As Christmas approaches and everyone starts pulling the decorations out of the loft, untangling the fairy lights, and dusting off the tree, something else starts to make itself known behind the scenes. While most people are winding down for the year, several winter pests are only just warming up. December is a key month for pest activity and although it may feel cold and quiet outside, inside our homes a lot more could be happening than you think.
The festive season brings cosy evenings, warm homes and an endless supply of leftover food. Unfortunately, these are the same things that attract some very unwelcome visitors. Whether you are heading into the attic for decorations or simply storing away boxes for winter, now is the perfect time to check for early signs of pests before they turn your silent night into a nightmare before Christmas. This month we are focusing on rodents, cluster flies and queen wasps. These three categories might seem very different but December gives each of them the perfect opportunity to take advantage of undisturbed spaces.
Rodents: The Uninvited Christmas Guests Who Never Come Bearing Gifts
Gnaws and a nuisance, rodents are by far the biggest winter pest and December is one of the busiest times for activity. Rats, mice and even squirrels are driven indoors by falling temperatures and shorter days. They look for warmth, shelter and easy access to food. Homes, sheds, garages and barns become ideal spaces for them to hunker down and start building nests.
Rodents are incredibly resourceful. A mouse can squeeze through a gap the size of a pencil and a rat can fit through a hole the size of a pound coin. Once indoors they begin exploring. They chew through boxes, insulation and electrical cables, and they contaminate food sources with their droppings and urine. They are not pests that stay still. They move constantly in search of food and nesting material which is why December is the perfect time to look for early warning signs before activity really spikes in January.
Listen for scratching in loft spaces and wall cavities. Watch out for droppings in kitchens, utility rooms, under sinks or around stored items. Droppings are often the first thing people notice. Rodents also leave greasy smear marks along beams, walls and pipes where they continually run the same route. If you keep Christmas chocolates, pet food or snacks in accessible cupboards, check for gnaw marks on packaging. Rodents will chew through almost anything to get to food, even plastic tubs.
Although it is tempting to hope the issue will disappear after the holidays, rodents reproduce extremely quickly, especially when they find a warm indoor space. What starts as a single pair of mice in December can become a full infestation by February. A small amount of droppings or scratching noises now is the time to act. Professional rodent control products are more effective when used at the very first signs of activity.
Squirrels also begin causing havoc at this time of year. Loft insulation provides perfect nesting material and they have strong teeth capable of chewing electrical cables, wooden beams and water pipes. If you hear heavy thumps or fast scampering in the loft, this is often a squirrel rather than a rat or mouse. Catching the problem early will prevent structural damage and expensive repairs. No one wants to add rewiring the loft to their Christmas to do list.
Rodents love warmth, and they love food, but they particularly love areas that are left alone for long periods. That is why December, with its boxes of decorations and chaotic loft rummaging, is such a perfect time to uncover them. Staying alert helps keep your home protected so the only scurrying you hear this Christmas is children running downstairs to open presents.
Cluster Flies: The Loft Lurkers Found While Reaching for Baubles and Tinsel
Cluster flies are one of the most surprising winter pests because many people expect flies to disappear once temperatures drop. Instead, cluster flies choose December as their holiday season, gathering together in large groups in lofts and roof spaces. They are not interested in food or waste like house flies. They simply want somewhere warm and undisturbed to rest through the winter.
During December, people discover them more often because they finally venture into the attic for Christmas decorations. One quick burst of light and movement is enough to disturb a cluster of flies that have been tucked away behind beams or gathered around a small window. The name cluster fly comes from their behaviour. They huddle together in groups, sometimes in the hundreds, which makes the discovery even more unexpected.
Cluster flies do not pose a risk to health, which is why many people assume they can be ignored. However, they create a considerable nuisance. They leave droppings that can stain insulation and cardboard boxes, and they often reappear on warmer winter days, flying lazily around the house. Their presence indicates gaps or unsealed areas in the loft where they have been entering since autumn.
Look for clusters of flies sitting motionless on beams or window frames. Dead flies on insulation are also a strong clue that they have been there for months. If you pick up a box and notice a sudden cloud of slow moving flies, this is classic cluster fly behaviour. Loft spaces that are rarely disturbed offer the perfect conditions for them to overwinter. Once they settle, they tend to return year after year unless proper control is put in place.
Ventilating the loft, sealing gaps and using appropriate insect control products can help prevent reinfestation. December is the perfect time to take action. Nobody needs the extra surprise of flies reappearing every time the weather warms slightly. It is much nicer to focus on baubles and fairy lights instead.
Queen Wasps: Spot Them This Winter or Get Stung Next Summer
Queen wasps may not be the first pest you think about in winter, but December is an incredibly important month for them. After the summer ends and the worker wasps die off, the newly produced queens look for somewhere safe to hibernate. They often choose lofts, sheds, garages and wall cavities. Anywhere dark, dry and undisturbed gives them the perfect chance to rest until the temperatures rise.
Most people only see queen wasps when they are in the loft rummaging for decorations. A single queen can start an entire colony in spring. If she is left undisturbed, she will wake up as soon as the weather warms and immediately begin building a nest. This small nest can become a very large one by the height of summer. Catching queens in winter prevents a much bigger summer problem.
Queens usually sit in corners, behind insulation or inside boxes that have not been moved for months. They remain still unless disturbed. If you open a box of decorations and find a single wasp inside, it is very likely a queen. If you see just one during winter, do not assume there is only one in the loft. There can be several queens using the same sheltered space.
This is why December is such an important month. While everyone is moving boxes around and checking lights, closely inspecting the loft gives you a valuable chance to stop future pest issues. Removing dormant queens now prevents nests from being built later. Think of it as pest control Christmas shopping. A small job now saves a huge job next season.
A Festive Final Note
December may be full of sparkle and excitement, but it is also one of the most overlooked months for pest activity. Rodents thrive on warmth and easily accessible food. Cluster flies gather in huge numbers in the loft. Queen wasps hide away for a long winter rest. While you are untangling fairy lights or searching for the Christmas star, take a moment to inspect your less frequented spaces. A little vigilance now ensures your home stays merry, bright and pest free well into the new year.
After all, the only creatures stirring this Christmas should be in festive stories & songs, not in your loft.
