Home Invasion - Fall Insect Pests

To survive the winter insects have developed different strategies to survive.  Some insects lay eggs and die when temperatures fall below freezing.  Other insects burrow in the ground or under piles of decaying plant material.  Still others avoid the cold by migrating to warmer climates.  As the temperature begins to fall, insects begin to look for a warm place to overwinter.  One of the places where they can overwinter is in your home.  Some of the most common overwintering insects that tend to invade homes are listed below.

Boxelder bug (Leptocoris trivittatus)

Boxelder bug adult surrounded by nymphs. William M. Ciesla
Forest Health Management International

The adult boxelder bug gets its name from their host plant the boxelder (Acer negundo). The boxelder bug is about 1/2 inch in length, and dark gray to brownish-black in color, with three red stripes on the thorax and wing margins.  The body is bright red.  They have piercing-sucking mouthparts and feed mainly on seeds produced by female boxelders.  Eggs are straw-yellow to rusty-red in color and are not often seen, as they are deposited on boxelder trees or other maples, or near the trees.  The nymphs, which are found on the trees, are bright red in color with the front half darker. Nymphs resemble adults but do not have fully developed wings and are not able to reproduce.

Multi-colored Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis).

Asian lady beetles vary in color. Note the whitish area
with M-shaped marking behind the head.
University of Kentucky

The Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis), is common throughout the United States. Adult Asian lady beetles are oval, convex, and about 1/4-inch long. Their color can vary widely from tan to orange to red. They often have several black spots on the wing covers. On some beetles the spots may be indistinct or entirely absent. Multi-spotted individuals tend to be females while those with few or no spots tend to be males. Most beetles have a small, dark "M" or "W"-shaped marking on the whitish area behind the head. The Asian lady beetles are beneficial insects. The use of lady beetles as a natural control of aphids in some crops like pecans has decreased insecticide use against those pests. Additionally, lady beetles have  been used to controlled aphids on some ornamental plants.

Cluster fly (Pollena rudis)

Cluster Fly - Colorado State University Extension

Cluster flies are named for their habit of overwintering in large clusters within the attics or upper walls of homes and buildings. They are black and a little larger than house flies, from 3/8- to 1/2-inch long, with short, yellow hairs on the thorax. Their wings overlap when at rest.
Cluster flies are unique because they are parasites of earthworms. In summer they can be seen flying around yards just above the ground. They lay their eggs in cracks in the soil and the eggs hatch in about three days. The newly hatched maggots grab onto earthworms as they slither by and burrow into the worm to feed. The fly completes a life cycle in four to five weeks.

Brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys)

University of California

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys, is a pest whose first officially reported appearance in the United State was in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 2001. Adult bugs are 14-17 mm (about a 1/2 inch) in lenght and dark mottled brown. The last 2 antennal segments have alternating light and dark bands. The exposed edges of the abdomen also have light and dark banding. Stink bugs get their name from the scent glands located on the dorsal surface of the abdomen and the underside of the thorax.

Management

Repair torn screens and close up places where the insects can enter the house, such as cracks around doors and windows and attic or basement vents. Use caulk, weatherstripping, fine-mesh screen or expandable foam as appropriate. Overwintering insects that enter the home may be controlled by hand-collecting or vacuuming. Repeat as needed. 

Eliminate hiding places such as piles of rocks, boards, leaves, and general debris close to houses. Rake leaves and remove weeds and grass from a 6- to 10-feet wide strip around the foundation, particularly on the south and west sides of the house.   A weed and debris-free area tends to reduce the congregation of insects near the foundation. 

Additional Information

Cluster Flies - Pennsylvania State University

Boxelder Bug - University of Idaho

How to Identify the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug - Rutgers University

Flies in the Home - Colorado State University Extension

Asian Lady Beetle Infestation of Structures - University of Kentucky

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug - Featured Creatures - University of Florida

IPM News and Related Stories

Organic Rice
With organic rice in demand, scientists to help farmers improve production
Organic rice is increasingly desired by U.S. consumers, but farmers know that growing the grain chemically free can mean providing a feast for insects, diseases and weeds.
Read More

Toxic Algae Threatens Bald Eagles
Hydrilla is slowly choking rivers, ponds and lakes of North Carolina. Now it has become an even more ominous potential threat and an eagle killer.
Read More

New app helps strawberry and peach growers manage diseases
Strawberry growers have a direct line to help for and information about diseases with the new MyIPM app, developed by researchers at Clemson University.
Read More

Cover Crops
SARE(Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) has published a bulletin to promote the use of cover crops for pollinators and beneficial insects.
Read More

Baby, it's cold outside.  Time to stock up on firewood.  
An article from the USDA on how the Asian longhorned beetle, emerald ash borer and gypsy moth can be spread into new areas on firewood.
Read More

IPM Notes from October 15, 2015

Winter rye has been seeded at different times where the soybeans and field corn were growing. The younger winter rye has a reddish color called "color banding" due to the cooler nights. Eventually the plant will turn green. The sprouting from the base of a winter rye plant or from the axils of its lower leaves is called tillering. If the rye is left alone to grow into the following spring it can be used as "longstraw" for bedding for farm animals or the rye can be harvested as a grain. Farmers don't like wildlife (geese in particular) on their winter rye because they constantly eat it through the fall and winter season. The rye does grow back.

The soybeans that were planted later this year have yet to be harvested. The moisture content needs to be around 14% for harvesting. A heavy dew or rainfall will increase the moisture content. Since most farmers are harvesting their soybeans at the same time of year (now) there can be logistical problems of having a truck for harvesting, or even waiting in a truck line for hours to have your harvested shipment accepted.

The alfalfa field has been cut short for winter, and will not be harvested again until next May. Several netting sweeps of the alfalfa field contained grasshoppers, leafhoppers, aphids and a plant bug. Alfalfa is a leguminous plant (as are soybeans) used for hay and forage. It is high in protein. Alfalfa likes a higher soil pH. Alfalfa and soybeans are nitrogen-fixing plants, but alfalfa provides more nitrogen. Using proper crop rotation every year, a farmer will need less nitrogen if corn is planted on the previous year's alfalfa or soybean field.

The demonstration plots are winding down for the year. The pumpkins, millet and broomcorn were harvested and moved up next to the pole barn as a display to be viewed and enjoyed by the crowd each Saturday at the farmers market. A few of the demonstration plots will be seeded next week with the cover crop winter wheat.

Notes compiled by John Siemanowski.

IPM Notes from October 1, 2015

The winter rye is sprouting where the field corn was harvested.

The soybeans are drying down, but with the approaching wet weather and strong winds the next few days there is concern the wind will split the bean pod off the plant, or knock the plant over resulting in many plants lodging on the ground.

The insect traps were also removed today.

A pH soil test of each of the 10 demonstration plots was recently performed by Rob Mazza. The results are below.

Plot 1 – Bell Pepper – 6.35
Plot 2 – Pollinator – 6.60
Plot 3 – Hops – 6.50
Plot 4 – Blueberry – 6.12
Plot 5 – Strawberry – 6.2
Plot 6 – Hot Pepper – 6.35
Plot 7 – Compost – 6.40
Plot 8 – Broomcorn - 5.93
Plot 9 – Pumpkin – 5.99
Plot 10 – Tomato / Millet – 6.30

As in the past, additional sulfur will be added to the blueberry plot to lower the pH to make it more acidic. Lime will be added to the broomcorn and pumpkin plots to raise the pH to make it less acidic.

Below is the weekly summary for the insects caught in the four insect traps at the BCCAC in Moorestown.

Trap 1 (Black Cut Worm) – 1 each black cut worm and spider

Trap 2 (European Corn Borer) - 1 each spider and grasshopper.

Trap 3 (Fall Army Worm) - 1 each fall army worm, stink bug, katydid.

Trap 4 (Corn Ear Worm) – 1 stinkbug.

Trap 5 (Stink Bug) – None.

Compiled by John Siemanowski

IPM Notes from September 24, 2015

The winter rye is sprouting where the field corn was harvested. This despite having no rain. This is due to the moisture retained in the soil. Where the field corn was previously, the concern for next year will be the amount of weeded plants, corn borers and root worms that may be an issue for next year's crop. Root worm larvae will overwinter in the soil and can damage the plants roots next spring. They also may be resistant to BT corn. There was no sign of slugs in the soil.

Also discussed in the former field corn today was the issue of nutrient removal. As the corn is harvested and taken away, so much of the nutrient elements go with it. But the remains of the corn plant in the field also leave valuable nutrients like phosphorus and potassium. By doing it this way, and with a proper soil test analysis, a farmer will not need to fertilize as much for next year.

The soybeans are drying down, and the plants loose leaves based on day length, which is now shorter. The beans are small due to the lack of rain.

Walking through the alfalfa field there was quite a few grasshoppers, moths and leafhoppers flying around. They're there because it's the greenest field around for this time of year. Despite these insects the alfalfa field looks good. It shows no feeding damage or crinkling leaves. The field will be harvested again in the near future.

Below is the weekly summary for the insects caught in the four insect traps at the BCCAC in Moorestown.

Trap 1 (Black Cut Worm) – 3 black cut worm.

Trap 2 (European Corn Borer) - 1 each spider, grasshopper, mayfly, damsel fly.

Trap 3 (Fall Army Worm) - 5 fall army worm.

Trap 4 (Corn Ear Worm) – 6 noctuid.

Trap 5 (Stink Bug) – None.

Compiled by John Siemanowski

IPM Notes from September 17, 2015

As mentioned last week the field corn has been harvested. Yesterday the field was seeded with a cover crop, winter rye. This will prevent soil erosion, keep the weeds to a minimum and keep the soil moist for the spring.

The soybean plants have grasshoppers and beetles feeding on the leaf edge. The stinkbugs are also piercing the pods searching for moisture. The soybeans are drying down, but the beans are small. Due to the moisture in the morning and the hot dry days, there is the concern the pods will crack open. Also, the bronzing effect on the leaves, called cercopera, can cause possible purple seed stain on the bean. Knowing this, it may be a better idea to try a more resistant soybean plant for next year. Some of the soybean crop will be harvested in two weeks.

In the demonstration plots the strawberry plants look well, except that the Chandler June bearing plants are showing beetle and grasshopper damage. The pumpkin plot also did well this year, and the master gardeners learned that to grow giant pumpkins organically is a lot of hard work every day.

Below is the weekly summary for the insects caught in the four insect traps at the BCCAC in Moorestown.

Trap 1 (Black Cut Worm) – 2 fall armyworm.

Trap 2 (European Corn Borer) - 1 each spider, milkweed bug and cucumber beetle.

Trap 3 (Fall Army Worm) - 6 fall armyworm.

Trap 4 (Corn Ear Worm) – 9 noctuid.

Trap 5 (Stink Bug) – 2 stink bugs.


Notes compiled by John Siemanowski.