Why You MIght See More Bugs in Your House During the Fall

Autumn is an exciting time full of rich, vibrant colors, soothing comfort foods, and the lead-up to the holiday season. However, many families find their festivities interrupted by unwanted guests: bugs. Fall bugs remain a consistent problem across America, and homeowners often find themselves blindsided by the sudden increase in insect intruders. Why do these crawling nuisances pick up in numbers at this time of year, and what should you do about it?

The good news is that while you might see more bugs in your house during the fall, you do not have to live with this new, uncomfortable situation. Smart strategies around the home coupled with professional pest control can restore your home to the warm sanctuary it is meant to be as the weather turns cold.

Are Bugs More Plentiful in the Fall?

When homeowners begin to see an uptick in the number of bugs inside the home, their first thought is usually, “Why are there more bugs all of a sudden?” This leads them to believe that bugs are more plentiful throughout the autumn season. However, this is a common misconception.

People see more bugs in their homes during the fall, not because there are more fall bugs but because bugs are changing their habits to adapt to the outside environment. As temperatures drop, food becomes less available, and the bugs themselves may slow down and become food for predators if they do not seek shelter.

The inside of a human’s home is warm and secure, and it often comes with free food, so there is no downside to taking shelter from the autumn chill inside a house.

How to Keep Fall Bugs Out of Your House

If you have already begun to see an uptick in the number of bugs in your home, it is best to start on pest control methods right away. Some are tasks you can tackle yourself, while others are best left to the professionals.

First, discourage pests from staying by removing their food sources. Store food in glass jars with lids, or use other secure storage options to prevent the bugs from eating through cardboard or paper bags into highly sought-after items such as cereal.

Keep the floors clean of debris and crumbs, which bugs can find as they wander along the baseboards. Store garbage away from the home in a bin with a lid rather than leaving bags on the floor. Next, identify areas from which the bugs may be entering the home.

Check the exterior for seams, gaps, cracks, or damage that could grant bugs easy entry. The seals around doors may be the culprit, as are places in which wires or pipes enter and exit the home. However, avoid sealing the small holes in the home’s window frames; these are called weep holes and are important for the windows to function properly.

If sealing entry points and removing food sources is not enough to stop the insect invasion, it may be time to rely on professionals. Pest control services have access to more tools to deal with bugs and have much more extensive experience. They can help homeowners identify the specific type of bug plaguing their home, which can clarify options for getting rid of it.

Additionally, professional pest control services may be able to set traps, place bait, or use other methods to capture insects that are currently in the house. Once their numbers have decreased, the professional can help the homeowner determine the source of the problem and how to prevent it in the future. Good pest control focuses not just on ameliorating the current issue but also stopping reoccurrence next year when the weather changes once again.

The Main Fall Bugs of Concern

The bugs a homeowner might see during the fall vary based on the home’s location and the time of year. Ants, spiders, and beetles are always common, but flies, fleas, cockroaches, stinkbugs, and ladybugs are also frequent visitors in autumn. Some of these pests are nothing more than annoyances, but others can cause damage to homes, spread disease, or even bite.

Seek Professional Pest Control to Stop an Infestation

If your home is currently battling an insect infestation, it is essential to begin treating the problem right away rather than waiting to see if the issue resolves itself. Bugs reproduce quickly, often producing dozens or hundreds of young at once.

Quick pest control solutions can keep your home from succumbing to an infestation. The professionals at Spartan Animal & Pest Control can help you identify which fall bugs are causing your problem and the best ways to remove them permanently. Contact Spartan to schedule a visit.