Soon the leaves will have turned color and fallen from the trees, and snow will begin to cover the ground. But, before that happens, there are many insects and animals that will be looking for a place to hide. Unfortunately, some of them choose our cozy homes to hide in. Here are a few pests you can expect to see, and some ideas for keeping them out.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs
It stinks having bugs get into your home. But, when brown marmorated stink bugs get into your home, it actually "stinks." These brown, shield-shaped bugs have a chemical smell that can be quite noticeable when they are squished. Though, even without the smell, these bugs can make themselves a significant nuisance when they get inside. They begin by crawling around on the exterior walls of manmade structures to keep warm when temperatures start to drop. But, it isn't long before they are looking for entry points to exploit.
Lady Beetles
There are about 475 different species of lady beetles here in the United States. And, since these are generally considered to be beneficial insects, several species were introduced to the U.S. for the purpose of controlling harmful pests. But, unfortunately, lady beetles, or lady bugs as some people call them, can bug us when they begin to look for a place to hide from winter. Their presence on screens, window sills, and walkways can be irritating, but not nearly as irritating as when they get inside.
Box Elder Bugs
Trees provide wonderful shade for a home and a place to hide from the summer sun when you want to relax in your backyard. But, if you have the wrong trees, you could be inviting pests. Several trees from the box elder family are a primary food source for box elder bugs. And, when temperatures drop, these black and orange, almond shaped bugs congregate on the sunny side of buildings. If they find a way in, they can make themselves a nuisance, and also stain interior items with their foul-smelling excretions.
Fleas
This is a pest insect that can be a problem any season of the year but especially when it starts to get colder outside. They come into homes on cats, dogs, and even rodents that are looking for a place to hide from the winter temperatures. While fleas can usually be controlled by products provided by veterinarians, they can still get into your home. And, since their bites are hard to distinguish from other pests such as bed bugs, lice, and mosquitoes, it is a good idea to have one of our pest specialists come and do a thorough inspection to provide proper identification, and outline steps for removal.
When it comes to stink bugs, lady beetles, and box elder bugs, there are a few things you can do to seal up your home, but the holes these bugs can get through are quite small, and often in places that are hard to get to. The best way to keep these bugs out is to have a professional seal the entry points in your exterior and provide a barrier treatment for complete exclusion.
If you live in our New York service area, give Parkway Pest Services a call. We can help you get your home sealed up before those overwintering pests come crawling.