NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

September 24, 1998

Is That a Stones' Tune?

The crickets are chirping their annual chorus, a song that should be sending a particular message to those concerned about insects and other arthropods invading their homes. If humans ever become capable of deciphering the sounds these arthropods make by rubbing their back legs together, maybe, just maybe, the discovery will reveal that these critters are singing their version of the Rolling Stones' classic "Gimme Shelter."

"The movement by these casual invaders to find shelter happens when temperatures begin to fall," says Phil Glogoza, extension entomologist at North Dakota State University.

Besides crickets, Glogoza says the critters home owners and many apartment dwellers are likely to notice as temperatures cool include spiders, sowbugs (pillbugs) and millipedes, as well as a variety of plant bugs, such as stink bugs and box elder bugs.

"A lot of these insects are in the landscape, so they're already in close proximity to the home. Their point of entry is often cracks or crevices in the foundation," Glogoza explains.

So what should home owners do?

"The most important thing it to exclude them—keep them outside," Glogoza says.

Caulking cracks in foundations and making sure the weatherstripping around the bottoms of screen and storm doors is tight are two easy remedies. For more serious problems, Glogoza suggests using insecticides to create a barrier around the house. Start where the foundation contacts the ground and spray 2 to 3 feet out from the foundation. In addition, spray 2 feet up on the house.

"There shouldn't be any problems with insecticides changing the color of the paint on houses or anything like that," Glogoza adds.

Treating with insecticides will reduce insect populations so there will be fewer getting in. Home owners can choose from three insecticides for this type of treatment: Diazinon, Dursban and Permethrin, all of which are available through retail outlets. Hiring a pest control company to make insecticide applications is another option.

"If insects do enter the home, we're really not talking about any damage. There's no feeding and no reproducing," continues Glogoza.

In fact, the indoor environment a home provides these critters is not that hospitable. It's often too dry, and many of the bugs that invade homes in this region may die with no help whatsoever from human hands. For that reason, Glogoza doesn't recommend using insecticides indoors to treat infestations. Instead, he says, "When you do encounter them, dead or alive, the best thing to do is to sweep or vacuum them up."

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Source: Phil Glogoza (701) 231-7915

Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136