Fall is a great time of year, bringing crisp air, clear skies, and cooler weather. Throughout the late spring and summer, lady beetles, more commonly known as ladybugs, are a welcome sight in our gardens because they eat aphids and other garden pests. In the fall, however, they can be a nuisance to us when they get inside our homes.
Ladybugs like to congregate in large numbers on the sunny sides of homes and other structures during the fall to soak in the warmth the sun provides. As the temperature drops, the lady beetles work their way inside our homes through tiny cracks and crevices. Once indoors they crawl all over your windows, walls, and light fixtures. Eventually, they settle in and overwinter until spring. They usually do this inside your attic and wall voids, and sometimes they will even hide out beneath your flooring. As they are traveling throughout your home, they emit pheromones that will attract other ladybugs to the area. Those pheromones can cause an unpleasant odor. A ladybug infestation can also make a home look quite untidy with live and dead insects in various places. They can also make stains on fabrics and other surfaces if they are squished.
To avoid having to clean up after these nuisance pests, prevent them from getting into your home by:
- Making sure all of your vents are covered securely
- Filling in gaps around entryways
- Trimming back trees and bushes from your home
- Installing door sweeps
- Sealing all cracks and crevices in your foundation and exterior walls
- Repairing or replacing broken or missing screens
- Sealing off gaps around utility entrances
- Making sure your chimney cap is secure
In the long run, it is beneficial for homeowners to enlist the help of a professional pest control company that can help protect their home from nuisance pests, as well as pests that pose health risks and cause damage. In Illinois and Iowa, you can call on the experts at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators to get rid of lady beetles and other pests that plague your home seasonally or year round. Our company has been serving the area since 1929, and our technicians are fully trained and licensed, ready to assist you with your pest problems. Contact Quick-Kill Pest Eliminators to learn more about our residential pest control options today!