Preparing for Fall Pest Pressures: What NY PCOs Need to Know in August

Every August, new technicians ask the same question: "Why are we suddenly getting so many calls about mice and lady beetles? It's still summer?"

Welcome to fall pest pressure season. In New York, the period from late August through October sees dramatic increases in pest activity as insects and rodents prepare for winter. The PCOs who prepare in August dominate the market. Those who react in October are overwhelmed and losing customers.

The fall pest migration timeline

Late August / Early September: Overwintering insects begin seeking indoor locations¹

• Asian lady beetles
• Boxelder bugs
• Brown marmorated stink bugs
• Western conifer seed bugs
• Cluster flies

September: Rodent activity increases as outdoor food sources decline and temperatures drop²

• House mice seeking indoor harborage
• Norway rats increasing burrow activity
• Increased entry attempts at buildings

October: Peak pest pressure for most overwintering species

• Maximum calls for stink bugs and lady beetles
• Rodent exclusion work critical window
• Yellow jacket activity peaks (aggressive behavior)

November: Late-season cleanup and final exclusion work

• Eliminate remaining overwintering insect aggregations
• Final rodent-proofing before winter
• Spider control indoors

Preparing your business in August

1. Stock inventory for fall demand

Exclusion materials:

• Door sweeps (you'll install dozens)
• Copper wool and steel wool
• Sealants (silicone and acrylic latex)
• Escutcheon plates for pipe penetrations
• Expandable foam (for larger gaps)
• 1/4" hardware cloth
• Weather stripping

Rodent control:

• Snap traps (both mouse and rat sizes)
• Multiple bait formulations
• Bait stations (secure outdoor use)
• Glue boards
• Tracking powder

Insect control for overwintering pests:

• Perimeter spray products (pyrethroids for outdoor barrier)
• Dust formulations for voids
• Aerosols with crack-and-crevice tips
• HEPA vacuum bags (you'll collect hundreds of lady beetles)

Order now. Distributors run low on popular items by mid-September.

2. Train staff on fall-specific services

Rodent exclusion techniques:

• Identifying entry points during inspection
• Proper sealing methods for different materials
• Where to install door sweeps
• How to quote exclusion work separately from treatment

Overwintering insect management:

• Distinguishing between species (lady beetle vs. boxelder bug vs. stink bug)
• Exterior barrier application techniques
• Void treatment for wall spaces
• Client education about why these pests appear suddenly

Selling seasonal services:

• How to recommend preventive exclusion in August before problems start
• Quoting perimeter treatments
• Upselling rodent exclusion to existing accounts

3. Proactive customer communication

August newsletter/email to existing customers:

"As temperatures begin to drop in September and October, rodents and overwintering insects will seek shelter inside buildings. Now is the ideal time for preventive exclusion work and perimeter treatments to keep pests out before they become a problem. Contact us for a free assessment."

Door hangers for neighborhoods you service:

"Fall Pest Prevention: Mice and insects will be seeking winter shelter soon. Have your home rodent-proofed before they get in. Call for free inspection."

Social media posts starting in August:

• "Did you know mice can squeeze through gaps the width of a pencil? Now's the time to seal entry points before fall migration begins."
• "Seeing lady beetles on your windows? They're looking for places to overwinter. Call us before they're inside."

This proactive communication generates preventive service calls in August and September instead of emergency calls in October when you're already overwhelmed.

Service strategies by pest type

Rodents (mice and rats)

Timing: Begin promoting rodent exclusion in August for September/October installation

Why it works: Rodents aren't inside yet. Exclusion performed before population pressure prevents infestations instead of controlling existing infestations.

Service protocol:

1. Comprehensive exterior inspection identifying all entry points
2. Seal all gaps larger than 1/4 inch (mice can enter anything larger)
3. Install door sweeps on all exterior doors
4. Address foundation cracks and utility penetrations
5. Provide written report of exclusion work performed

Pricing: Quote exclusion work separately from ongoing pest control. Typical exclusion job: $300-800 depending on building size and number of entry points.

Customer education: "We're rodent-proofing your building before mice migrate indoors for winter. This preventive work is far more effective and less expensive than controlling an established indoor population."

Overwintering insects

Species to prepare for:

Asian Lady Beetles: Orange to red with variable black spots. Aggregate in large numbers on sunny south/west sides of buildings. Release defensive chemicals that stain and smell bad. Bite humans.³

Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs: Shield-shaped, mottled brown, approximately 5/8 inch. Emit pungent odor when disturbed or crushed. Agricultural pest that also invades structures.⁴

Boxelder Bugs: Black with red-orange markings. Feed on boxelder and maple trees. Aggregate on sunny sides of buildings. Nuisance pest, no damage.

Cluster Flies: Larger than house flies, golden hairs on thorax. Overwinter in attics and wall voids. Sluggish. Not a filth fly.

Service protocol:

Option 1: Preventive Exterior Barrier (recommended August-early September):

• Apply residual pyrethroid to exterior foundation, around windows/doors, eaves, and soffits
• Focus on sunny south and west exposures where insects aggregate
• Treat before insects attempt entry

Option 2: Interior Removal (October-November when prevention fails):

• HEPA vacuum to remove insects from interior spaces
• Apply dust formulations to wall voids where insects are overwintering
• Seal cracks and gaps where insects entered
• Explain that dead insects may accumulate in voids (source for carpet beetles)

Pricing:

• Preventive exterior treatment: $150-350 depending on building size
• Interior removal: $200-400 for initial cleanout, may require multiple visits

Customer education: "These insects are harmless but become nuisance pests in large numbers. Exterior preventive treatment in late summer is far more effective than removing hundreds of insects from inside your home in October."

Yellow jackets and wasps

Why fall is different: Yellow jackets become more aggressive in fall as natural food sources decline. They're attracted to sugary foods and garbage. Workers are more numerous and defensive of nests.

Service considerations:

• Increased nest removal calls
• Higher sting risk, full PPE required
• Often discover large nests that have been growing all summer
• Customers more motivated to address when insects are aggressive

Safety protocol:

• Treat nests at dusk/dawn when insects are less active
• Full bee suit recommended for yellow jacket nests
• Have escape route planned
• Recommend Africanized bee protocol if any uncertainty about species

Spiders

Fall spider behavior: Many spiders reach maturity in fall. Larger, more visible. Males wander seeking mates. Often encountered indoors.

Customer concern: "I never had spiders before!" (They did; spiders just weren't this visible/large)

Service approach:

• Exterior perimeter treatment reduces entry
• Interior crack-and-crevice treatment in basements and closets
• Web removal with brush
• Explain seasonal nature of increased sightings

Route optimization for fall services

Fall pest work requires different routing than summer:

Schedule geographically: Overwintering insect pressure is neighborhood-specific based on tree populations and sun exposure. Schedule all services in one neighborhood on same day.

Allow extra time: Rodent exclusion takes longer than standard treatments. Don't schedule back-to-back exclusion jobs.

Weather-dependent: Exterior perimeter treatments require dry conditions. Have contingency plans for rainy days.

Bundle services: When treating for overwintering insects, inspect and quote rodent exclusion. When performing rodent exclusion, treat for overwintering insects. Capture both revenue streams.

Marketing fall services

Package pricing: "Fall Pest Prevention Package: Exterior perimeter treatment for overwintering insects + comprehensive rodent exclusion. Regular price $650, package price $499 through September 30."

This bundling increases average ticket and provides complete protection.

Free inspections: "Free Fall Pest Inspection: We'll identify entry points for mice and assess overwintering insect pressure. No obligation estimate."

Gets you in door to upsell services.

Maintenance agreements: "Annual Pest Prevention Program includes spring and fall exterior treatments plus quarterly interior service. Lock in today's pricing for 12 months."

Convert one-time customers to recurring revenue.

Client education materials

Provide handouts or emails explaining:

What to expect in fall:

• Which pests will be active
• When to expect peak activity
• Why prevention is better than reaction

What they can do:

• Seal obvious gaps themselves
• Remove outdoor attractants
• When to call for professional service

What you provide:

• Service timing and frequency
• Treatment methods
• Expected results

Educated customers have realistic expectations and appreciate your expertise.

Hiring and scheduling considerations

Seasonal help: Consider hiring part-time technicians for October-November crush. Train in September on fall-specific services.

Overtime planning: Plan for weekend and extended hours in October. Overwintering insect calls spike suddenly with first hard frost.

Emergency capacity: Reserve scheduling capacity for emergency calls. Customers seeing hundreds of lady beetles inside call frantically and expect same-day service.

The conversation that sells fall services

Customer: "I saw a mouse in my basement. Can you come out?"

You: "Absolutely. I can be there [timeframe]. When I'm there, I'd also like to do a comprehensive exterior inspection to identify how the mouse got in and seal those entry points. We're entering peak mouse season, and preventive exclusion now prevents ongoing problems all winter. Would that be valuable to you?"

Customer almost always says yes. You've just upsold from $150 treatment to $500 exclusion job.

Customer: "I have hundreds of lady beetles on my windows!"

You: "This is very common in fall as they seek overwintering sites. The most effective approach is removing the current insects and sealing entry points so more can't get in. I can have someone there [timeframe] to assess the situation and provide solutions. Would afternoon or morning work better?"

You've established yourself as the solution provider while educating about proper approach.

Tracking success

Measure these metrics to evaluate fall preparation:

Preventive vs. reactive service ratio: Goal is 60/40 or better preventive/reactive by year 3

Average ticket size: Fall should be highest average ticket of year due to exclusion work

Customer acquisition: Fall services generate new customers, track conversion to annual agreements

Technician productivity: Stops per day should increase in fall due to clustering and bundled services

The bottom line

Fall pest pressure is predictable and profitable. Customers need these services whether you offer them or not, the question is whether they call you or your competitor.

Prepare in August. Stock materials, train staff, communicate proactively with customers. When September hits, you're ready to capitalize while competitors scramble.

The PCOs who dominate fall season are the ones who started preparing in midsummer.

Disclaimer: Always consult current product labels, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and manufacturer protocols as the authoritative source for product use, safety information, and application instructions. The information provided here is educational and should not replace professional training or regulatory requirements in your jurisdiction.

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