Most insects aren’t intending to harm you. The majority of insects are just looking for a warm, dry, and dark place to spend the winter. Nonetheless, we aren’t exactly thrilled to discover silverfish in our sink or spiders in our closet. You can keep these insects at bay with a little bit of prevention, but if the problem gets out of hand, don’t hesitate to get help.
Here listed below the top ten most common bugs that will most likely invade your home as the weather cools along with the necessary measurements you can take to get rid of them.
Centipedes
Due to their creepy crawly appearance, centipedes are typically at the top of the list of most people’s least desired houseguests. However, you may be surprised to find out that these 30-legged insects aren’t always bad to have in the house. During the colder months, they seek out other insects and spiders that have also made their way indoors in search of food, water, and a cozy, damp place to spend the winter. Properly sealing your home and avoiding any condensation is crucial for keeping them out. If you continue to find centipedes in your home, whether in a closet, bathroom, basement, or any other room, it is time to call in the pros for pest control.
Silverfish
You may have silverfish if you’ve ever opened a sweater box to find holes in your clothes. Carbohydrates, simple sugars found in natural fibers like cotton, silk, and wood, are the primary food source for these tiny wingless silver bugs. As a result, you might find them in places like your bathroom tub or kitchen sink, where there is a lot of moisture. Silverfish can be treated with an insecticide either on a spot basis or by treating the areas where they are likely to congregate, such as cardboard boxes, cupboards, bathrooms, and basements.
Crickets
Crickets chirping is a sure sign that fall is approaching. But crickets in the house lose their charm quickly. They are very prolific reproducers and also a major nuisance because they eat our clothes and keep us awake at night. Greenhouse camel crickets and other species that thrive in dark, damp environments can quickly take over a building’s foundation and lower levels. Prevent their easy access by sealing the areas under the front, back, and garage doors. If crickets have already gotten into your home, you can set non-toxic traps to catch them.
Spiders
Only entomologists and bug-obsessed kids might actually enjoy having spiders in their homes. Spiders of all kinds are year-round residents of many homes, but come fall—their mating season—they start to go stir-crazy and literally emerge from hiding in search of a mate. Turn off outdoor lights at night and remove webs quickly to deter them from making your home theirs. Light attracts insects, which in turn attracts spiders.
Bedbugs
These tiny, adaptable bloodsuckers will ride shotgun on just about anything, from luggage to a person’s clothing. Once inside, they won’t just infest your bed, but also your baseboards, walls, and electrical outlets as well. It’s best to prevent a bedbug infestation at all costs, but this is especially important around the holidays when more people are staying in hotels than usual. Avoid having bedbugs in your home by checking mattresses for dark brown spots before using them for the first time. After returning from a trip, it’s a good idea to thoroughly inspect your bags and give your clothes a hot wash. If you think bedbugs have settled in for good, you should call in the exterminators.
Stink Bugs
Homeowners in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic are most affected by the rapidly spreading brown marmorated stink bug, which gets its name from the foul-smelling chemical it excretes when threatened. In the fall, they become active, leaving their outdoor nests to seek protection from the cold. Seal up any entryways they might use to gain access to your house. Experts recommend rubbing surfaces with a strongly scented dryer sheet to reduce stink bug presence by up to 80% due to their propensity to cling to screens and curtains.
Box-Elder Bugs
Box-elder bugs, like stink bugs, aren’t harmful to humans but can stink up a room if they’re squished. These insects, which are brown or black and marked with red, live in the bark of certain trees (box elder, maple, and ash) but migrate indoors during the colder months. Chelle Hartzer, an entomologist and Orkin pest expert, warns that “prevention is key” because they can show up in large numbers both inside and outside your home. She suggests using a residual insecticide, which sticks around for a while and kills any insects that crawl over it, to spray the outside of your home. Early spring and late fall are peak activity times for these pests, so it is best to spray your home then.
Cluster Flies
Bears aren’t the only animals that go into hibernation during the winter. During the winter, cluster flies, like many other insects, seek out warm, dark places like the ones found inside the walls of your home. These pests, often referred to as “attic flies,” are disease carriers and can squeeze through tiny openings. Once again, prevention is key, so make sure your home is completely bug-proof by closing off any entry points. Don’t forget to check the screens and windows, and make sure there are no holes in the siding or tiles where the roof meets the walls. A professional pest control service can also help you get rid of cluster flies in your home.
Ladybugs
Maybe more than any other insect, ladybugs are thought to bring good fortune. However, several species of ladybugs, such as the spotted lady beetle and the Asian lady beetle, seek refuge in our homes during the fall and winter, and they sometimes do so in large numbers. Under siding and shingles, in attics, porches, and garages, inside walls, and window and door frames are some of their favorite nesting spots. Surfaces should be sealed properly, but you could also consider applying a liquid residual pesticide. Diatomaceous earth, cloves, and bay leaves (which repel them), and light traps are all natural options (which attract them to a light source). Sweep up any ladybugs you find in your home and set them free outside. If all else fails, you can vacuum them up, but be careful not to crush them, as this can release an unpleasant odor.
Western Conifer Seed Bugs
We can all agree that Christmas trees are stunning. But what about the insects that eat their sap? One of these sap-sucking insects, the western conifer seed bug, has historically been a problem in the northwestern United States but has recently been found as far east as Maine because of climate change. The nearly an inch-long, brownish-colored insects can cause alarm with their loud buzzing, especially if a swarm is looking to spend the winter indoors. In spite of not being venomous, western conifer seed bugs are notoriously difficult to eradicate. In September, spray the exterior walls with a long-lasting residual insecticide after you’ve sealed the gaps around electrical boxes, sockets, switches, and light fixtures. Make sure the insecticide will not harm the siding or paint on your home by testing a small area before applying it, and remember to wear protective gear like goggles, a mask, and gloves whenever working with toxic chemicals.
