What Are Occasional Invader Pests And Should You Kill Them?

There are many pests that can come into the home and cause problems, including spiders, cockroaches, fleas, termites, and ants. While many insects that appear in your home plan to move in permanently, others have simply come inside for temporary comfort and shelter and won't lay eggs or multiply while inside. These insects may enter your home to escape adverse weather conditions or cold temperatures. These pests are known as occasional invader pests. 

While you likely don't want them in your home, killing occasional invader pests typically isn't necessary. They won't stay forever, and they won't multiply or cause a full-scale infestation, although they do sometimes come inside in larger numbers. Occasional invaders are often beneficial as well. They may feed on more problematic pests such as roaches, flies, aphids, and other types of bugs you definitely don't want living in your home. Outdoors, many occasional invaders will help improve the yard and garden. When you discover a common occasional invader in your home, the best thing to do is to simply catch it and then release it outside.

Many occasional invaders may come into your home throughout the year or on a seasonal basis. Common occasional invaders include centipedes, woodlice, pillbugs, ladybugs, and springtails, as well as various beetles and crickets. 

You may find that some occasional invaders can be challenging to identify and look like more dangerous pests. Earwigs, in particular, look very similar to roaches and are sometimes mistaken for them. Although earwigs have pincers and can bite you, they don't spread disease like cockroaches do. However, you'll still probably want to work to keep earwigs out of your house. Some creatures in your home could be seen as either a pest or an occasional invader. Certain spiders, for example, wander into the home without the intention to reproduce. Ground spiders, like wolf spiders, tend to fall into this category. 

Before doing anything about pests or occasional invaders, you'll want to determine the type of insect or arachnid that's present in your home. Understanding the pest or invader you're dealing with can help you decide the best course of action.

You don't need to kill occasional invaders to get rid of them. The best thing to do is to simply capture them and place them outside. If there's a significant number of them in your home, a good solution is to vacuum them and then place the vacuum bag in a garbage bag, ensuring that you seal it well. 

There are a few things you should do to prevent occasional invader pests from entering your home in the first place. As with preventing other types of pests, you need to seal up the exterior of your home. Look for cracks and problems with your walls, siding, and foundation. Use the perfect caulk and other tools to repair any problem spots. Also, avoid leaving windows and doors open to prevent them from coming in when you're not looking.

Minimizing moisture in your home in bathrooms, basements, and other damp areas can also help make your home less attractive to occasional invaders. You might also want to rethink the amount of outdoor lighting your home has at night. Reducing outdoor lighting a bit can prevent your home from drawing the attention of insects. While you'll likely want some outdoor lighting for security, you may want to consider whether you could do with a little less if you're having problems with occasional invader pests.