It’s fall, which means you can find just about anything flavored with pumpkin spice and boxelder bugs and multi-colored Asian lady beetles trying to get inside your home. While most of us love a good cup of coffee with a hint of that Autumn flavor, we have no love for these fall invaders. Read on to discover what these fall pests have in common, why you don’t want them in your home, and what you can do about it.
What is a boxelder bug?
The boxelder bug has a striking appearance. It’s vibrant design and bold colors are obvious to the naked eye. The boxelder bug is black in color, and it has red or orangish lines that run along the sides and the thorax. The wings of the bug are flat and the same color as the lines on the body. The boxelder bug is between 11 and 14 mm long. Adult boxelder bugs live and breed on boxelder tree leaves. This is also where they feed and extract juices.
What is a MCALB?
The multi-colored Asian lady beetle is a bug with which you are familiar. It’s a ladybug, but a little bigger than the native ones. The Asian lady beetle is native to Asia and was first introduced to the US as a way to control aphids and other insects that damage crops. The lady beetle is between 5.5 mm and 7 mm long. It has an oval body that is usually red, orange, or yellowish in color. The body and wings may or may not have black spots.
What these bugs have in common
The boxelder bug and Asian lady beetle are both harmless insects, but once they invade your home, they become problematic pests. You may see them out and about during the warm weather seasons but when the temperatures cool in the fall, the bugs head indoors. The boxelder bugs and multicolored Asian lady beetles migrate to attics, basements, wall voids, and other areas of homes as well as garages. The bugs are usually attracted to the light that reflects off the sides and windows of the building. The bugs will find cracks and crevices through which they can enter their new overwintering sites and stay protected for the winter. Both types of bugs are harmless, but annoying. When you see one, you can guarantee there are several more hiding around your home. Don’t spend your winter with bugs in your home. Adam’s Pest Control can help.
Homeowners in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and communities throughout Minnesota and Western Wisconsin are preparing for fall and winter right now. Don’t forget about the pests that won’t go away. Contact Adam’s Pest Control and ask us about our plan for preventing and controlling overwintering pests. Our home pest control plans consist of an inspection, treatment plans, exclusion techniques, and regular home visits. We will even come to your home in between visits at no charge if a bug emergency arises. Call now to to put a stop to the fall pest invasion!
