14 Common Fall Pests and How to Get Rid of Them

It’s fall, and you’ve suddenly started to notice all sorts of pests in and around your home.

What’s going on, and how should you address this new invasion?

Don’t worry – we’re here to help. At Pest Dude, we’ve been teaching homeowners to do their own pest control for more than 20 years!

In this blog, we share our top tips for identifying and eliminating pests and reclaiming your home this fall.

What Makes Pests Active During the Fall?

1. Food

Pests like rodents and insects ramp up their feeding activities in the fall, which helps them prepare for the colder months.

Many species also spend this season searching for and storing extra food.

2. Shelter

As the temperatures dip, pests seek refuge from the chill in warm, protected indoor spaces.

This leads to more pest sightings in your home.

3. Breeding Cycles

Some pests, like rodents and insects, breed in the fall, which makes it more likely that you’ll see them in and around your home.

4. Moisture Levels

Increased moisture during the fall attracts certain pests, especially those that thrive in damp conditions.

What Pests Come out in the Fall?

1. Ants

Identification: Small brown or black insects with segmented bodies and prominent elbowed antennae.

Habitat: They are often found in gardens, kitchens, and other areas where food is available. Outdoors, they build colonies in the ground, wood, or dense organic materials.

Damage: Can contaminate food and destroy household items.

Prevention and Management:

• Store food in airtight containers and quickly clean up spills and crumbs to reduce food sources for ants.
• Seal cracks and gaps around doors, windows, and foundations to prevent entry.
• Keep outdoor areas tidy by trimming vegetation and moving firewood away from your home to minimize nesting spots.
• Use ant baits and traps near ant trails.

2. Cockroaches

Identification: Brown or black, flat bodies with long antennae; can be up to 4 inches long.

Habitat: Prefer warm, dark places like kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.

Damage: Can spread diseases and contaminate food.

Prevention and Management:

• Regularly clean kitchens and dining areas to remove food debris and spills that attract cockroaches.
• Inspect your home for cracks and crevices, and seal them to keep cockroaches out.
• Since cockroaches thrive in damp environments, consider installing dehumidifiers in areas like basements and crawl spaces.
• Minimize clutter in your home, especially in storage areas, to reduce hiding spots for cockroaches.
• Place cockroach bait stations in areas where you’ve noticed activity.

3. Spiders

Identification: Spiders come in various sizes and colors, but all species have eight legs.

Habitat: Commonly found in corners of rooms, basements, and gardens.

Damage: While most spiders are harmless, some species have venomous bites.

Prevention and Management:

• Regularly dust and vacuum corners, baseboards, and hidden spots to clear out spider webs and egg sacs.
• Keep outdoor lighting low or switch to yellow bulbs to reduce the bugs that attract spiders.
• Trim back plants near your home’s foundation to close off any potential entry points for spiders.
• Seal any cracks or gaps in windows, doors, and walls to keep them out.

4. Centipedes

Identification: Flattened bodies with many segments, each with a pair of legs; can be brownish or yellow.

Habitat: Prefer damp environments, often found under stones, leaf litter, or basements.

Damage: Have venomous bites that can cause pain and discomfort.

Prevention and Management:

• Keep areas like basements and bathrooms dry by using dehumidifiers.
• Remove debris, such as leaves and grass clippings, from around your home’s foundation to reduce hiding spots.
• Seal gaps around windows, doors, and other entry points with caulk or weather stripping to keep centipedes out.
• Consider contacting a pest control professional for more extensive infestations.

5. Millipedes

Identification: Cylindrical bodies with two pairs of legs per body segment, typically brown or black.

Habitat: Thrive in moist, decaying plant material; often found outdoors in gardens or mulch.

Damage: Generally harmless but can cause minor damage to plants.

Prevention and Management:

• Reduce moisture in and around your home.
• Get rid of organic matter, like dead leaves and mulch, in your yard.
• Minimize outdoor lighting or use yellow bulbs.
• Use insecticides made for millipedes, and always follow the label instructions.

6. Earwigs

Identification: Dark brown, elongated torsos with pincers on the rear segments of their bodies, typically about an inch long.

Habitat: Often found in damp soil or decaying matter; frequently enter homes during wet conditions.

Damage: Primarily feed on plants, potentially damaging flowers and vegetables.

Prevention and Management:

• Get rid of garden debris like leaves and grass clippings.
• Fix broken or leaking faucets and fixtures and use dehumidifiers in basements and crawl spaces.
• Seal cracks around your home’s foundation, doors, and windows to keep earwigs out.
• Use commercial earwig traps.
• If you choose to use pesticides, follow the instructions carefully.

7. Fruit Flies

Identification: Small, light brown insects with red eyes, often found hovering around ripe or decaying fruit.

Habitat: Thrive in kitchens, particularly near overripe fruit, vegetables, and fermented products.

Damage: Their presence can lead to food spoilage and contamination.

Prevention and Management:

• Store fruits and vegetables in the fridge to slow ripening and keep fruit flies away.
• Regularly throw away overripe or rotten produce to eliminate breeding spots.
• Keep countertops and kitchen surfaces clean and free of spills, as fruit flies are drawn to sugary messes.
• Set out a small bowl of apple cider vinegar covered with plastic wrap (punch tiny holes in it first). This homemade trap will attract and kill the flies.
• Seal gaps in windows and doors to stop fruit flies from getting inside.

8. Stink Bugs

Identification: Shield-shaped insects with brown or green bodies that emit a foul odor when disturbed.

Habitat: Often found in gardens and homes during the fall when they’re seeking shelter

Damage: Feed on various plants, causing spots on fruit and affecting overall plant health.

Prevention and Management:

• Seal any cracks and openings around windows, doors, and foundations to prevent their entry.
• Use screens on windows and vents to keep stink bugs out.
• Regularly check for and remove any stink bugs you find inside your home.
• Clean up any debris and outdoor clutter, such as leaves and wood piles that may be hiding places.
• If infestations occur, consult a pest control professional for effective treatment options.

9. Cluster Flies

Identification: Larger than houseflies, with a gray color and golden hairs; sluggish in flight.

Habitat: Commonly found in homes during colder months as they seek warmth.

Damage: Generally harmless, but can be a nuisance when large numbers enter homes.

Prevention and Management:

• Make sure all windows and doors have screens to keep pests out.
• Check for and seal any gaps or cracks around windows, doors, and the foundation to close off entry points.
• Keep the kitchen and dining areas clean by quickly cleaning up spills and food leftovers.
• Store food in airtight containers to avoid attracting pests.
• Take out the garbage regularly and keep bins tightly closed.

10. Boxelder Bugs

Identification: Black with distinctive orange or red markings; flat and oval-shaped.

Habitat: Found primarily on boxelder trees but can enter homes during the fall.

Damage: Do not cause significant harm but can be a nuisance as they gather in large numbers.

Prevention and Management:

• Seal any gaps and cracks in the exterior of your home, particularly around windows, doors, and foundations, to prevent entry.
• Trim boxelder trees and remove any close to your home to reduce their breeding grounds.
• Use yellow or sodium vapor lights outdoors.
• Get rid of debris like leaves and woodpiles, which may provide shelter for these pests.
• Consider using insecticidal soap or other treatments in the fall when boxelder bugs begin to seek warmth indoors.

11. Wasps

Identification: Slender, segmented, yellow and black bodies with two pairs of wings.

Habitat: Nests in eaves, trees, and underground.

Damage: Aggressive when threatened; stings can be painful.

Prevention and Management:

• Seal entry points in your home’s exterior to prevent wasps from getting inside.
• Remove outdoor food sources such as pet food, trash, or picnic leftovers that may attract wasps.
• Install traps around the yard in early spring before wasps become active.
• Keep garbage bins tightly closed and dispose of waste promptly to reduce attractants.
• Regularly check for and eliminate any wasp nests early in the season, preferably at night when wasps are less active.

12. Mice

Identification: Small, furry creatures with long tails and large ears, typically gray or brown.

Habitat: Live in homes, gardens, and fields, often nesting in walls or attics.

Damage: Can chew through wires and insulation and contaminate food.

Prevention and Management:

• Seal cracks and holes in walls, windows, and foundations to eliminate entry points for mice.
• Store food in airtight containers and promptly clean up crumbs or spills to remove food sources.
• To reduce nesting opportunities, keep clutter to a minimum, particularly in storage areas.
• Use snap or live traps strategically in areas where mouse activity is suspected.
• Regularly inspect your property for signs of mice, such as droppings or gnaw marks, and act quickly if you notice any signs of an infestation.

13. Rats

Identification: Larger than mice, with thicker bodies and shorter tails, usually dark brown or gray.

Habitat: Often found in urban areas, sewers, and near food supplies.

Damage: Similar to mice, with additional risks of spreading disease.

Prevention and Management:

• Eliminate potential food sources by securing garbage in tightly sealed bins and cleaning up pet food and birdseed.
• Block entry points by sealing gaps and holes in walls, foundations, and around utility lines.
• Keep outdoor spaces tidy by trimming overgrown shrubs and removing debris that could provide shelter.
• Use traps, such as snap traps or bait stations, in areas with signs of rat activity.
• Consider employing professional pest control services for large infestations or when DIY methods are insufficient.
• Monitor your property regularly for signs of rats, such as droppings, gnaw marks, or burrows, and take immediate action if detected.

14. Squirrels 

Identification: Small to medium-sized rodents with bushy tails and sharp incisors, typically gray, brown, or black.

Habitat: Commonly found in trees, parks, and urban areas, building nests in tree branches or attics.

Damage: They can cause damage to gardens by digging up plants, and they may chew on wires and insulation when they enter homes.

Prevention and Management:

• Secure trash bins with tight-fitting lids to prevent scavenging.
• Remove bird feeders or use squirrel-proof feeders to limit access to food sources.
• Trim tree branches close to your home to eliminate potential access points.
• Seal entry points into your home, such as gaps in roofs, attics, and vents, to prevent squirrels from nesting.
• Consider consulting with professional pest control if infestations become a persistent issue.

Looking for a Pest Control Pro? We Can Help.

Are you sick of sharing your space with pests?

Contact Pest Dude at (844) 532-0076, and we’ll connect you with a trusted local pro who can help eliminate pest infestations in your area.