Awe… fall. That beautiful time of year when the leaves change color, the weather is cooler, and the birds begin their migration south. There’s something about fall that brings about a sense of calmness… That is until you see who, or more appropriately what is also enjoying the change in weather.
Every season has its’ own unique pests and fall is no exception. With the arrival of the autumn months, many bugs start to seek alternative heat sources to stay warm in the cool days ahead. Your home just happens to be ideal to cozy up for hibernation. Some seek out a particular food source, such as seed pods from certain trees which only become available in the fall. What ever these pesky bugs’ desires are, you’ll want to keep them far from your home.
Boxelder Bugs
These red and black beetles love to feed on elder trees and sometimes other plants. Although they are somewhat harmless to plants, they are known to bite humans. Boxelder Bug bites irritate skin and can cause a rash. They aren’t poisonous nor do they carry any disease, just very annoying.
How can you stop Boxelder Bugs from invading your home? First, spray a good insecticide around your home. They like to burrow around your home where it is nice and warm so they can survive the cold nights ahead. Also, be certain to seal any cracks to prevent them from burrowing into your walls. If you do see them congregating around your trees, use protective clothing before approaching. Again, they do bite, and it’s best to reason on the side of caution.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs
This is yet another pest who is searching for a nice warm place to hide out during the winter. Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs are a multicolored brown bug which measures just short of one inch long. These bugs emit a nasty scent to alert their friends where a good hiding place is… And to frighten away any creatures thinking of enjoying a nice snack. You’ll know they’re around, especially if you have fruit trees such as apples or peaches. They also rather enjoy tomatoes, and while munching away, they tend to leave behind little brown spots all over your fruit.
Although they do not bite, the smell they secrete can be quite toxic to those who are sensitive. It is best to seal up any cracks along your windows and spray insecticide in any areas that they could decide to curl up within.
Yellow Jackets
These are unusual insects that typically start appearing in the late summer and early fall time. In a way, Yellow Jackets are actually quite helpful. They enjoy eating other harmful pests in your gardens such as aphids and caterpillars. They’re also attracted to the smell of rotting fruit. The biggest problem with Yellow Jackets is that they do tend to sting humans and pets if provoked. If you are particularly allergic to bee stings, this can be quite an issue. They also build rather large nests, much like their hornet cousins.
Preventing unnecessary problems with Yellow Jackets is simple. First off, keep screens on all open windows to prevent any Yellow Jackets from flying into your home. Keep sweet treats and drinks covered when outside to prevent them from flying in to take a look. And if you do happen to find a nest, you can purchase a good pesticide formulated especially for yellow jackets from your local store.
Slugs and Snails
These pests are around all year, but they tend to come out in full-force in fall. They happen to love the weather. Although they’re not harmful to humans, they can cause havoc on your landscaping and your garden. Thankfully, there are many types of pesticides that target slugs and snails specifically without causing harm to your plants. Check your local garden center to find a snail and slug pesticide that would work best for your garden.
If fall pests are making you change color with anger and you can’t keep them from invading your home, then it’s time to call in the professionals. The highly trained team at AIPM specializes in all types of pest and critter control problems. AIPM’s trained team can eliminate any threats to your property while setting up a custom plan to ensure that you never have to face an infestation by any insect or pest again.
- https://doyourownpestcontrol.com/boxelder.htm
- https://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/brown-marmorated-stink-bug
- https://www.wikihow.com/Kill-Yellow-Jackets
- https://www.bayeradvanced.com/articles/common-fall-garden-pests
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