A change in seasons means a change in pests. As the warmth of summer gives way to the chilly breeze of fall, many insects and rodents creep indoors to take refuge from the cold. While most common household pests are year-round problems, these are the four that homeowners can expect to see this fall.

Boxelder Bugs

While considered a fall pest for homeowners, these insects are actually active throughout the summer. They start becoming a problem in late August and September when they begin to sun themselves on the sides of buildings in large numbers.

Although mostly harmless, boxelder bugs do cause a few problems, such as damaging fruit trees. Additionally, the occasional bug that creeps into your home can leave behind a stubborn stain and nasty odor when crushed.

Stink Bugs

While Utah is home to a wide variety of native stink bugs, it’s the invasive brown marmorated stink bug that sometimes infests homes during the fall. Originally native to Asia, this stink bug recently made its home in our state in 2012.

Although mostly known as a devastating agricultural pest, the brown marmorated stink bug is also an annoyance for homeowners. Like the boxelder bug, these insects are ultimately harmless — to non-plants, that is — but as their name suggests spray a pungent odor when threatened.

Ground Beetles

Ground beetles are yet another pesky insect that starts coming in from the cold this time of year. They differ from boxelder and stink bugs in that they are actually beneficial to have around, chowing down on harmful insects and weeds. Instead of crushing these admittedly scary-looking insects, try to think of ground beetles as ladybugs’ ugly cousins.

Mice

These cute little rodents are by far the most dangerous fall pest for homeowners. Mice are a serious health concern that can spread pathogens like Salmonella and the Hanta virus. Additionally, many people are allergic to mice and their presence can even trigger life-threatening asthma attacks in some.

Perhaps the biggest threat mice pose to homeowners is that they often chew through plastic insulation on wires, causing house fires. In fact, research has found that as many as 25% of fires attributed to “unknown causes” were actually the result of rodent damage. Mice are one fall pest you definitely shouldn’t ignore.

When You Need Professionals

While some minor harmless bug infestations don’t require a call to the professionals, other pest control issues shouldn’t be handled by homeowners. If you’re facing a particularly large or dangerous pest issue, consider getting in touch with us at Preventive Pest Control. We provide professional pest control in Sandy and the surrounding areas. Call (801) 566-5590 today!