Boxelder Bugs, Stink Bugs and Lady Beetles: Rockford's Fall Invaders
On warm afternoons in late September and October, insects gather by the hundreds on sunny walls. They're looking for a place to spend the winter.
Request pest controlWho they are
Boxelder bugs, brown marmorated stink bugs and multicolored Asian lady beetles are the most common. They don't breed or feed indoors over winter, but they can show up on warm days all season.
Why your house
Light-colored walls facing south and west warm up in the afternoon sun, and gaps around windows, siding, vents and the roofline let insects slip inside the walls and attic.
Seal before they arrive
Caulk gaps around windows and doors, repair screens, screen attic and soffit vents and seal around cables, pipes and air conditioner lines. Do it in late summer.
Exterior treatment
A professional exterior treatment in late summer or early fall, before the insects gather, can reduce the numbers getting in. Timing matters more than the product.
Once inside
Vacuum them up rather than crushing them, which can stain and leave a smell. Empty the vacuum bag or canister outside straight away.
Get help early
If your house is hit hard every year, ask about a late-summer plan. See spiders and fall invaders.
Trees nearby
Boxelder bugs feed on the seeds of boxelder and some maple trees, so homes near those trees often see the most. Removing a tree just for the bugs isn't usually necessary, but knowing where they come from explains why one house has more than its neighbors.
Windows and attics
In winter, warm days bring fall invaders out of walls and attics toward the light. Sealing gaps around attic access doors, light fixtures and window trim from the inside keeps more of them in the walls and out of the living space.
More pest guides
Request pest control
Mice, ants, spiders, bed bugs and the bugs that move in every fall. Tell us what you're seeing and we'll pass it straight to a pest control company, who will call you to go over the problem and give you a quote.
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