Other Pests
Various
Beyond common household pests, many occasional invaders can find their way into homes. From stink bugs to earwigs, these pests may not pose major threats but can be a nuisance when they appear in large numbers.
How to Spot Occasional Invaders
What They Look Like
Occasional invaders come in many shapes and sizes. Stink bugs are shaped like shields and brown in color. Boxelder bugs are black with red markings. Asian lady beetles look like ladybugs, but come in many colors. Earwigs have pinchers on their back end. These pests all share one thing: they enter homes when the weather changes but don’t live there year-round.
Common Types
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Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs are brown, shield-shaped insects. They enter homes in fall and give off a bad smell when touched or crushed.
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Boxelder Bugs are black with red wing markings. They gather on sunny walls and look for ways to get inside your home.
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Asian Lady Beetles look like ladybugs but come in many colors. They invade homes in fall. They can bite and leave stains.
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Earwigs are long, flat insects with pincers on their rear end. They like damp areas and sometimes wander indoors.
How These Pests Behave
Occasional invaders live outside most of the time. They feed on plants, other bugs, or dead organic matter. When the weather gets cold in fall, they look for warm places to hide. Your home is a perfect spot. Unlike other pests, they can’t breed inside and won’t damage your home or get into your food. But when lots of them enter at once, they can be a real problem.
How We Treat for Occasional Invaders
Our goal is to keep these pests outside where they belong.
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Exterior Barrier Treatment: We apply treatments around your foundation, windows, doors, and other entry points. We do this before invasion season starts. The barrier stops pests before they can get inside.
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Entry Point Checks: We look at your home for gaps and openings that let pests in. Then we give you tips on how to seal these spots.
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Indoor Treatment: If pests are already inside, we treat the areas where they hide. You can vacuum up the ones you see. We also find out how they got in to stop future problems.
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Seasonal Timing: For stink bugs and similar pests, fall treatment before the first frost is key. We time our work to give you the best protection when these pests are most active.
Types of Other Pests
Click on any species below to learn more about identification, behavior, and control methods.
Common Questions about Other Pests
What are occasional invaders?
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Occasional invaders are pests that don't typically live indoors but enter homes during certain seasons or weather conditions. They include stink bugs, boxelder bugs, Asian lady beetles, earwigs, and similar pests that seek shelter or accidentally wander inside.
Why do stink bugs come into my house?
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Stink bugs enter homes in fall seeking shelter for winter. They're attracted to warm, sunny sides of buildings and enter through gaps around windows, doors, and siding. Once inside, they may emerge on warm winter days, seeming to appear suddenly.
Are stink bugs harmful?
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Stink bugs don't bite, sting, or cause structural damage. Their main issue is the unpleasant odor they release when disturbed or crushed. They can also stain fabrics and surfaces with their defensive secretions.
What's the best way to remove stink bugs?
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Vacuum them up using a shop vac or a dedicated vacuum, as the odor can linger in regular vacuums. You can also sweep them into soapy water. Avoid crushing them, as this releases their characteristic smell.
How do I prevent occasional invaders?
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Seal cracks around windows, doors, and the foundation. Install door sweeps and repair damaged screens. Apply exterior treatments in fall before pests start seeking shelter. Address moisture issues that attract some invaders.
Explore Other Pest Categories
Browse our comprehensive pest library for identification guides and control information.
With five years of hands-on experience in the pest control industry, George Schulz is a registered technician with the Virginia Pest Management Association and a proud third-generation professional in a family business that's been protecting homes for over 57 years.
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