Fall Invaders of Your Home Podcast - Nebraska Extension in Holt and Boyd Counties

Fall Invaders of Your Home - October 19, 2023 - Amy Timmerman - Extension Educator

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• [0:00] This is Amy Timmerman with Nebraska Extension
• [0:03] Autumn is the time of year when days grow shorter,
• [0:06] temperatures drop and the usual suspects
• [0:08] begin the search for food and shelter.
• [0:11] Many homeowners will discover these
• [0:13] accidental and occasional invaders
• [0:14] around the exterior perimeter this time of year.
• [0:17] Some pests are considered occasional or seasonal pests
• [0:21] and their grand entrance into your home in the fall
• [0:24] may go unnoticed, but they are not accidental.
• [0:27] Overwintering pests require a protective place to spend
• [0:30] the adult stage of their life without freezing to death.
• [0:33] They normally require a winter habitat
• [0:35] between 40–50°F for hibernation.
• [0:39] In the fall, large populations congregate
• [0:41] on the warm, sunny side of structures,
• [0:43] usually the southwestern facing exterior walls.
• [0:46] Then they begin moving upward and find gaps leading inside.
• [0:50] These pests do not lay eggs or multiply indoors,
• [0:53] but will overwinter in wall voids, attics and unheated garages.
• [0:59] Most homeowners become aware of the infestation
• [1:01] in the early spring when the sun warms up structures,
• [1:04] stimulating a premature exit from their winter harborage.
• [1:08] They are considered nuisance pests
• [1:10] because of the sheer number of individuals
• [1:12] that emerge and fly around inside trying to escape.
• [1:15] They often come out of the ceiling
• [1:17] through vents, lights, fans and other gaps,
• [1:20] accumulating by the windows and leaving excrement and stains on walls.
• [1:25] Common invaders include multicolored Asian lady beetles,
• [1:29] cluster flies, boxelder bug, pine seed bug and spiders.
• [1:34] Pests can be discouraged from entering the house in a number of ways.
• [1:37] The most common way is by applying an outdoor
• [1:40] perimeter insecticide treatment.
• [1:42] These insecticides are labeled for various pests and often times
• [1:46] have residual effects to help protect the house for longer.
• [1:49] Read and follow the label instructions on
• [1:52] how and where these products should be applied.
• [1:54] Ideally, try to apply these insecticides out from the
• [1:58] foundation about five to ten feet
• [2:00] around the perimeter of the home.
• [2:02] The insecticides will help to decrease the numbers
• [2:04] of pests that make it inside the house,
• [2:07] but don’t expect it to stop all of them.
• [2:09] Monitor the home regularly to see
• [2:11] what pests have made their way inside.
• [2:13] Glue boards are sticky boards used to catch and hold pests
• [2:17] as they try to move throughout the home.
• [2:19] Be sure to use sticky boards in locations where
• [2:21] non-target animals, like pets, won’t get stuck in them.
• [2:24] If something other than the target pest
• [2:26] does happen to get ‘caught’ in the trap,
• [2:29] use an oily material, like vegetable or mineral oil,
• [2:32] to dissolve the sticky substance on the trap.
• [2:35] When properly placed, these traps will allow you
• [2:37] to see which pests are inside the home
• [2:39] and their approximate numbers.
• [2:41] Once pests are found inside the home,
• [2:43] there are a few techniques that you can use.
• [2:46] The handy broom and dust pan
• [2:47] or vacuum are two techniques;
• [2:49] they are also very environmentally
• [2:51] friendly and very cost effective.
• [2:53] Be careful if you select insecticides
• [2:56] for use inside the home.
• [2:57] Read and follow instructions carefully
• [3:00] as many of these products have to come
• [3:01] into contact with the insect themselves
• [3:04] and don’t offer much residual protection.
• [3:07] With a little prevention and monitoring
• [3:09] you can ensure that you are sharing
• [3:10] your home with wanted house
• [3:12] guests this fall and winter.
• [3:14] If you have more questions regarding
• [3:16] fall invaders of your home,
• [3:17] please contact your local extension office.
• [3:20] This has been Amy Timmerman with Nebraska Extension.