Late fall is the time when we like to bundle up, grab a blanket and get cozy in a nice warm place in preparation for winter.
Insects are no different; they too like to seek winter shelter to protect themselves from the cold and wet weather, which we typically experience in Greater Columbus during the winter months.
Unfortunately, in their search for protection from the elements, some of these insects end up inside the home, which might be a nice place for the insects to spend the winter but can startle the unsuspecting homeowner.
The cooler nighttime temperatures that we have experienced recently have resulted in some homeowners coming face to face with a larger number of insects inside their homes.
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Let’s take a look at some of the entomological suspects which typically find their way into homes at this time of year and what the homeowner can do to hang out the “no vacancy” sign for these fall invaders.
Lady beetles and stink bugs
Two of the most common insects that find their way into homes each fall are also two of the most troublesome — the multicolored Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis) and the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys). Both of these non-native insects have a well-deserved reputation for invading homes in large numbers each fall and winter.
Stink bugs seemed to be more prevalent in the garden landscape this year, so it is reasonable to expect that a greater number of these insects are on the move looking for winter shelter right now.
Stink bugs can be a serious agricultural pest causing significant injury to ripening fruits and vegetables. Many times, when we see large numbers of stink bugs in a home, we find a fruit or vegetable garden or farm field in close proximity to that home.
Lady beetles are beneficial insects in the environment because they feed on destructive pests such as aphids, whiteflies and other soft-bodied insects. Lady beetles are not, however, beneficial inside the home.
Many times, large numbers of lady beetles enter the interior of the home around window frames and spend the winter hanging out in wall voids until a warm sunny day heats up these spaces, causing these insects to become active and they then find their way into the interior portion of the home.
In these instances, it is not uncommon for masses of these insects to suddenly appear along the corners of interior walls and ceilings, startling an unsuspecting homeowner.
Boxelder bugs
If you have a boxelder tree (Acer negundo) near your home, chances are that you may find a wayward boxelder bug (Boisea trivittata) inside your home this fall. Populations of this insect seem to have increased in Greater Columbus the past few years, with many homeowners finding them indoors. Boxelder bugs are black with a distinctive orange trim on their wings.
Best defense is a good offense
In order to effectively control the movement of these insects indoors, the homeowner must locate and eliminate the entry points which these insects use to enter the home.
Some of the most common entry points include torn window screens and worn or missing door sweeps at the bottom of exterior doors. Loose or missing caulking around window or door frames and around soffits also provide insects an easy entry into the interior of the home.
Unscreened exterior vents in the attic, basement or laundry room can also provide an entry way into the home for insects.
Leaving the overhead garage door open for extended periods of time in the fall can also be an entry point for these insects, as they wander into the garage when the overhead door is open, and then later find their way into the interior of the home, usually around the interior door of the garage.
Handle with care
Insects that find their way into homes should be handled carefully. Resist the temptation to swat and crush these insects as many of them emit foul smells when they are crushed, and some contain fluids in their bodies which can permanently stain furniture, carpet and walls when crushed on these surfaces.
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Indoor insect traps can be purchased online for stink bugs, and these traps can sometimes provide relief from large infestations until entry points in the home are identified and closed in order to prevent continued entry into the home. There are no effective traps that will lure lady beetles or boxelder bugs.
A vacuum cleaner can also be used to remove a large infestation of these insects, particularly when large masses of lady beetles are suddenly found in the corners of walls and ceilings.
If you do use a vacuum cleaner to remove these insects, place a nylon sock an inch into the suction hose and attach the nylon to the outside of the hose with a tight rubber band. This will allow you to catch the insects and remove them while contained in the nylon sock.
Sucking the insects directly into the vacuum cleaner will result in a foul-smelling vacuum for several weeks!
Mike Hogan is Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources and associate professor with Ohio State University Extension.
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