As the fall season settles in, homeowners may start to notice a particular set of pests making their way indoors in search of warmth. While they’re harmless to humans, bugs like boxelder bugs, Asian lady beetles, and brown marmorated stink bugs can become a major nuisance. Understanding these fall invaders and how to control them can help you enjoy a pest-free home throughout the cooler months.
1. Boxelder Bugs
Appearance:
Black with orange or red markings along their back and wings, these bugs are typically about half an inch long.
Behavior:
Boxelder bugs are primarily attracted to boxelder, maple, and ash trees. In the fall, they seek warmth by congregating on the sunny sides of homes and can squeeze into cracks and gaps to overwinter indoors.
Control Tips:
– Seal entry points. Make sure to caulk gaps around windows, doors, and siding, and repair any damaged screens.
– Vacuum them up. If they manage to get indoors, vacuuming is an effective way to remove them without causing a mess.
– Call a professional. If boxelder bugs become a major issue, professional pest control can apply treatments around the exterior of your home to reduce their numbers.
2. Asian Lady Beetles
Appearance:
These beetles resemble the common ladybug but have more variation in their color, ranging from yellow to red, with black spots.
Behavior:
Asian lady beetles are beneficial outdoors because they eat harmful pests like aphids. However, when fall hits, they often invade homes by swarming walls and windows, seeking warm, protected spaces to hibernate.
Control Tips:
– Prevent entry. Use weather stripping and seal cracks to keep them out of your home.
– Vacuum, don’t crush. Crushing these beetles can release an unpleasant odor and leave behind stains, so vacuum them up if they’ve gotten inside.
– Exterior treatment. A professional pest control company can apply insecticide around windows and door frames to deter them from entering.
3. Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs
Appearance:
Brown, shield-shaped bugs about three-quarters of an inch long, with distinctive white bands on their antennae and legs.
Behavior:
True to their name, stink bugs release a foul-smelling odor when disturbed or crushed. Like other fall bugs, they flock to the warmth of homes as the weather cools, often entering through small cracks or openings.
Control Tips:
– Block access. Caulk and seal cracks around windows, doors, and foundation. Install screens on vents and chimneys.
– Avoid crushing. If stink bugs enter your home, carefully vacuum them to prevent releasing their odor.
– Exterior defense. Professional pest control can apply preventative treatments on the outside of your home to keep stink bugs at bay.
Keep Fall Bugs Out This Season
While boxelder bugs, Asian lady beetles, and brown marmorated stink bugs are common fall invaders in and around Des Moines, Iowa, they don’t have to be a headache for homeowners. With proper prevention techniques and the help of a professional pest control service, you can keep these pests outside where they belong.
If you’re dealing with an invasion of fall pests or want to prevent them from entering your home, reach out to Diam Pest Control today for expert advice and tailored pest control solutions.
