Preventing fall invaders from moving into your home

Fall is usually the time of year when temperatures begin to cool. Although in recent years that has not been the case for the West Coast. Temperatures continue to be unseasonably warm well into September and October, a trend that has extended pest seasons, allowing for additional reproductive cycles and thriving populations. Not good news for homeowners, especially once the weather cools down and fall pests decide to invade; temporarily abandoning their natural environments for a cozier place – your home.

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Why do spiders, boxelder bugs, Asian lady beetles, and cluster flies move in?

These fall invaders seek out shelter. When their natural habitat fails to supply them with the resources needed to survive, they’ll seek it out somewhere else. Your home offers the perfect environment away from the elements. Therefore, to prevent pests from making your home theirs, you’ll need to keep them from entering it in the first place.

Here's some useful information on the fall invaders you may be up against and what you can do to reduce or eliminate them for good.

 Spiders:

• They’ll crawl just about anywhere in your home and hide in numerous locations before they are ever detected
• Enjoy hanging out in corners, undisturbed spaces, and dark nooks
• There are a couple of venomous species that are common on the West Coast: black widow and brown recluse 
• Prey on other pests lingering in and around your home
• Some leave behind messy webs
• Females will protect their egg sac until it hatches in the spring

Boxelder bugs, Asian lady beetles, and cluster flies:

• In late summer you may spot them sunning on the exterior of your structure. If you see them outside, you’re likely to see them inside.
• Asian lady beetles and boxelder bugs may leave behind black stains on areas where they land.
• They'll only seek shelter from the cold, they will not seek out food or water.
• These pests will enter a structure in large numbers.
• Asian lady beetles have been reported to cause a variety of respiratory allergies.
• Warm, sunny days may lure them out of hiding. Once the sun sets, they’ll retreat.
• They will not reproduce inside a home.
• If they survive the winter, they will return to their natural habitat in the spring.
• Vacuuming or sweeping them up is the best way to reduce populations once they move inside.
• Treatments are most effective when applied early in the fall before the pests move in.
• Sealing exterior cracks, gaps, and any other areas where they can enter (exclusion) in June and July is the best way to keep them out. 

3 easy ways to prevent fall invaders

1. Exclusion -  The best way to prevent any type of pest from invading your home is by making sure it’s sealed. This may require using caulk, mesh, door sweeps, screening, vent covers, wood fillers, or concrete. It could also involve replacing or fixing siding, shingles, paneling, or any other exterior cracks, holes, or gaps where pests can enter. Areas around pipes, wiring, and cables should also be addressed.
2. Landscaping - Wood mulch provides shelter for all types of pests – allowing them to breed, feed, and thrive with little threat of being discovered. Other areas of concern involve shrubs, trees, and plants that are near your home. These can provide harborage areas for pests and easy access to your roof. Replacing mulch with stone or rubber mulch and keeping landscaping trimmed back from your home will help reduce large populations of pests from living close to your home.
3. Water and moisture - There are several pests that are drawn to moisture and water, especially in the cooler months when the air is drier and water sources deplete or freeze. Contributing factors outside your home may include dripping spigots, flower pots, bird baths, dips in landscaping, clogged gutters, and any other objects that hold water. Factors inside your home that may produce excess water or moisture could include a leaky faucet, condensation around windows or toilets, and floor or shower drains. Taking the necessary steps to eliminate water and moisture issues will help to eliminate access to a water source for pests seeking water. 

Are fall invaders active all winter?

Spiders remain active year-round in warm-weather states. However, if the temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, they’ll go into a state called diapause, becoming dormant.

Boxelder bugs, Asian lady beetles, and cluster flies are fairly dormant during the winter, although they can be lured out of hiding by the warmth of the sun. Once the sun sets, they will retreat to their chosen hiding spot.

Do you have a pest concern?

Contact a Western Exterminator expert to schedule a FREE home pest inspection.

Since 1921, Western Exterminator has been protecting homes and businesses with innovative and customized pest control solutions. Our local technicians live in the communities they serve and have a broad understanding of each and every variable that contributes to the local pest activity in your community. No matter what your pest problem is, your Western Technician has the solution.