Why Do Occasional Invaders Come To Your Home?
August is here which means that cooler temperatures are going to arrive as soon as a month from now. As the temperatures begin to drop across Western New York, many homeowners notice an increase in unwanted guests inside their homes. If you suddenly start finding Asian lady beetles, Stink bugs or Box Elder bugs on your walls, ceilings, or windows, you’re not alone!
These insects are known as occasional invaders. While they don’t damage your home or reproduce indoors, they can become a major nuisance as they search for a warm place to spend the winter. During late summer and early fall, cooler nights signal these insects to begin looking for sheltered places to overwinter. Small cracks around windows, doors, siding, rooflines, utility lines, and foundation gaps provide the perfect entry points.
Once inside, they often remain hidden until warm, sunny days bring them out, leaving homeowners wondering where they came from. Sometimes having window AC units in can attract them and provide the occasional invaders with easy access into your home if they enter through the units. I recommend that you remove these units as soon as possible.
Stink Bugs
Brown marmorated stink bugs have become increasingly common throughout New York. They are harmless to people and pets but are well known for the unpleasant odor they release if crushed or disturbed.
Common places you’ll find them include:
Windows and window sills
Attics
Ceilings
Light fixtures
Wall voids
Window AC Units
Box Elder Bugs
Box elder bugs are black with distinctive red or orange markings and often gather in large numbers on the sunny sides of homes during the fall.
Although they don’t bite or damage your home, large infestations can quickly become frustrating when they begin finding their way indoors. They also like to feed on whirlybird or “helicopter” pods. If you have a tree that produces these, then chances are good that you will see a fair to large amount of Box Elder Bugs on your trees and possibly even your home or any other structures nearby.
Asian Lady Beetle Vs Ladybug
Another common occasional invader homeowners notice each fall is the Asian lady beetle. At first glance, they look almost identical to the familiar ladybug, but there are a few important differences. Asian lady beetles were originally introduced to North America to help control crop pests, but they’ve become well established throughout New York. Like Stink bugs and Box Elder bugs, they begin searching for warm places to spend the winter as temperatures cool, often gathering by the hundreds on the sunny sides of homes before finding small openings to get inside.
How to Tell Them Apart
Although both insects belong to the lady beetle family, Asian lady beetles often have:
- A distinctive black “M” or “W” shaped marking behind their head.
- Color ranging from pale orange to deep red.
- A highly variable number of black spots—some have many, while others have none at all.
True ladybugs are generally more uniform in appearance and are less likely to invade homes in large numbers.
Why are Asian Lady Beetles a problem?
Unlike true ladybugs, Asian lady beetles are notorious for becoming indoor nuisances during the fall and winter. They don’t damage your home or reproduce indoors, but they can:
- Gather in large numbers around windows and ceilings.
- Leave yellowish stains on walls, curtains, or furniture when disturbed.
- Produce an unpleasant odor as a defense mechanism.
- Occasionally pinch or nip if handled, though they do not pose a serious health risk.
Prevention is the Best Control
The Best Time for Treatment
The most effective pest control for Asian lady beetles is before they enter your home. An exterior preventative treatment applied in late summer or early fall helps reduce the number that can make their way inside to overwinter.
The best time to treat for these seasonal pests is before they enter your home. Exterior treatments help create a protective barrier that significantly reduces the number of insects able to make it inside.
Homeowners can also help by:
Sealing cracks and gaps around windows and doors.
Repairing damaged screens.
Installing quality weather stripping.
Sealing openings around utility penetrations.
Reducing exterior lighting when practical.
Schedule Service Before They Move In
September is the ideal time to protect your home before occasional invaders begin to settle in your home for the winter. Waiting until they’re already inside often means they’ll continue appearing for months throughout the winter and even the following spring anytime the weather starts to warm up.
If you’re dealing with stink bugs, box elder bugs, or other seasonal pests in Batavia, Bergen, Chili, Churchville, Brockport, Spencerport, LeRoy, Caledonia, Elba, Oakfield, or anywhere throughout Genesee County or the west side of Monroe County, contact GB Pest Solutions today. Call or text us at 585-330-8816
We’ll help keep the pests outside—where they belong!
Local Pest Control You Can Trust!
By choosing GB Pest Solutions, you will receive a professional pest control service designed to help protect your home from seasonal invaders before they become a problem. Since 2018, We’ve been proudly serving homeowners throughout Genesee County and Monroe County, including:
- Batavia
- Bergen
- Byron
- Chili
- Churchville
- Brockport
- Spencerport
- Hamlin
- Hilton
- LeRoy
- Stafford
- Caledonia
- Elba
- Oakfield
- Holley
- Other Locations may be available
Contact us today to schedule an inspection or treatment and enjoy your outdoor spaces safely this season!
585-330-8816