Fall Invaders of Your Home

Amy Timmerman, Extension Educator Author

10/24/2023 Added

3 Plays

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Autumn is the time of year when days grow shorter, temperatures drop and the usual suspects begin the search for food and shelter. Many homeowners will discover these accidental and occasional invaders around the exterior perimeter this time of year.

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[00:00:00.710]This is Amy Timmerman with Nebraska Extension
[00:00:03.778]Autumn is the time of year when days grow shorter,
[00:00:06.521]temperatures drop and the usual suspects
[00:00:08.481]begin the search for food and shelter.
[00:00:11.172]Many homeowners will discover these
[00:00:13.072]accidental and occasional invaders
[00:00:14.972]around the exterior perimeter this time of year.
[00:00:17.959]Some pests are considered occasional or seasonal pests
[00:00:21.248]and their grand entrance into your home in the fall
[00:00:24.828]may go unnoticed, but they are not accidental.
[00:00:27.343]Overwintering pests require a protective place to spend
[00:00:30.533]the adult stage of their life without freezing to death.
[00:00:33.582]They normally require a winter habitat
[00:00:35.862]between 40–50°F for hibernation.
[00:00:39.076]In the fall, large populations congregate
[00:00:41.646]on the warm, sunny side of structures,
[00:00:43.686]usually the southwestern facing exterior walls.
[00:00:46.832]Then they begin moving upward and find gaps leading inside.
[00:00:50.612]These pests do not lay eggs or multiply indoors,
[00:00:53.949]but will overwinter in wall voids, attics and unheated garages.
[00:00:59.140]Most homeowners become aware of the infestation
[00:01:01.720]in the early spring when the sun warms up structures,
[00:01:04.774]stimulating a premature exit from their winter harborage.
[00:01:08.087]They are considered nuisance pests
[00:01:10.050]because of the sheer number of individuals
[00:01:12.134]that emerge and fly around inside trying to escape.
[00:01:15.907]They often come out of the ceiling
[00:01:17.837]through vents, lights, fans and other gaps,
[00:01:20.936]accumulating by the windows and leaving excrement and stains on walls.
[00:01:25.636]Common invaders include multicolored Asian lady beetles,
[00:01:29.067]cluster flies, boxelder bug, pine seed bug and spiders.
[00:01:34.261]Pests can be discouraged from entering the house in a number of ways.
[00:01:37.941]The most common way is by applying an outdoor
[00:01:40.591]perimeter insecticide treatment.
[00:01:42.651]These insecticides are labeled for various pests and often times
[00:01:46.391]have residual effects to help protect the house for longer.
[00:01:49.633]Read and follow the label instructions on
[00:01:52.020]how and where these products should be applied.
[00:01:54.435]Ideally, try to apply these insecticides out from the
[00:01:58.115]foundation about five to ten feet
[00:02:00.445]around the perimeter of the home.
[00:02:02.395]The insecticides will help to decrease the numbers
[00:02:04.725]of pests that make it inside the house,
[00:02:07.125]but don’t expect it to stop all of them.
[00:02:09.726]Monitor the home regularly to see
[00:02:11.690]what pests have made their way inside.
[00:02:13.749]Glue boards are sticky boards used to catch and hold pests
[00:02:17.062]as they try to move throughout the home.
[00:02:19.202]Be sure to use sticky boards in locations where
[00:02:21.482]non-target animals, like pets, won’t get stuck in them.
[00:02:24.683]If something other than the target pest
[00:02:26.973]does happen to get ‘caught’ in the trap,
[00:02:29.102]use an oily material, like vegetable or mineral oil,
[00:02:32.572]to dissolve the sticky substance on the trap.
[00:02:35.104]When properly placed, these traps will allow you
[00:02:37.482]to see which pests are inside the home
[00:02:39.452]and their approximate numbers.
[00:02:41.737]Once pests are found inside the home,
[00:02:43.547]there are a few techniques that you can use.
[00:02:46.034]The handy broom and dust pan
[00:02:47.729]or vacuum are two techniques;
[00:02:49.572]they are also very environmentally
[00:02:51.542]friendly and very cost effective.
[00:02:53.784]Be careful if you select insecticides
[00:02:56.014]for use inside the home.
[00:02:57.684]Read and follow instructions carefully
[00:03:00.014]as many of these products have to come
[00:03:01.964]into contact with the insect themselves
[00:03:04.804]and don’t offer much residual protection.
[00:03:07.272]With a little prevention and monitoring
[00:03:09.142]you can ensure that you are sharing
[00:03:10.862]your home with wanted house
[00:03:12.372]guests this fall and winter.
[00:03:14.432]If you have more questions regarding
[00:03:16.223]fall invaders of your home,
[00:03:17.466]please contact your local extension office.
[00:03:20.496]This has been Amy Timmerman with Nebraska Extension.

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Fall Invaders of Your Home

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