Ellerslie at Delong is one of Lexington’s most prestigious residential communities, with custom-built homes, scenic green space, and the kind of horse country setting that defines the Bluegrass. But if you have recently moved into a newly built home in Ellerslie, you may be surprised to find that pest activity is part of the adjustment period. New construction comes with its own set of pest challenges—different from what older, established homes experience—and understanding what to expect will help you address them early.

Why New Homes Are Not Pest-Free

There is a common misconception that new construction means no pest problems. In reality, the process of building a home and developing a subdivision often increases pest activity rather than decreasing it. Here is why:

• Ground disturbance displaces existing pest populations: Before your home was built, the land was open—in Ellerslie’s case, historically connected to horse farm acreage and natural terrain. That land supported thriving populations of ants, crickets, spiders, field mice, and other ground-dwelling organisms. Construction does not eliminate those populations; it displaces them. As grading, foundation work, and landscaping disrupt their habitat, pests move to the nearest available shelter—which, once walls go up and utilities are installed, includes the homes being built around them.
• Fresh landscaping attracts pests: Newly installed mulch, sod, and planting beds are like a welcome sign for ant colonies, crickets, and ground beetles. Fresh mulch retains moisture and provides shelter. New sod creates a consistent moisture layer at the soil surface. Ornamental plantings along the foundation put harborage directly against the home’s exterior.
• Construction gaps provide entry: New homes are tighter than older homes in many respects, but they are not sealed perfectly. Utility penetrations for plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and cable are common entry points that may not be fully sealed during the construction process. Expansion joints, weep holes, and the gap between the foundation and sill plate are other access points that pests exploit.
• Moisture from construction: New homes retain significant moisture from the construction process itself—wet concrete, drywall mud, paint, and curing materials. That moisture creates an elevated humidity environment inside the home during the first year or two, which attracts moisture-seeking insects like centipedes, silverfish, and certain ant species.

Pests Ellerslie Homeowners See in New Construction

The most common pest issues in newly built Ellerslie homes include:

• Ants—particularly pavement ants establishing under newly poured driveways and walkways, and odorous house ants nesting in fresh mulch along the foundation
• Crickets—drawn to exterior lighting and construction-related moisture
• Centipedes—present in basements and lower levels where humidity is higher during the first year of the home’s life
• Spiders—following the insect populations into garages, basements, and along the exterior
• Field mice—displaced from the surrounding open land and drawn to the warmth and shelter of newly built structures, particularly through garage entries and utility penetrations
• Ground beetles—attracted to newly graded soil and exterior lighting

What Ellerslie Homeowners Should Do

The first step is recognizing that pest activity in a new home is not a defect—it is a predictable consequence of construction in an area that previously supported natural pest populations. The second step is putting a professional pest management plan in place early, ideally before moving in or within the first few months of occupancy.

X-iT Pest & Wildlife Solutions serves the Lexington area with residential pest control programs designed for exactly this kind of situation. The team inspects the property, identifies the species and conditions present, and establishes a treatment plan that creates a barrier around the home and addresses the specific pest pressures new construction in Ellerslie generates.

Early intervention in new construction is far more effective and less costly than waiting for a pest population to establish itself inside the home’s walls and voids.

If you have recently built or purchased a home in Ellerslie, schedule an inspection with X-iT Pest & Wildlife Solutions to get ahead of the pest issues that come with new construction in this part of Lexington.