Why Do Bugs Come Indoors

When the seasons change, you prepare for the fall and winter. But what about the insects and bugs outside? You might get ready for cold weather by turning on your heat and layering your clothes, but the bugs outdoors are preparing by entering your home and using it as a resource. Despite the warmer weather leaving and insect activity outside decreasing, you might still run into a bug problem this winter. Here are the reasons why bugs are bothering you in the fall and winter, plus advice on how you can keep them from getting into your house.

How Bugs Adapt to Seasonal Changes

Insects need a stable habitat to survive, and as we all know, winter can be somewhat unpredictable. Some bugs migrate south, some don’t survive in the winter months, and others find new places – like your home – that offer a more stable environment to live until the colder months are over.

As cooler temperatures become more common, you might see more bugs on the sunny side of your house. These insects are trying to soak up the last warmth of the season. Bugs might also find places in the siding of your home, the cracks in your windows and doors, or the inside of your walls. Most of the time, you won’t see these pests unless they are gathered around the windows as they typically stay in your walls for the season.

When bugs find a new place where they can survive the temperatures, they may release chemicals that alert other insects to your home. These insects can gather in the hundreds or even thousands to stake out a place for the winter. Insects will hibernate, hole up, or even outlast the season in their nymphal, larval, or egg stage.

Usually, bugs that are seeking shelter from the climate are harmless to your home's infrastructure, won’t infest your pantry, nor will they bite. Despite all of that, they still aren’t a festive seasonal decoration, so we have some advice on how you can rid your house of these intruders.

Preventative Measures and Solutions Against Bugs

Knowing which insects you may be dealing with this winter is the first step in preventing bug invasions. Make sure you know what the most common bugs are for your environment. Ladybugs, stink bugs, moths, and mosquitoes are just a few of the common pests that can make their way into your home.

At the end of summer, it’s a good idea to weatherproof your windows and doors, making sure to cover each tiny crack that an insect could slip through. While you’re doing this, you can also look for gaps that you may need to seal shut. If you happen to store firewood outside, make sure it’s not up against your house to prevent insects that are living on or inside the wood from making an easy jump into your house. The same advice can also be applied to recycling and garbage bins, as they can attract the insects towards your home too.

Traps are a great way to eliminate insects. By attracting mosquitoes, stink bugs, flies, and a variety of other flying insects, these traps can catch the pests that you can’t. Place indoor traps in kitchens, near windows and doors, or other spots that you notice a lot of activity to get rid of them before they make themselves any more at home. Outdoor traps can help protect your entire yard, making your outdoor living spaces more pleasant while also stopping bugs from getting the chance to enter your house in the first place.

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DynaTrap® has a range of products that can be used indoors and outdoors to control your bug problems. Effective against a variety of flying insects, these products aim to rid your home of the intruders that want to live inside your walls for the season. To learn more about how you can protect your home against bugs, browse our other helpful resources.

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