Learning to identify the season’s most common (and annoying) pests is the first step to getting rid of them
Spring is primetime for insects, as many of these pests will show up indoors after lying dormant in the warmth of your home’s walls all winter long. Once the first flowers bloom, you may spot several insects buzzing about your house, which is never a welcome sight.
Use this guide to identify the most common spring bugs that may pay you a visit this year. We also offer some helpful DIY bug control tips for spring to help you manage any pests you discover in your home.
As temperatures warm, snow melts, and rain pours, termites may begin to make their way into your woodwork. These infamous pests chew through the wooden parts of a home, causing structural damage to house frames and flooring and ruining aesthetic elements like wallpaper.
Termites are attracted to wet wood and moisture, which can accumulate in your home when ice dams form in your gutters and force water under your shingles. Though you may not always see them, termites are found in every U.S. state except Alaska but are particularly common in warmer states. Signs of an infestation include discarded wings and blistering paint or mud tubes outside your home.
To help control termites and prevent an infestation, have your home inspected every one to three years or more frequently if you live in a warm climate. You can also do the following:
Remove fallen tree limbs from your yard and roof.
Leave a gap between any mulch and your home's foundation.
Ensure all your gutters and downspouts are aligned and working.
Store firewood at least 20 feet from your home and 5 inches off the ground.
You’ll commonly see the odorous house ant in your kitchen after a spring rain. Water puts these ants’ outdoor environments under stress, causing them to seek shelter indoors. Odorous house ants are common throughout the country, so chances are you’ve come across them. The best way to get rid of ants is to practice good hygiene in your kitchen, although you can and should hire a local ant control service for severe problems.
Other common ant types are more regionally specific and can be identified by their behavior:
Carpenter ants: Common in the north, these ants dig tunnels into wood to build nests.
Red imported fire ants: Found mostly in the south, these ants sting and bite.
Rasberry crazy ants: Only in the south and common in Texas, these ants are attracted to electrical equipment, which they can damage.
Cockroaches live everywhere. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that 63% of homes in the United States are impacted by some type of roaches.
These insects don’t typically damage property, but they create health risks with their tendency to travel through sewer systems, carrying pathogens and bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli. Many people are also allergic to cockroaches.
Cockroaches are attracted by moisture, so you can prevent them by sealing cracks and holes around utility pipes, mortar, and weatherstripping. Regularly clean your countertops, take out the trash, and keep tree branches and shrubbery trimmed away from your home.
Many spring insects actually first infiltrate your home the previous fall when temperatures begin to drop, lying dormant inside your walls until warmer weather returns. Cluster flies, which resemble large common house flies with patches of yellow hairs under their wings, are one such pest. They are commonly found swarming in attics during the winter.
In the spring, you may notice cluster flies flying around your home and bouncing against windows, or dead in large groups on your windowsills or near doors.
You can take preventative measures against them in August. Seal all windows, cracks in siding, and gaps around doors or plumbing using caulk or a similar sealant. Use wire screening on all windows, and keep doors and windows closed as much as possible in the fall.
You can recognize boxelder bugs by their dark gray bodies and bright red stripes. They get their name from the boxelder maple trees that make up their meals. Like cluster flies, they may enter your home in the fall and become active in spring, emitting a smelly odor and staining curtains and fabrics.
While they won’t harm you, they can be a nuisance. You can keep them from entering your home by sealing off cracks or gaps on the exterior of your home, especially in areas where the sun hits. You can also remove any boxelder maples on your property or prune their branches back away from your home.
Another widespread household flying insect, larder beetles are small, round, and dark brown. They seek out organic matter to feed on, from dead bugs and animals to furniture, clothing, rugs, and stored food such as meat, seeds, and dog food. Their larvae tend to bore into wooden house framing, causing structural damage.
Look for larder beetles in your kitchen cupboards as the weather starts to warm, and throw away any infested foods. All food items, especially pet food, should be stored in an airtight container to prevent future infestations. Seal access points to your home, such as gaps around piping or vents in your attic, and regularly clean any leather, wool, or fur furniture and decor items.
What may look like a native ladybug may actually be a multicolored invasive species. Found across North America, but native to Asia, these bugs range from red to yellow to black and become particularly active in homes in the spring. You may see them flying around, climbing your windows, or crawling on your furniture, though you may smell their foul odor first.
Like with the other pests on this list, you’ll need to seal small openings on your home’s exterior with caulk or a similar sealant. Potential entryways include exterior wiring, fascia boards, soffits, windows, and doors. Installing door sweeps on exterior doors can also prevent their entry. If you see a stray lady beetle, you can simply sweep it up or vacuum it to get rid of it.
You can spot stink bugs by their brown, shield-shaped body or the foul odor they emit. As with cluster flies, you’ll need to be proactive to manage a stink bug invasion. In addition to sealing openings on your home’s exterior, you can trap stink bugs in your home’s walls and keep them out of living spaces by securing ceiling fixtures, electrical outlets, and light switches.
You should also replace damaged screens and remove any debris near your home’s entrances. Check around houseplants and vacuum up any stink bugs that have infiltrated your home.
Another stink bug species, Kudzu bugs are spherical brown and green insects similar in size to a ladybug. You may spot them on windowsills or around door frames. They won’t damage your home, but they do smell bad, stain fabrics, and can irritate your skin if touched. You can simply vacuum them up and dispose of them when you spot one.
Kudzu bugs are attracted to light-colored homes, decor, and accent pieces. One way to prevent an infestation is to paint your home’s exterior a darker color. You can also trim back wisteria, a plant that they commonly eat and make their home. As with most pests on this list, keep all access points, such as vent openings, windows, doors, cracks, holes, and eaves sealed.
