Winter
Rodents peak. Check attic insulation, seal gaps, set monitoring traps. Bed bug season — post-holiday travel risk.
Spring
Termite swarm season starts. Ant queens emerge. Apply Bifenthrin perimeter before ants establish colonies near the home.
Summer
Mosquito and flea peak. Source reduce weekly. Wasps build nests. Treat fire ant mounds before they reach max colony size.
Fall
Stink bugs, boxelder bugs, and mice all seek warmth. Seal before September. Tick activity peaks again in October adults.
Winter
January & February
Rodents are your primary indoor threat. Most insects are dormant — but the ones inside your walls are not. Use this quiet season to inspect, seal, and prepare for the spring surge.
🐰 Rodents Peak🛍 Bed Bugs (Travel) Silverfish Active
January
2026
Active Pests
Mice & RatsSilverfishBed Bugs (travel)
✓ This Month's Tasks
- Check snap traps set in attic, garage, and basement — replace bait with fresh peanut butter
- Inspect attic insulation for rodent runways and nesting material
- Check for new gnaw marks on food packaging, wiring, and baseboards
- Inspect weatherstripping on all exterior doors — replace any that's compressed or cracked
- If you traveled over the holidays, inspect luggage seams and mattress edges for bed bugs
- Check dehumidifier in basement — maintain below 50% RH to control silverfish
February
2026
Active Pests
Mice & RatsCockroaches (indoor)Ants (queens dormant)
✓ This Month's Tasks
- Full exterior perimeter walk — identify and seal any gaps, cracks, or openings 1/4 inch or larger
- Check under sinks, around water heater and HVAC unit for cockroach activity
- Order bait products for spring — fire ant bait, perimeter spray concentrate
- Check garage door weatherstripping — a common February rodent entry point
- Clean dryer vent duct — lint buildup is both a fire hazard and pest entry point
- Inspect attic vents — ensure screens are intact and tight-fitting
Winter Tip
💡 February Is Preparation Month
- Termite swarmers begin in March in warm states — schedule an inspection in February
- Order Bifenthrin concentrate now — apply perimeter when soil temps reach 50°F
- Set up fire ant bait stations before April queen flights begin
- Check for moisture issues before spring rains — wet wood attracts carpenter ants
- Move firewood 20+ feet from the structure — it's a rodent and carpenter ant highway
Spring
March · April · May
The highest-activity pest season of the year. Termite swarmers, ant queens, mosquito larvae, and tick nymphs all emerge. Act in March before populations build — every week of delay doubles the problem.
🬢 Termite Swarms🐜 Fire Ants🫡 Tick Nymphs🐛 Carpenter Ants
March
2026
Active / Emerging
Termite Swarmers (South)Ants (emerging)Carpenter Ants
✓ This Month's Tasks
- Termite inspection — look for discarded wings near windows and mud tubes on foundation
- First perimeter spray application — Bifenthrin when soil temps hit 50°F
- Apply fire ant bait across entire lawn — before queen flights begin
- Clean gutters — overflowing gutters soak fascia boards, inviting carpenter ants
- Check all exterior caulking — reapply where cracked or peeling
- Pull mulch 6 inches from foundation — removes earwig and ant harborage
April
2026
Active Pests
Fire Ants (mounds building)TermitesTick Nymphs BeginMosquito Larvae
✓ This Month's Tasks
- Begin weekly mosquito source reduction — dump standing water every 7 days
- Treat ornamental ponds and birdbaths with Bti dunks
- Treat fire ant mounds with individual mound drench for any mounds in high-traffic zones
- First tick yard spray — Bifenthrin to lawn-woodland edge
- Treat clothing with permethrin before outdoor activities
- Check under deck and porch for wasp nest building — treat early nests before they grow
May
2026
Active Pests
Mosquitoes (rising)Tick Nymphs (peak risk)Fleas (beginning)Ants
✓ This Month's Tasks
- Start monthly flea/tick prevention on all pets — do not skip summer months
- Inspect pet bedding, carpet edges, and furniture for flea eggs or adults
- Apply Bifenthrin yard spray for mosquitoes — focus on shaded vegetation
- Daily tick checks after any outdoor activity — especially behind knees and scalp
- Second perimeter spray application — reapply Bifenthrin around foundation
- Check for spotted lanternfly egg masses on smooth-barked trees if in Mid-Atlantic
Summer
June · July · August
Peak season for mosquitoes, wasps, fleas, and ants. August is the critical exclusion month — seal everything before fall invaders begin their migration. Yellow jacket colonies reach maximum size and aggression in August.
Mosquitoes Peak🐝 Wasps Peak (Aug)🐶 Fleas Peak⚠ Seal in August
June
2026
Active Pests
MosquitoesFleasWasps (nest building)German Cockroaches
✓ This Month's Tasks
- Dump and drain all standing water — every 7 days without fail
- Inspect all wasp nesting sites at night with a red flashlight — treat small nests before they grow
- Check pets weekly for fleas — early June is when flea populations begin building
- Apply flea yard spray (Bifenthrin) to all shaded areas where pets rest
- German cockroach check — look for fecal spotting behind stove and refrigerator
- Reapply perimeter Bifenthrin spray — every 4–6 weeks during active season
July
2026
Active Pests
Mosquitoes (peak)Fleas (peak)Fire Ants (max colony)Wasps (growing)
✓ This Month's Tasks
- Mosquito source reduction — check every container, pot, tarp, and gutter
- Second fire ant bait application — colonies are at max size and most active
- Treat all pet bedding and carpets with IGR (Precor) for flea cycle disruption
- Use DEET 25–30% outdoors during dawn/dusk hours
- Check for underground yellow jacket nests — look for ground holes with traffic
- Keep outdoor food covered — yellow jackets are scavenging at this stage
August ⚠
Critical Month
Active Pests + Incoming
Wasps (most aggressive)Stink Bugs (start seeking)Boxelder Bugs
⚠ August Exclusion Deadline
- Seal ALL weatherstripping, door sweeps, and window screens — before September migration
- Caulk all utility penetrations, siding gaps, and eave openings
- Install chimney cap with mesh screen
- Replace white exterior lights with yellow LEDs — reduces stink bug attraction
- Apply Bifenthrin to south/west-facing walls — kills stink bugs landing before entry
- Treat wasps at night — colonies at maximum size and aggression this month
Fall
September · October · November
Overwintering pests move inside. Rodents, stink bugs, boxelder bugs, and adult ticks all become major concerns in the fall. If you sealed in August, you're protected. If you didn't, this is damage control season.
🐰 Mice Invade🦐 Stink Bugs🫡 Adult Ticks⬛ Boxelder Bugs
September
2026
Active Pests
Stink Bugs (invasion)Mice (seeking entry)Boxelder BugsTicks (adult season)
✓ This Month's Tasks
- Set snap traps in garage, attic, and basement — mice begin entering in September
- If stink bugs are getting in, seal gaps immediately — they release pheromones that attract more
- Second tick yard spray — catches adult deer ticks at their October peak
- Continue permethrin clothing treatment for all outdoor activities through November
- Stop fall garden cleanup from piling near the foundation — provides rodent cover
- Check all vents for screen integrity — stink bugs use attic vents as entry
October
2026
Active Pests
Mice & RatsAdult Deer Ticks (peak)Cockroaches (indoor)Stink Bugs (tapering)
✓ This Month's Tasks
- UV tracking powder in suspected rodent areas — reveals all active runways
- Daily tick checks through November — deer tick adults most active in October
- Seal any new gaps found during inspections — focus on foundation and roofline
- Apply Xcluder rodent-proof mesh around all pipe penetrations
- Check cockroach gel bait — replace any that has dried out
- Store firewood away from structure — now the main outdoor rodent harborage
November
2026
Active Pests
Rodents (peak indoor)SilverfishCockroachesStink Bugs (dormant)
✓ This Month's Tasks
- Final exterior exclusion walk — seal anything found before winter freeze
- Verify attic and crawlspace access points are secure
- Replace or replenish glue boards along basement walls
- Check dehumidifier performance — humidity rises with winter air exchange
- Begin holiday travel bed bug protocol — inspect hotel rooms, check luggage on return
- Confirm snap traps are set in all rodent-risk areas with fresh bait
December
The holiday pest risk month
Travel, fresh-cut trees, and decorations stored in cardboard all introduce new pest risks. Rodents are fully established inside by now if you haven't sealed. Check traps frequently in cold weather when mice are most desperate.
🐰 Rodents🛍 Bed Bugs (travel)🎄 Tree Pests
December
2026
December Pest Risks
Rodents (desperate for warmth)Bed Bugs (holiday travel)Spider Egg Sacs (fresh tree)
✓ December Checklist
- Shake live Christmas trees vigorously before bringing inside — dislodges spiders and insect egg masses
- Inspect cardboard storage boxes from attic — silverfish and brown recluse spiders love undisturbed cardboard
- Hotel room inspection: pull back sheets, check mattress seams and headboard for bed bugs
- Check luggage for bed bugs before bringing in from travel
- Increase snap trap check frequency — hungry mice in cold weather are more active
- Plan January exclusion work — the fresh-eyes perimeter walk
Start of Year Reset
📅 Annual Pest Control Reset — January Tasks
- Order all spring products in January — Bifenthrin, fire ant bait, Bti dunks, IGR spray
- Schedule termite inspection before March swarmer season
- Replace all snap trap bait — peanut butter oxidizes and loses attractiveness over winter
- Assess last year's pest pressure — which areas had activity? Prioritize those for exclusion
- Review pest library for any new threats to your region