With average high temperatures for Roanoke in the 50s for December and January it's no surprise many have spring in mind. Insects included.
Eric Day has been an entomologist at Virginia Tech for 26 years, and says he's never seen a mild winter lead to more bugs.
"I think in general, things in the garden, things outdoors, we're going to see a couple weeks early, but we're not going to see bigger numbers," Day believes.
And Day is talking about the creepy crawlers that most don't like, such as ticks, ants, stink bugs and lady bugs. Day has started to get calls about such pests already.
"The days warm up outside, the house warms up a little bit, stink bugs get active, and people start seeing stink bugs at this time of year," Day said.
After hearing all of this about fleas and ticks I decided to call my own veterinarian's office. They're already noticing ticks on animals, and would encourage you to continue your flea and tick preventative year round.
The National Pest Management Association has tips of its own to keep these pests outside:
- Keep mulch at least 15 inches from the foundation
- Seal all cracks and small openings
- Eliminate sources of moisture and standing water
- And keep tree branches trimmed away from your home too
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