Keep Cold Weather Invaders Out

Stopping these insects before they move indoors can be the key to enjoying pest-free winter. Familiarize yourself brown marmorated stink bugs, lady beetles and boxelder bugs so that you are prepared to contact us at the first sign of an infestation.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs

Having your home overrun by some insects can really stink. Literally. Of course, we are talking about stink bugs who get their name because they can produce a fowl smelling odor when they are disturbed or crushed. While stink bugs have long been considered occasional invaders in homes and gardens, the accidental introduction of the brown marmorated stink bug into the eastern U.S. in the 1990’s has given homeowners additional cause for concern. Today, this pest can be found from coast to coast.

The brown marmorated stink bug has a shield-shaped body that is typical of other stink bugs. Adults are about one-half of an inch long with a brown marble-like exoskeleton. This insect becomes a nuisance pest both indoors and outdoors when it is attracted to homes on warm fall days in search of protected overwintering sites. Stink bugs do not do any structural damage to homes, and they do not sting or bite. However, their presence can be quite apparent if they are squashed or disturbed, causing them to produce their fowl smelling odor.

As air temperatures begin to warm in early spring, adult brown marmorated stink bugs emerge from their overwintering locations in search of a mate. Females then find fruit trees to lay their eggs, and die soon after. Beginning in May, nymphs emerge from eggs and feed on the fruit trees for a few months. By mid-summer, nymphs have molted into adults and disperse to new feeding locations. The search for an ideal hibernation site such as an attic or wall void peaks in late October, and by November the stink bugs stop flying and settle into the chosen hibernation site for the winter.

An effective method for managing the brown marmorated stink bug is to prevent these smelly insects from ever making it into your home in the first place. This is accomplished through various methods of exclusion. First, check all doors and windows to make sure they seal properly.

Also, ensure that all screens are installed correctly and that they are in good working order. Next, check for cracks in areas such as siding, utility pipes, and behind chimneys that could give pests easy access to your home. It is important that the appropriate products are used to seal interior or exterior access points, otherwise exclusion methods may fail allowing pests to freely enter the home. Make sure to contact your training pest management professional who is equipped to inspect and correct these issues using appropriate exclusion methods.

If stink bugs have already made their way into your home, the point of entry must be found and sealed to prevent more insects from gaining access. Additionally, professional-grade pest control products can provide relief from exterior and interior infestations.

If you find brown marmorated stink bugs in or around your home, contact Leaf Pest Control to determine the best management plan for keeping your home free of stink bugs this fall.

Lady Beetles

Lady beetles, also known as ladybugs or lady bird beetles, are a group of insects that belong to the family Cocccinellidae. They are generally considered beneficial insects because both adults and immature feed on numerous pest insects. While lady beetles are usually a welcomed guest in backyards, these insects can become unwanted invaders when large numbers of adults seek shelter in the walls and attics of homes to survive the winter.

There are about 475 different species of lady beetle in the U.S., and several of these species were introduced into regions intentionally for the purpose of controlling harmful pests. Several species can become a nuisance by invading homes when nighttime temperature start to drop, but the multicolored Asian lady beetle is the most commonly encountered lady beetle throughout most of the U.S.

Asian lady beetles are oval and convex, typical of other lady beetles. Adults are slightly larger than native species, measuring about one-quarter of an inch long. The color of the wing covers can vary from mustard-yellow to dark reddish-orange, and can be spotted or solid colored depending on the individual. The key identifying character on this beetle is a dark “M-“ or “W-“ shaped marking on the whitish area behind the head known as the pronotum. Larvae are also larger than most other species, and are primarily black with orange stripes or spots.

Asian lady beetles complete their entire lifecycle on plants close to their primary food sources, other arthropods. Females lay yellow eggs in clusters on plants, usually on the underside of leaves near colonies of aphids. Larvae emerge soon after and begin consuming hundreds of aphids per day. After only a few weeks, the larvae enters the non-mobile pupal stage and emerges as an adult shortly after. This beetle can complete development from egg to adult in about one month, generating multiple generations per year.

Lady beetles are voracious predators of other arthropods, but they do not cause harm to humans or structures. However, they can become a serious nuisance pest during the winter months. As autumn approaches, adults fly from their summer feeding sites to find protected sites to spend the winter. Unfortunately, homes and businesses are commonly picked overwinter sites. As nighttime temperatures start to drop, usually in mid-September depending on the location, adult beetles begin migrating to structures. In areas where lady beetle populations are high, thousands of these insects can be found in and on homes. Commonly entered sites include attics, wall voids, gaps in siding and entry points near outdoor lights.

Management strategies for the lady beetle ate similar to those discussed with the brown marmorated stink bug, with an emphasis on exclusion. Any cracks or openings around doors, windows, utility pipes, or wire will need to be sealed using appropriate exclusion methods. While exclusion is effective at preventing pests from gaining entry into a structure, sealing every crack and crevice can often be impractical. Therefore, exterior barrier treatments using professional grade pest control products may be necessary to provide relief.

If you find lady beetles in or around your home, call Leaf Pest Control to determine the best treatment program for your home.

Source: Pest Gazette, NPMA