In Ohio, we’ve finally reached the point of the year when we have more consistent winter weather conditions. Pesky insects like mosquitos and houseflies seem to be a distant summer memory. You’d think we’d be done dealing with insects this time of year, but somehow, every year some manage to sneak their way into our homes.
Stink bugs and lady beetles tend to be the more common home invaders this time of year. Specifically, brown marmorated stink bugs and multicolored Asian lady beetles, both non-native species.
It can be hard to predict when there could be large outbreaks of these insects, but outbreaks aren’t necessarily going to be widespread. Regardless of low pressure or high pressure from these insects, it can still be a good idea to do what you can to prevent them from making it into your living space. You might even make your home heating system more efficient in the process of sealing up cracks and crevices where these critters might squeeze in.
Outdoors, lady beetles can be beneficial. Lady beetle adults and larvae will feed on pests like aphids. Stink bugs, whether they are indoors or outdoors, are always going to be a pest. They can use their piercing-sucking mouthpart, called a proboscis, to suck juices out of fruits and vegetables. It is not all that uncommon to find stink bug damage on things like tomatoes, peppers, or apples. Indoors, both the stink bugs and lady beetles are not of much harm to us, but certainly an annoyance.
Believe it or not, it is not the goal of the insects to make it all the way into our homes. They are looking for a sheltered place to overwinter. The insects will accumulate fat in the late summer, then look for a sheltered place that is cool enough to slow their metabolism, so they don’t burn through their fat stores during the winter.
This makes places like attics, garages, exterior walls, and window frames perfect overwintering sites. However, sometimes that heat that initially draws the insects to our homes draws them all the way inside our living space. This is a fatal mistake on the insect’s part. Once they enter the living space, our homes are warm enough that their metabolism never slows. They eventually burn through their fat reserves and die of starvation.
The best way to deal with stink bugs and lady beetles entering the home is to prevent them from getting in, to begin with. Inspect areas around doors and windows to see if there are any gaps around the frames that could allow for entry. Small gaps can easily be filled with good, flexible caulking. Larger gaps may require some insulating foam. Worn-out screening or door sweeps can also serve as entry points, so check those areas as well. Another thing to inspect would be any vents, whether they be for an attic or kitchens and bathrooms. If they are unprotected or unscreened, these are also easy points of entry for insects.
Why do we have to deal with these pests every fall. We can’t even sit outside on our porch because they are flying on us and getting in our clothes and hair! Can’t the government do anything to get rid of them
Hey Jill! Thanks for your question. One of the reasons we deal with them every fall is because they are starting to look for someplace that is protected to overwinter. I’m sorry to hear they are so prevalent where you’re at, that’s got to be frustrating! As annoying as they are, I doubt that any government agency is going to take on the responsibility of eradicating these pests. They don’t damage property, they don’t physically harm people, and the damage to plants and crops is pretty minimal. A pest would have to be pretty destructive or dangerous for a government agency to implement eradication efforts, and even then, efforts could be unsuccessful. On top of that, the environmental and off-target impacts of such a undertaking could be significant. Hopefully you are able to keep these insects out of your house, but outside, I don’t know there is a whole lot that can be done other than traps maybe.