8 Bugs You Might See in Your House This Winter

The weather is getting colder, and you’re preparing to settle into your cozy house to take shelter during the chilliest months of the year.

Unfortunately, annoying bugs may be thinking the same thing.

Each winter, pests like cockroaches, flies, and stink bugs take shelter in homes and rapidly become indoor pests.

Fortunately, there are ways to deal with them.

At The Pest Dude, we’ve been teaching people to do their own pest control for more than 20 years, and we’ve compiled our top tips into this helpful blog.

Why Do Bugs Head Indoors During Winter?

• Warmth: Like us, bugs love warm places when it gets cold outside. Your home offers a cozy refuge from the chill.
• Food Sources: Homes are full of food for bugs. From crumbs on the floor to leftovers in the trash, these little critters find plenty to eat.
• Shelter from Predators: Staying indoors keeps bugs safe from natural predators, which makes it easier for them to survive the winter.
• Breeding Grounds: The warm temperatures and abundant food create a perfect environment for bugs to breed, lay eggs, or build nests.

8 Common Winter Pests & How to Prevent Them

1. Stink Bugs

Identification:

Stink bugs are shield-shaped, typically brown or green, and measure about three-quarters of an inch long.

They love to overwinter in homes and other buildings.

When disturbed or squished, they release an unpleasant, musky odor.

Habitat and Damage:

• Stink bugs often congregate on sunny exterior walls before finding their way inside.
• While they don’t harm buildings, they damage plants, and the secretions they leave behind can stain fabrics.

Prevention and Management:

• Seal entry points like windows and doors with caulk or weatherstrips
• Use traps designed to attract and capture these pests
• Use dehumidifiers throughout your home to reduce moisture

2. Ants

Identification:

Ants are tiny insects with segmented bodies and elbowed antennae.

There are currently an estimated 15,700 species of ants, varying widely in color, size, and habitat.

Habitat and Damage:

• Ants are typically found near food sources and damp areas.
• While most species are harmless, some bite or sting, and most can contaminate food and spread bacteria.
• The most common species of ants that overwinter in homes are Argentine ants, carpenter ants, pharaoh ants, and white-footed ants.

Prevention and Management:

• Keep food sealed in airtight containers
• Clean up food and drink spills promptly
• Seal gaps and cracks with caulk, weatherstripping, and steel wool
• Use baits and traps designed to work against ants

3. Cockroaches

Identification:

Cockroaches are flat, oval insects.

Most species are nocturnal and range in size from 0.5”-2”.

They are typically brown or black and have long antennae.

Habitat and Damage:

• Cockroaches die off in extreme cold, so these pests love to overwinter in homes.
• Indoors, they’re commonly found in kitchens, bathrooms, crawl spaces, and other damp areas.
• Cockroaches can contaminate food, spread diseases, and exacerbate allergies and asthma.

Prevention and Management:

• Keep food stored in airtight containers
• Clean up spills promptly
• Use methods like bait stations and boric acid to kill cockroaches
• Place dehumidifiers in damp areas of the home
• Seal all gaps and cracks so cockroaches can’t get inside

4. Silverfish

Identification:

Silverfish are small, wingless insects known for their silvery-blue color and fish-like appearance.

They move swiftly and measure up to half an inch long.

Habitat and Damage:

• These pests thrive in damp, dark places like bathrooms and basements.
• They can rapidly infest homes, destroy property, and cause (or worsen) allergies.
• Since they feed on paper products, glue, and textiles, silverfish can destroy books, wallpaper, and more.

Prevention and Management:

• Place dehumidifiers in moist areas of the home
• Store food in airtight containers
• Get rid of piles of newspapers, books, and cardboard
• Use traps and baits meant to control silverfish

5. Spiders

Identification:

Spiders have eight legs and vary in size and color.

While most are harmless, some species have venom and can cause painful or dangerous bites.

Habitat and Damage:

• Spiders love to overwinter in quiet, dark areas like basements and attics.
• While spiders eat other problem pests, like moths, flies, and roaches, most people find them unsettling.

Prevention and Management:

• Declutter your home and seal all entry points
• Use repellents in spider-prone areas
• Remove webs frequently
• Place sticky traps designed to catch spiders
• Use contact sprays and other spider killers to knock down populations

6. Bed Bugs

Identification:

Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects with bodies about the size of an apple seed.

They are flat and oval-shaped, but their abdomens become distended after feeding on the blood of people or pets.

Habitat and Damage:

• Bed bugs hide in mattresses, box springs, and headboards. (Check out our guide for help identifying these tiny critters.)
• They feed on the blood of their hosts (people or domestic pets), and their bites cause itchy, painful welts.
• The droppings they leave behind can cause allergies, rashes, and more.

Prevention and Management:

• Use a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter to vacuum your carpets, mattresses, and other textiles
• Regularly wash your bedding in hot water
• Use a bed bug-proof mattress encasement and protector
• Add bedbug traps to the feet of your bed and other upholstered furniture

7. Cluster Flies

Identification:

Cluster flies are slightly larger than houseflies.

They’re known for their dull gray appearance, sluggish movement, and overlapping wings.

Habitat and Damage:

• Cluster flies are commonly found in attics or wall voids, where they seek warmth and shelter during winter months.
• Although they do not pose health risks, they can be annoying to live with and difficult to control.

Prevention and Management:

• Seal entry points with caulk and weatherstripping
• Place fine mesh screens over vents and chimneys
• Use cluster fly traps to help manage infestations

8. Fruit Flies

Identification:

Fruit flies are small flies with red eyes and a tan body.

They reproduce rapidly and can become significant pests in kitchens and food storage areas.

Habitat and Damage:

• Fruit flies live and breed near overripe or decaying fruit, drains, and garbage disposals.
• They don’t bite or sting humans but can carry bacteria like salmonella, e. coli, and listeria.

Prevention and Management

• Store produce in the refrigerator rather than keeping it on the counter
• Clean your garbage disposals and drains regularly with a mixture of white vinegar and hot water
• Use traps to reduce fruit fly populations
• Check out our comprehensive guide on how to get rid of fruit flies

You Don’t Need to Share Your Cozy Winter Home With Annoying Pests!

While many insects seek warmth and shelter indoors during winter, there are ways to keep your home pest-free during the chilliest months of the year.

At The Pest Dude, we work with a nationwide network of skilled, reliable pest control professionals.

Call us at (844) 532-0076, and we’ll connect you with an expert in your area who can help you identify and get rid of the pests that have set up shop in your home.