Fall is my favorite season of the year. The weather is much more enjoyable, the trees turn fantastic colors, and football begins again. With all the fun of fall, however, comes the not so enjoyable entry of insects into our homes. Many household pests that we see most often in the fall coming into our homes for warmth and food are boxelder bugs, Asian multicolored ladybeetles, and spiders. Occasionally, we also find crickets, centipedes, millipedes, and some stink bugs.
Boxelder Bugs
Boxelder bugs are a common nuisance pest to enter homes in the fall and they are often seen leaving the home in the spring. These are the insects that are black with a reddish-orange X on their backs. They are a type of a true bug that is found feeding on many trees but they prefer boxelders, ash, and maples. Boxelder bugs will not cause any damage to your homes and they do not bite. The only problem with these insects being in your homes is that they can come in swarms.
Asian Multicolored Ladybeetles
Asian multicolored ladybeetles are a nuisance pest as well, that we often see in the fall. These are the ladybugs that we find in our homes in the fall. These ladybugs can bite and it can cause pain, but they don’t cause any medical issues. The biggest problem with these ladybeetles is that they get in the house and are found all over your home. They are just trying to find a place to hide out for the winter.
Spiders
Spiders are also problematic in the fall, especially wolf spiders. These are one of the largest species of spiders that we will find in Nebraska. They are quite hairy and often will have 2 white or lighter brown colored stripes down the back of the spider. There are some wolf spiders that can be the size of a half dollar or more, legs and all. These spiders are not venomous, but they can bite. Most often, wolf spiders don’t bite us, but if they do the reaction is minor.
Most people are concerned with brown recluse spiders. They are about the size of a quarter, legs and all and are brown with a darker brown fiddle shape on their back. They can cause a bad reaction in some people, but not all people are as sensitive to the bites as others. If you have brown recluse spiders in your home or office, just take the time to look around things that have been stored before you move them. These spiders are reclusive, so they want to stay away from you.
Management
None of these pests are very damaging to us or our homes and they rarely warrant control by a pesticide. However, if you don’t want them in your home there are things to do to reduce their population. Sticky traps are always a good choice, these will catch the insects and then they die. Be sure to place these where pets and children cannot get to them because they are extremely sticky. Home barrier sprays can be used around the foundation of your home and around doors and windows. Be sure to follow label instructions with any pesticide. If you see a few wandering around, use your vacuum to get rid of them. Be sure to empty the canister or switch out the bag often as they may not die when vacuumed.
If you have any further questions please contact Nicole Stoner at (402) 223-1384, nstoner2@unl.edu, visit the Gage County Extension website at www.gage.unl.edu, or like my facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NicoleStonerHorticulture and follow me on twitter @Nikki_Stoner