Fall Invaders and Cooler Weather Are Around the Corner

Here in New England, the summer is nearly finished. The days are becoming shorter, and the evenings will soon feel chillier. The warmth of your home grows more alluring to insects and rodents as we get ready to transition into the chilly fall weather. Some pests are referred to as "Fall Invaders." Once the temperatures start to fall, these pests are known to become more numerous. Here are a couple of the pests from the Fall Invaders lineup that you might run into:

Boxelder Bug

This Fall Invader is aptly named since it frequently feeds on and around boxelder trees. This species will enter buildings covertly to survive the winter. Boxelder bugs congregate in the autumn on the south sides of rocks, trees, and structures that are exposed to the light. After assembling in huge groups, they move to nearby houses or structures to spend the winter. Although they do not feed during this season, these pests frequently conceal themselves in tiny cracks and crevices in walls to protect themselves from the chilly winter weather. Adults depart their wintering locations in late March or early April and head back to their host trees.

Although boxelder bugs are not known to bite, on rare occasions their piercing-sucking mouthparts will puncture skin, causing a small amount of irritation and leaving a red patch like a mosquito bite. Boxelder bugs can leave a reddish orange stain from their feces when crushed or handled violently, which can cause discoloration of curtains, drapes, clothing, etc. and emit an unpleasant odor.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

An invasive species from Asia called Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs first appeared in Pennsylvania in 1996. Because of its propensity to emit an odor when disturbed or crushed, the stink bug got its name. These traits are shared by numerous different insects, such as some ant and beetle species. Nymphal stink bugs typically eat leaves, stems, and fruit, whereas adult stink bugs mostly consume fruits. In the late fall, stink bugs look for somewhere to spend the winter in order to protect themselves from the elements. In the early spring, they emerge and start to function.

Cluster Fly

Several species of overwintering blow flies are parasites of earthworms known as cluster flies. Adults enter buildings in the late summer and early fall to spend the winter. Although almost all insects have the ability to spread disease, cluster flies are generally innocuous and won't harm your food or possessions. They can, however, develop into a major annoyance. They will assemble in vast numbers in the crevices of vacant areas. They flutter around windows on warm days from late winter to early spring, resembling giant house flies.

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle (Ladybug)

Lady Beetles, sometimes known as ladybugs, typically coexist peacefully with humans, but they have a propensity to spend the winter inside where they can be a bother. Due to their ravenous appetite for plant-eating insects including aphids, mealybugs, mites, and scale insects, the majority of species are regarded as beneficial. Ladybug populations start to increase in the spring and summer, and adults look for shelter to overwinter in the fall (often in mass numbers).

Rodents

Even the slightest holes and crevices allow mice and rats to access your house. A good initial step to preventing rodents from moving into your home is to secure their entry points. Any holes that lead to the outside of your home should be caulked, especially those near pipes. Make sure that all windows and doors are securely closed. Additionally, make sure to remove any food sources that mice and rats could possibly eat. Keep all dry food (including cat food) in airtight plastic containers, and take out the garbage frequently. Restoring food to your refrigerator after usage is important since mice and rats may chew through sturdy components.

Western Conifer Seed Bug

The Western Conifer Seed Bug is an insect that feeds on plants but does not eat inside of buildings. "This bug feeds on growing seeds and blooms of conifers, notably pines, white spruce, and hemlock," claims University of New Hampshire entomologist Alan Eaton. This insect, which is frequently misidentified as a stink bug, does not release an odor unless it is crushed. The tibia on its hind legs are also flattened and resemble leaves. These bugs don't bite people, despite their ominous appearance and ponderous movement.