Fall Pests Podcast - September 6, 2022 - Amy Timmerman, Extension Educator
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- [0:00] This is Amy Timmerman with this week’s Extension update.
- [0:04] September is here and thus fall is here!
- [0:06] Most pests reach their maximum population levels around August or September,
- [0:11] and their favorite places to escape the heat of the summer sun
- [0:14] or the oncoming winter cold are our homes.
- [0:18] Keeping fall pests out can be a challenge, but being prepared and properly treating
- [0:22] infestations can make fall a much more pleasant time for homeowners.
- [0:26] The first type of invaders come in on the ground and include crickets, cockroaches,
- [0:31] centipedes, millipedes, ground beetles, spiders and ants.
- [0:35] These pests are attracted to the leaf litter and debris found around the
- [0:39] foundation of houses, as well as the shade offered by surrounding landscape vegetation.
- [0:45] From the foundation, these ground invaders will then
- [0:48] wiggle their way into homes through any crack or crevice they can find.
- [0:52] The second type of fall invaders enter homes from the air and include:
- [0:56] multi-colored Asian lady beetles, house flies, cluster flies, yellow jackets, fruit flies,
- [1:02] boxelder bugs, miller moths and mosquitoes.
- [1:05] Many of these pests are also highly attracted to outdoor lights, such as
- [1:09] porch lights, and enter homes when nearby doors are open.
- [1:12] The exception is Fruit flies, that may enter homes as eggs already laid
- [1:16] in fresh produce, or they are attracted to fruits and vegetables sitting inside.
- [1:21] Fruit flies are small enough and can fit through window screens.
- [1:26] Thus it is important to keep all produce in secure containers inside refrigerators
- [1:30] and dumping compost buckets daily will help prevent homes from becoming
- [1:34] attractive destinations for fruit flies.
- [1:38] The good news is most of these invaders are simply seasonal nuisances.
- [1:42] They pose little threat to human health or damage to the home.
- [1:46] There are several things you can do to prevent these pests from invading your home.
- [1:51] 1. Secure points of entry, especially under exterior doors and windows.
- [1:56] Caulk and seal around utility entrances, cracks in the foundation
- [2:00] and gaps around fascia boards.
- [2:02] Install screens over pipes and closeable chimney caps.
- [2:06] Install weather stripping under and around doors and windows.
- [2:09] Repair or replace damaged screens.
- [2:12] Replace rubber seals along bottom of garage doors.
- [2:15] Keep doors closed when not in use.
- [2:18] 2. Change lighting around the exterior to reduce attractiveness to pests.
- [2:23] Switch bright incandescent bulbs for yellow ones.
- [2:26] Turn lights off at night, otherwise put on a timer or install a motion sensor.
- [2:32] 3. Keep exterior of structure free of debris, leaf litter, piles of organic
- [2:36] matter, firewood, excessive vegetation and clutter to minimize outdoor hiding places.
- [2:43] 4. Reduce moisture around buildings by practicing sanitation techniques.
- [2:49] Fix leaks, remove debris from gutters, adjust rainwater runoff, change the
- [2:53] grade, minimize condensation, increase ventilation in crawlspaces or basements,
- [3:00] minimize dark damp corners and eliminate possible indoor retreats.
- [3:04] And finally. Insecticide application in the form of an outdoor perimeter
- [3:09] treatment may be warranted for major infestations of accidental invaders.
- [3:13] Foundation sprays to keep ground invaders out should be sprayed
- [3:17] 3 to 4 feet up the house walls and 3 to 5 feet out from the house.
- [3:23] Make sure to read the directions and follow the labels.
- [3:27] There are some commercial baits formulated for crickets.
- [3:30] In the case of overwintering pests, such as boxelder bugs and cluster flies,
- [3:34] a residual treatment to the exterior may be performed by a professional pest
- [3:39] management company to keep them from entering in the fall, but timing is the key.
- [3:44] If you know you have overwintering populations in wall voids or an attic,
- [3:48] do not attempt to treat and kill them while they are hibernating.
- [3:52] Dead bodies will attract secondary pests such as carpet beetles.
- [3:56] If you do find yourself with one too many uninvited house guests in your home,
- [4:01] the simplest way to rid yourself of them is to vacuum them up any that you see,
- [4:06] discard the vacuum bag contents and follow any preventative steps that we went through.
- [4:12] For more serious problems, indoor-use aerosol sprays are available.
- [4:18] If the infestation is severe, it is always best to hire a professional pest control operator.
- [4:23] However, there is no need to call pest control at the sight of a single cricket or centipede.
- [4:31] Any questions regarding the creepy crawlies in your home
- [4:34] please contact the extension office and we will help in identification.
- [4:38] This has been Amy Timmerman with Nebraska Extension.