer. That pest-free summer can be this summer. Don’t give up!

If you need a little help driving out your pests once and for all, give Griffin a call any time. We’ve dealt with these all-too-common pests for plenty of summers before, and we’re happy to deal with them again.