Fall Pest Prevention Checklist for Tri-State Homes

As temperatures start to drop across Huntington, Ashland, and Ironton, a few familiar pests start looking for a warm place to spend the winter — usually your house. Stink bugs and Asian lady beetles are the two most common fall invaders in our area, and both share the same habit: clustering on sunny, south- and west-facing walls in late summer before squeezing through any gap they can find.

Why fall is different

Unlike ants or roaches, these pests aren't after food inside your home — they're after shelter. That means the usual indoor traps and sprays don't do much good. The real fix is sealing up the exterior and treating the areas they gather before they ever get inside.

A quick prevention checklist

• Seal gaps around windows and doors. Check weatherstripping and caulk any visible gaps, especially on sunny-facing walls.
• Repair damaged window screens. Even small tears are enough for stink bugs to slip through.
• Check soffits and vents. These are the #1 entry point for both stink bugs and lady beetles.
• Reduce exterior lighting near entry points in early fall, since it attracts more activity right where they're already trying to get in.
• Look at your attic access points. Once a few hundred pests get into an attic space, they tend to come back to the same spot year after year.

When prevention isn't enough

If you're already seeing bugs clustering on your siding, sealing gaps alone won't clear out what's already there. A full exterior perimeter treatment covering the foundation, soffits, vents, and attic access points is the most effective fix — see our stink bug and occasional invader service for details, or check out our current Fall Special for a discounted treatment with an extended warranty through the end of September.