Occasional Invader

admin 7/10/2022

Occasional invaders are types of insects that occasionally, or intermittently, enter homes and other structures throughout the year. These insects usually gather together and enter homes in large numbers when the weather becomes too cold, hot, wet, or dry for them to live comfortably outdoors. As their name suggests, occasional invaders are a species of insect that occasionally enter homes and other structures throughout the year. They usually enter homes in large groups when the weather outside becomes unsuitable for them to live successfully. Occasional invaders live outside near homes and other structures, allowing them to easily move inside through cracks, crevices, and other openings to take advantage of our temperature-controlled buildings. Many occasional invaders move indoors in the late fall seeking warm shelter in which to overwinter. When the weather warms back up in the. Occasional invader control begins outside by caulking cracks around windows, doors, siding, and screening around utility pipe entry points. Repair or replace damaged window and door screens, as well as damaged weather stripping and loose bricks/mortar. What are occasional invaders? The term occasional invaders is a catchall grouping for pests that invade homes from time to time because outside weather conditions become hostile to their survival. What types of pests fall into this group?

Occasional Invaders Pest
Occasional Invaders
Occasional Invader Bugs

Occasional invaders typically are more of a nuisance than a threat to food safety to commercial facilities but don’t think they can’t cause a headache or two.

Even though instances are rare, occasional invaders can contaminate food products if they gain access to food storage areas and land on unprocessed seeds, grains or flour.

Third-party auditors and inspectors also do not differentiate between a boxelder bug and German cockroach – if a pest is found inside a food processing or distribution it can lead to points being deducted or even a failed audit.

The extreme weather the Western U.S. has experienced this winter – heavy snow and rain – is delaying the arrival of many occasional invaders but appearances can be deceiving.

Most occasional invaders are overwintering pests meaning they can already be inside your facility – likely nesting in drop ceilings, according to Ashley Roden, training specialist with Sprague.

“When clients see cluster flies emerge inside an office or break room on one of the first warm spring days they assume they are coming in from the outside but in fact they are seeing them as they try to leave the building,” says Roden.

If your facility has drop ceilings they should be inspected at least once a year for the presence of occasional invaders and other unwanted pests.

What occasional invaders are poised to be a nuisance this spring? Roden says the brown marmorated stink bug, Asian lady beetle and boxelder bug are likely to be found this spring trying in and around commercial facilities.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

They can be significant nuisance pests, especially in areas where agriculture production is prevalent, and are a threat to crops including fruit, grapes and tree nuts. An invasive species to most of the regions Sprague services, stink bugs will collect on the sunny side of structures in large numbers and their presence will disturb employees and visitors alike.

Asian Lady Beetle

Another invasive pest, the Asian Lady Beetle is attracted to multi-color structures and has been found often near healthcare facilities and pharmaceutical plants. They will gather on the outside of a building and attempt to gain access, and larger populations will emit an unpleasant odor. Some research indicates they leave a pheromone behind that could explain why they revisit structures annually and their small size makes identifying access points difficult.

Boxelder Bug

Found across Sprague’s operating area – except the Puget Sound and western Oregon – these pests are native to the Western U.S. and will overwinter inside structures. Clients will likely see them as they attempt to go back outdoors in the spring and hiding on the sides of buildings.

Prevention is the Key to Success

To keep occasional invaders on the outside looking in this spring (and all year around) facility and property managers need to focus their efforts on exclusion practices.

Facilities located near agriculture production areas or bodies of water (i.e. streams, rivers, retention ponds, etc.) are more susceptible to occasional invaders since pests, like stink and boxelder bugs, are major threats to agriculture crops.

What steps can facilities take to thwart occasional invaders?

Strategic placement of light traps (facing the interior of the building) in shipping areas and near loading docks.
Install screens on windows, and roof and utility vents –make sure the screens do not have tears or openings.
Install screens with tightly woven mesh to prevent small pests from slipping through and gaining access.
Adjust exterior lighting in parking lots to attract occasional pests away from structures.
Ensure there is positive air flow in your facility with air blowing out.
Maintain the landscape on the exterior of your facility by mowing the grass regularly, trimming shrubs and trees, and eliminating excess vegetation that serve as a food and or harborage source for occasional invaders.

“It is hard to pinpoint and eliminate all the conducive conditions in the surrounding area of a facility that promote occasional invaders and that is why hardening your facility through good exclusion practices is a must,” adds Roden.

What are occasional invaders?

Occasional invaders are those pests that live outside most of the time but, at some points throughout the year, decide to invade your home or business and take advantage of its temperature-controlled environment and access to food sources. Occasional pests can also be accidentally and unknowingly introduced onto your property by people or pets.

Some of the most common species of occasional invaders found living throughout our area of Greater Baltimore include the following:

Beetles (Coleoptera)
Beetles come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They have well-developed antennae and chewing mouthparts, as well as shell-like front wings that cover their back wings. Most species also have a well-defined line running down their backs where their front wings meet. Beetles, depending on their species, feed on a variety of things including fabrics, plants, other insects, stored grains, and wood.

Centipedes (Chilopoda)
Centipedes are a predatory species that feed on insects and spiders. They have long, flat, segmented bodies that range in color from yellowish-gray to darkish-brown. Centipedes have one pair of legs per body segment; the first pair of their limbs (maxillipeds) ends in sharp claws and contains venom glands used to capture and paralyze prey.

Fleas (Siphonaptera)
Fleas feed solely on the blood of mammals. Adult fleas are very small in size, growing to about 1/12 to 1/6 of an inch. They have hard, flattened bodies that are dark brown in color and very difficult to squish. Fleas have six legs; they are wingless and incapable of flight, but their long, powerful hind legs allow them to jump great distances.

Millipedes (Diplopoda)
Millipedes look very similar to worms but can have anywhere from 30 to 90 pairs of legs. They are dark brown in color and approximately 3/4 to 1 inch long. When threatened, millipedes will curl up into tight balls. These occasional invaders are scavengers that have high moisture needs and cannot survive in dry environments.

Mosquitoes (Culicidae)
Adult mosquitoes have narrow, oval-shaped bodies with long legs, a single pair of wings, and long, piercing mouthparts called proboscises that they use for sucking up liquids. Their bodies are black or gray and covered with iridescent scales that can be blue, green, silver, or white in color. Both male and female mosquitoes feed on the nectar of flowers as their main food source; only females feed on the blood of humans and animals, as they require the protein in blood to produce their eggs.

Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina)
Silverfish have brown, teardrop-shaped bodies that are covered in gray scales. They are wingless and can grow to about 3/4 of an inch in length. They also have three distinct, bristle-like appendages protruding from the back of their bodies. Silverfish move from place to place in a wriggling, fish-like manner.

Stink bugs (Halyomorpha halys)
Stink bugs are agricultural pests that typically invade homes in large numbers during the fall. Stink bugs are as wide as they are long; they have mottled, brown or tan bodies with copper or metallic blue-colored patches on their heads. As their name suggests, these insects release a very foul-smelling liquid when threatened or squished.

Ticks (Ixodida)
Like fleas, ticks are external parasitic pests that feed solely on blood. Ticks are a type of arachnid and adults have eight legs. These pests have wingless, oval-shaped bodies that swell and grow in size after consuming a blood meal, though their exact size and color pattern is species dependent.

Are occasional invaders dangerous?

Depending on their species, most occasional invaders are considered nuisance pests. Some, however, do have the potential to be dangerous. Parasitic pests such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes have the potential to transmit diseases to people and our pets, while beetles have the potential to contaminate food and cause damage to personal items. Occasional invaders like centipedes, millipedes, and stink bugs all can invade your home or commercial property in large numbers and become a huge annoyance to deal with.

Why do I have an occasional invader problem?

Most occasional invaders will make their way indoors when the weather outside becomes unsuitable for them to live comfortably. These occasional invaders can also be accidentally introduced into your home or business on objects that are brought in from outside such as boxes, furniture, newspapers, packages, and potted plants.

Fleas and ticks can be introduced into your home or business on people or pets that have come into contact with them while spending time outdoors. Mosquitoes often will find their way inside accidentally while foraging for food and can become a huge problem on any property with standing water on which they can lay their eggs.

Where will I find occasional invaders?

Occasional invaders can often be found living outside in dark, damp places like under mulch, under overgrown shrubs or bushes, under landscaping ties or rocks, in tall grasses, and landscaped areas. Depending on the species, however, these occasional invaders can live in a variety of locations. Parasitic pests such as fleas and ticks are more often than not found on the backs of their hosts. When living inside, occasional invaders take up residence in dark, humid, hard-to-reach areas of a home or business such as in basements, bathrooms, crawlspaces, laundry rooms, and behind wall voids.

How do I get rid of occasional invaders?

To get rid of occasional invaders, we recommend contacting a pest control company with the experience, knowledge, and tools required to completely eliminate the infestation. Phenom Pest Protection is a local, family-owned business committed to offering phenomenal service and results. We customize our treatment process to ensure your property's specific needs are met. To learn more about our effective pest control services offered to properties throughout Greater Baltimore, contact Phenom Pest Protection today!

How can I prevent occasional invaders in the future?

In addition to our home pest control and commercial pest control services, protect your property from pests with the following prevention tips:

Exterior tips