There’s an old idiom that says “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of tiny insects not calling your home their winter retreat this year”.
That may or may not be the exact phrase you’ve heard before, but the idea behind it is certainly a true statement. While it may not be autumn yet, it is time to begin preparing your home against insects once they begin to look for locations to overwinter.
The most notorious insect found in homes in the fall and winter are the Multicolored Asian Lady beetles, otherwise known as lady bugs. These insects are highly beneficial because they are predatory insects of aphids and scale insects, but they can quickly become pests in the fall and winter after they make their way into your home by the hundreds or even thousands. Another problematic insect in this regard is the kudzu bug. Kudzu bugs. These insects were actually first discovered in the US in Atlanta in 2009. The year after they arrived in Georgia reports indicated they had spread to over 60 counties and other states. While they are called kudzu bugs, they do not control kudzu. In fact, these insects actually cause considerable damage to soybean plants resulting in yield loss.
They are not only an issue in areas with soybeans because they do lay their eggs near kudzu, soybeans or behind tree bark.
Additionally, these insects will attempt to overwinter in homes as well.
The easiest steps that can be taken is to evaluate the exterior of your home to find any cracks that need to be sealed, inspect window screens and doors to make sure they are not easy points of entry for insects, etc.
Around mid-September, insecticides can be spot sprayed near entry ways and reapplied according to the pesticide label until early December.
If the only preventative measures taken to prevent these insects is the use of insecticides then you will not see the same efficacy compared to sealing those entry points outside of your home. Also, if you still end up with an infestation despite having your home ready, be aware that there are no recommended indoor insecticide treatments recommended for many of these insects; however, it is beneficial to vacuum any insects present or dead to prevent other insects from being drawn to those insects. As a side note: both ladybugs and kudzu bugs have a very foul odor if you touch them (I personally find the smell of the kudzu bugs worse), so be careful not to touch them.
For more information, please contact the Jones County Extension office by calling (478) 986-3958 or email brennan4@uga. edu.
