Your garage is a valuable part of your house. If you’re like most people, it contains your car,
tools, sports gear, and much more. But it can also be a prime location for pests looking for
shelter.
Compared to more secure parts of your house, your garage is left open for longer periods. This
makes it an easy target for bugs and rodents looking for warm place to overwinter.
To keep your garage pest-free, you need to know what types of pests typically reside there.
Here’s a look at vermin that typically seek shelter in garages—and how you can prevent them
from taking up residence in your place.

Silverfish: Sneaky and Fast
Silverfish are one of the most common pests in garages. These fast-moving insects are
particularly fond of garages because of the items usually stored there. They love hiding in,
around, and under containers, especially cardboard boxes.
Silverfish can enter through cracks around doors or be carried indoors on (or in) infested items.
Once inside, they feed on a variety of materials, including paper, glue, food (such as flour, meat,
and even other silverfish), and fabric. They reproduce quickly. Females lay up to three eggs a
day.
Tip: Look inside boxes and other items before bringing them into the garage and seal cracks
under doors or around windows. Discard old, unused materials.

Camel Crickets: The Jumping Invaders
Camel crickets are common pests in garages, especially when the weather becomes hot and
dry. They come into your garage looking for cool, humid spaces. These crickets are known for
their humped backs and are excellent jumpers. They often climb onto shelves where they
munch on stored fabrics, clothing, or other organic items, often creating a mess as they feast.
Tip: Keep your garage door sealed tightly and make sure it’s closed when not in use. This will
discourage not only crickets, but other critters from coming in.

Mice: Small But Troublesome
Mice are famous (some would say “infamous”) for finding their way into garages, particularly
during colder months. These rodents are attracted to warmth and food, which they will probably
find in your garage. Perhaps more importantly, your garage is a perfect gateway to your house
and kitchen.
Mice nest in boxes, in between stored items, in walls and crawlspaces. They’re also drawn to
automobiles where they can find warmth and an unlikely source of food. These little rodents are
attracted to wire insulation, which in most modern cars is made of plant-based materials. We’ve
experienced wiring damage first-hand: a couple of years ago mice chewed through wiring in the
engine compartment of our company vehicles, resulting in frustrating delays and significant
repair expense.

Since mice are rather small and extremely flexible, they’re able to squeeze through holes as
small as the diameter of a pencil! You’ve got to exercise a lot of diligence to keep them from
coming inside.

Tip: Check for gaps or holes in your garage, especially around doors, windows, and vents. Seal
openings to prevent mice from sneaking inside.

Spiders: The Original Website Creators
Spiders are not typically dangerous (black widows and brown recluses are exceptions), they can
make a mess with their webs and are often unpleasant to encounter. (No one likes to be
surprised by webs across their front door!)
Most spiders live on a diet of insects, and in this way they are beneficial to all of us and our
environment. This is great when they’re in the yard or a field. Unfortunately, they often make
their way into garages while looking for food and decide to stay. From the garage, they’ll often
try to move indoors.
For this reason it’s wise to implement a regular comprehensive insect control program.
Removing their food source discourages them from coming inside.
Tip: Keep your garage tidy by regularly sweeping, removing leaves, and cleaning out nooks and
crannies where insects often live.

Sowbugs: Moisture-Loving Pests
Sowbugs (a.k.a. pillbugs or roly polys) are small crustaceans that thrive in damp environments.
You’ll typically find them hiding under objects, rocks, or sidewalks…or in cracks along the
foundation of your garage. Like many pests, they enter through gaps around and under doors
and windows. Because they rely on moisture for survival, they are often found in areas with high
humidity.
Tip: Reduce moisture in your garage by fixing leaks and removing standing water. Be sure to
check around door thresholds and seal gaps to prevent sowbugs from entering.
Flies: Annoying and Persistent
Flies are often attracted to the odors and air currents around open garage doors. House flies
are the most common, and they’ll rest on surfaces like walls, floors, or window sills. Though they
may not cause direct harm, flies can transmit illnesses and are definitely nuisances.
Tip: Keep your garage door closed whenever possible. Don’t’ store food waste and other trash
inside. Take it to a covered outside receptable instead. Regularly wipe surfaces where flies have
landed with a soapy cloth and spray with disinfectant.

Ground Beetles: Crawlers of the Night
Primarily nocturnal insects, these creatures are active during evening hours. During the day,
they are typically found hiding under rocks or in dark, damp areas. They can crawl through
cracks in poorly sealed doors or even fly in through open windows. They pose no particular
threat, but their presence can be a sign of a larger pest issue, as ground beetles are often
attracted to places with abundant insect populations.

Tip: Seal gaps in your garage and avoid leaving food or organic material in areas where beetles
can reach them.

Preventing Pests in Your Garage
When dealing with garage pests the best defense is a good offense. Start by honestly
evaluating the condition of your structure. Seal cracks and gaps around doors and windows.
Regularly inspect and clean items you store in the garage, and make sure food is kept in sealed
containers. Do NOT keep waste in your garage.
If you notice signs of an infestation while inspecting your house and garage, you should address
the problem quickly. That’s where KC Pest Control comes in. We’re well-equipped to meet and
exceed your pest control needs. Call or text us at (405) 679-8729 for a quick reply and expert advise.