Halloween House Horrors: Friendly Guide to the Creepy-Crawlies in Your Home & Garden
It’s spooky season in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire! If you’re hearing bumps in the night, seeing mysterious shadows scuttle across the kitchen, or discovering cobwebs worthy of a haunted house, don’t panic. Chances are it’s not a ghost—just some very normal autumn pests making themselves at home. Here’s a friendly, no‑nonsense Halloween guide to who’s likely lurking, simple steps to keep them at bay, and when to call Malvern Pest Control for fast, discreet help.
1) Phantom Footsteps: Rats & Mice
Those late‑night scratches in lofts or behind skirting boards? Classic rodent clues. As weather cools, rats and mice seek warmth, food and shelter indoors. Look for droppings (rice‑sized for mice, olive‑shaped for rats), gnaw marks on food packaging, and smear marks along run routes.
• Tricks to keep them out:
• Seal gaps around pipes and cables; fit bristle strips to doors and garages.
• Tidy stored items to remove hiding places; keep pet food in sealed containers.
• Fix drain defects and consider rat‑flaps if you’ve had recurring issues.
• Treat to solve:
• Professional survey to find entry points (especially drains and sub‑floors).
• Targeted trapping/baiting plus proofing so they can’t return.
2) Creaks in the Rafters: Squirrels in Lofts
Loud daytime scurrying and gnawing from the loft often points to grey squirrels. They can strip insulation, chew cables and cause real damage—definitely more trick than treat!
• Cut back tree branches and climbing plants that bridge to the roof.
• Repair facias/soffits and mesh vulnerable vents.
Professional, legal squirrel control and proofing keeps your loft ghost‑free.
3) Web Weavers: Giant House Spiders
Big autumn house spiders make dramatic Halloween guests, but they’re mostly harmless and actually eat fly pests. If you’d rather not share space, reduce clutter and vacuum webs. Seal gaps around doors and windows to limit access.
4) The Autumn Swarm: Cluster Flies
Slow‑moving flies gathering in lofts and sunny windows? Cluster flies are hunkering down for winter. They don’t breed indoors, but large numbers are a nuisance.
• Fit fine mesh to air bricks/vents while maintaining airflow.
• Book a professional loft treatment and discuss proofing to reduce repeat visits.
5) Midnight Scuttlers: Cockroaches
German and Oriental cockroaches love warm kitchens and boiler rooms. DIY sprays often make them spread. Professional gel‑bait programmes with hygiene fixes deliver lasting control.
6) Wardrobe Woes: Clothes Moths & Carpet Beetles
Mysterious holes in knitwear or wool carpets? Larvae do the damage, not the adults. Edge‑vacuuming, careful storage, and targeted professional treatments protect your fabrics.
7) Ant Armies: Kitchens & Paving
Garden ants trail to sugary treats and swarm in warm, humid spells. Surface sprays rarely solve the nest. Bait‑led programmes target the colony for long‑term relief.
8) Bathroom ‘Pixies’: Drain & Phorid Flies
Tiny flies that won’t quit usually point to breeding in biofilm or hidden leaks. Source‑trace, mechanical cleaning and enzyme treatments stop the cycle.
9) Tiny Vampires: Fleas (Pets & Rural Homes)
Itchy ankles and jumping specks? Coordinated home treatment plus vet‑approved pet care is the winning combo. Vacuum edges, wash bedding hot, and follow our prep for best results.
10) Garden Tunnellers: Moles
Not strictly Halloween, but fresh molehills can make your lawn look like a haunted burial ground. Professional trapping clears activity quickly; we’ll advise on lawn repair too.
Myth‑Busting: Tricks, Not Treats
• Myth: “Expanding foam will block rats.”
Fact: They can gnaw through foam. Use mesh and mortar/metal plates for lasting proofing.
• Myth: “Bleach down the drain stops tiny flies.”
Fact: It may reduce adults briefly but doesn’t remove the biofilm where larvae live; enzymes and cleaning do.
• Myth: “One spray cures cockroaches.”
Fact: Sprays scatter them. Professional gels and IGRs give reliable control.
Halloween ‘Trick‑or‑Treat’ Pest‑Proofing Checklist
• Store sweets and snacks in sealed containers; wipe up sugary spills straight away.
• Keep bin lids closed and wheelie bins away from doors—no midnight feasts for rodents.
• Seal gaps around pipes, cables and door thresholds (pencil‑width gaps are enough for mice).
• Fit brushes to external doors; repair torn insect screens and damaged vents.
• Declutter lofts and utility rooms; lift and clean behind kitchen appliances.
• For parties: clear up food waste the same night and run the dishwasher before bed.
When to Call Malvern Pest Control
If you’re seeing regular activity, droppings, gnawing or hearing persistent noises, it’s time to get a professional survey. We cover Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire with discreet, friendly, same‑week appointments. We’ll identify the cause, treat safely, and put prevention in place—so the only scares this season are the fun kind.
Book a Friendly Halloween Health‑Check
Give us a call or use our online form to book a quick check‑up of your home or business. We’ll make sure your property stays more ‘treat’ than ‘trick’ this autumn.