Summary: Attics are use for all kinds of purposes, so it’s important to guard yours against pests. This blog is a brief guide to attic pests. It talks about signs of an infestation, common invaders, and prevention methods. The featured attic pests are: clothes moths, cluster flies, rodents, silverfish, and wasps. Romney Pest Control protects Texas homes from invasive species.
Attics are strange, often lonely spaces. Some homes contain a refinished attic that serves as an office or a spare bedroom. Others have a boring room that only acts as a storage space. No matter what purpose your attic is serving, it’s important to know that pests are big fans of unpopulated spaces.
By that, we mean that pests generally prefer to stay away from humans and animals for their own safety. They enjoy the benefits — like food and water — of living near us. But pests usually want to establish their homes in isolated spaces. This leads them to places like the attic, where they can hide and reproduce in peace.
First and foremost, we need to address the elephant-sized pest problems in the room (aka the attic) by noting the typical signs of their presence.
Signs of the Attic Pests
The key to eliminating attic pests is to catch them, which is much easier to do when the infestation is in its earliest stages. It’s all about knowing what to look for when you’re examining the room.
The most common signs of attic pests are:
- Shredded nest materials (papers, twigs, etc.)
- New holes or damage in the wall
- Chewed papers or fabrics
- Shredded insulation
- Spiderwebs
- Droppings and urine
- Any live or dead pests
- Wasp nests or beehives of any size
- Bugs trapped in the window screen or on the windowsill
- Noises (scampering, scurrying, squeaking), especially at night
With these signs in mind, let’s dive into the destructive habits of 5 attic pests and the best ways to prevent them from ruining your top floor.
Clothes Moths
Where idle clothes rest, clothes moths are sure to nest (you can teach that rhyme to your kids!). The attic is a common storage space for clothes that we don’t want to declutter but can’t keep with our everyday clothing. Baby clothes, hand-me-downs, blankets, and furs are all susceptible to a clothes moth invasion.
Clothes moths lay 100 eggs in undisturbed fabrics when the weather is warm, so a toasty attic is the perfect spot. After a few weeks, the hatched larvae chew holes in the fabric while they take 3 to 9 months to mature. Adult clothes moths can’t fly far, so they’ll likely lay eggs in the same clothing that they enjoyed!
Cluster Flies
Their name is a little on-the-nose (do cluster flies have noses?), as cluster flies indeed group together on walls and ceilings. They’re the most noticeable in fall and spring. Fall is when they invade houses for the warm shelter, and spring is when they (hopefully) return to the outdoors. These flies aren’t dangerous, but they are definitely a major nuisance.
Cluster flies are attracted to the light, even though they like staying in the attic and wall voids. This is why you’ll often see cluster flies gather on windows. As annoying as they are, it’s best not to kill cluster flies when they’re in wall voids. Dead cluster flies attract other attic pests, like carpet beetles, because there’s enough of them to provide a great food supply.
Rodents
Rats and mice are possibly the most infamous attic pests. Between their strong teeth and their constant scratching, you will know if you have rodents in the attic. They are excellent climbers, and rodents have no problem chewing through anything that get in their way. These pests will even shred household materials, like insulation and wallpaper, for their nests.
If the attic has pre-existing holes in the walls, rodents will have no problem forcing their way into the space. Mice fit through holes the width of a dime, while rats squeeze through holes the width of a quarter. Rodents bring a lot of health risks wherever they go. They can transmit diseases (salmonella, typhus, etc.) or smaller pests (fleas and ticks) to others in the home.
Silverfish
Silverfish are similar to clothes moths in that we don’t usually notice the pests until they’ve already started ruining our belongings. Since silverfish love water, they’re more likely to invade attics with extra humidity. These nocturnal pests usually crawl up houses and into attics during fall and winter because there’s additional moisture from the rainstorms.
Since they don’t have wings, silverfish need to hide from us in the same clutter they’re feeding from. They eat starchy organic items, like crumbs, dirt, glue, paper, and dust. There are two main signs that your attic has silverfish. One is the yellow dust they shed as they molt, which can stain fabrics. The second is the jagged holes they chew in our papery items.
Wasps
This may sound misplaced on a list of attic pests, but stinging insects are actually a common one. Yellowjackets enjoy nesting in wall voids for the additional protection, so you may find their papery nests inside your house — literally. It’s best to treat wasps in the early stages because their colonies can number in the thousands during the summer.
The standard wasp nest is made of chewed wood that the wasps formed into hexagonal cells. They can hang these nests from trees or eaves, but the big issue is when wasps build these nests inside wall voids and attics. It’s riskier to treat wasps in the fall since they’re angrier with the lack of food. Trust us: if you think you have a wasp problem, leave the removal to the pros.
The Art of Attic Pest Protection
No matter how you’re using your attic, there are plenty of ways to protect it from invasive pests. A bit of preparation and vigilance goes a long way when it comes to preventing attic pests.
Our best methods for preventing attic pests are:
- Use good containers. Everything you store in the attic should be kept in airtight containers with solid lids, not cardboard boxes. Spiders and roaches love cardboard boxes.
- Eliminate moisture. Check the attic for moisture damage and fix any leaks ASAP. If the space easily gets humid, consider installing a dehumidifier up there.
- Check for gaps. Every so often, check the attic for new holes and cracks. Fill small gaps with waterproof caulk, and stuff larger holes with steel wool before lining with caulk.
- Keep it organized. If organization isn’t your forte, don’t worry about making your attic pristine. Just keep everything semi-organized, not randomly thrown everywhere.
- Don’t store food. The more rooms you bring food into, the higher risk you have of stray crumbs attracting pests. It’s best to avoid eating in the attic altogether if possible.
- Remove spiderwebs. Spiders can reuse old webs, so it’s a good idea to remove any webs before they get the idea. Use a vacuum or a duster to eliminate spiderwebs and cobwebs.
- Clean the floors. This is more for the attics that are used as a bedroom or office, but it’s still worth mentioning. When you start noticing dirt and grime, vacuum or sweep the attic floor.
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Citations
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Conklin, L.M. (2023, May 18). 11 pests that could be hiding in your attic. Reader’s Digest. Available at https://www.rd.com/list/pests-that-could-be-hiding-in-your-attic/ (Accessed on December 18, 2024).
How to get rid of pests in the attic. (2020, September 22). Maggie’s Farm. Retrieved December 18, 2024, from https://maggiesfarmproducts.com/blogs/bug-help/pests-in-the-attic
Saner, E. (2019, August 19). Revenge of the clothes moths: As numbers boom, can they be stopped?. The Guardian. Available at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/19/revenge-of-the-clothes-moths-as-numbers-boom-can-they-be-stopped (Accessed on December 18, 2024).
Signs of different wasp nests. (n.d.). Ehrlich. Retrieved December 18, 2024, from https://www.jcehrlich.com/pest-insights/wasps/wasp-nest
Silverfish. (N.d.). Pointe Pest Control. Retrieved December 18, 2024, from https://pointepestcontrol.com/services/silverfish/
