Why Fall Bugs Are Moving Indoors and When to Call for Pest Control

When autumn hits, it’s easy to get swept away in the foliage changes, cooler temperatures, and shorter days that lead to cozying up inside the house. However, as you spend more time indoors, you might notice that you’re sharing your space with more bugs than you expected.

Fall bugs might seem especially numerous compared to their summer counterparts, but it’s not because there are more of them. Rather, the issue is that these bugs have congregated inside people’s homes. Bugs frequently move indoors as the seasons change, and it can be hard to know when this is a problem.

A wayward spider might be little cause for concern, but a trail of ants through the kitchen might be a bigger issue. It is important to understand why fall bugs are moving indoors and when to call for pest control; otherwise, you could be facing an insect outbreak that is even harder to quell.

The Causes of Fall Insect Migration

Fall is an ideal time for insects to make the trek from the great outdoors to the interior of your home. The reasons for this vary depending on species, but in general, a few factors impact this transition to the inside:

Falling temperatures

As temperatures drop in the lead-up to winter, insects must escape to somewhere warm. Many species are susceptible to low temperatures, as it slows their movement or even makes them dormant, which can lead to starvation.

Alternatively, if the temperature outdoors drops below the melting point of their body fluids, these fluids can develop ice crystals that expand and burst their cells. Insects seek refuge inside human homes to escape the falling temperatures.

Drier air

Insects are encased in an exoskeleton, the hard version of skin. In order to grow bigger, they must break through the exoskeleton in a process called molting. When the air dries out during colder weather, insects might not have the moisture they need to slip out of their exoskeletons, and they’ll become constrained and die. They solve this problem by seeking the comfortable humidity of a home.

Decreased daylight

Daylight hours are an instinctual part of an insect’s life rhythms. When daylight hours get shorter, they get the signal that other issues (such as dry air and low temperatures) are coming. This gives them ample time to prepare by making the journey into human homes before they succumb to fall weather.

Fewer food sources

The great migration of insects during fall can reduce or even eliminate some of a bug’s food sources. Whether their prey dies due to the temperature decrease or disperses (again, often into people’s homes), insects risk starvation if they do not seek easy food, such as what is kept in human pantries.

When to Call Pest Control Pros

So you’ve got a few bugs in your home. Is it really a problem? It can be hard to tell the difference between a wayward bug and an indicator of an infestation. Here are some indicators that you should call a pest control pro:

When there are too many bugs

A single spider or ant is usually not cause for concern. However, if you see the same type of pest frequently, it’s often a hint that there are many more you don’t see. If bugs are becoming an annoyance or you see them often, it may be time for a pest control plan.

When bugs are causing household issues

No one wants to open a package of cereal to find bugs inside. If insects are causing household problems like eating into food packages or contaminating pet drinking bowls, they are likely already reproducing quickly somewhere in the home (and the food sources they’re raiding are not helping the problem). Contact a pest control team.

When someone gets sick

Insects can carry all manner of diseases. From ticks that transmit Lyme disease to Bartonellosis that comes from flea bites, humans and pets can fall ill due to the presence of bugs in the home. Sickness can sometimes be the first indication that there’s a bug problem!

When other methods have not worked

Most people will first attempt to tackle their bug issue on their own, and that is reasonable. However, if your traps, bait, and other methods are not stopping the bugs from trekking through your house, it’s time to call the professionals.

Get Help Your With Fall Bug Problems

No one likes to encounter a swarm of bugs in the pantry or crawling through the carpet. If your efforts to tackle your home’s fall bug problem have shown little resolution, or if you simply don’t know where to start, talking with the pros is a great next step.

Contact Spartan Animal & Pest Control to schedule an appointment with a professional who can get these pesky intruders out of your space.