The fall invasion every southwest Michigan homeowner knows
On a warm afternoon in late September, the south side of the house is suddenly covered in bugs. Brown marmorated stink bugs, boxelder bugs, multicolored Asian lady beetles and cluster flies all have the same plan: find a crack in the siding, crawl into the wall void, and wait out the winter. Then on the first sunny day in February they show up on your windows and lampshades.
They don’t bite or eat wood, but they stain curtains and walls, smell bad when you crush them (stink bugs especially), and come back in bigger numbers every year if nothing changes. Our general pest control plans are timed to stop them.
Meet the fall invaders
- Brown marmorated stink bug: shield-shaped and mottled brown, about 5/8 inch long. Smells sharp and musty when disturbed.
- Boxelder bug: black with red-orange markings. Swarms on and near boxelder and maple trees and on sunny walls.
- Multicolored Asian lady beetle: looks like a ladybug but ranges from orange to red with varying spots. Can leave a yellow, smelly stain and occasionally pinches.
- Cluster fly: a slow, sluggish fly that gathers in attics and upper-floor windows.
How our seasonal treatment stops them
Timing matters more than anything with these pests, so our plan visits are built around their calendar:
- Fall visit (August-November): stink bugs, boxelder bugs, lady beetles and cluster flies all start crawling under siding and into cracks and crevices to reach the wall voids. The fall treatment stops this in its tracks.
- Winter visit (November-March): interior applications for insects that are already trying to overwinter inside, which drastically cuts down lady beetle, stink bug and boxelder bug populations.
- Spring visit (March-May): targets the boxelder bugs and stink bugs coming back out, along with early ants and spiders.
Plans and pricing
All plans include interior and exterior service and start with a $165 initial visit:
- Organic Gold: $96.25 a visit, monthly, unlimited free service calls between visits
- Organic Silver: $99.25 a visit, 7 visits a year, 2 free service calls a year
- Organic Bronze: $112.93 a visit, quarterly, 1 free service call a year
No contract. Our plans are pay-as-you-go, and you can cancel anytime. A $50 cancellation fee applies.
Scheduling: on every plan, the first two visits are two weeks apart.
Insect-only service (no rodent treatment) is $10 off per visit on Gold or Silver and $15 off on Bronze.
Only need the outside of the house treated? Our exterior-only summer building spray is $99 per visit, April-October. See the full price list.
What you can do now
- Seal gaps around window air conditioners, siding seams, utility lines and soffits.
- Repair torn window and door screens.
- Vacuum up bugs that get inside (don’t crush them) and empty the bag outside.
- If you can, call before mid-September. Prevention beats chasing them indoors.
We wrote more about this in our blog post, Why Mice and Stink Bugs Move Into Kalamazoo Homes in October.
Frequently asked questions
It’s already October and they’re inside. Is it too late?
No. The winter visit targets insects overwintering inside, and starting a plan now sets you up for a proper fall treatment next year.
Are stink bugs dangerous?
No. They don’t bite people or pets or damage the structure. They’re a nuisance, and they smell.
Will you treat the boxelder tree in my yard?
Our plans treat the house, where the bugs try to get in. For tree pests and diseases, see our tree care service.
Is the treatment safe for my family?
We use organic, FIFRA-exempt essential oils and botanicals with the safest profile we can find that still gets professional results.
Stop the fall invasion
Call (269) 459-1788 or sign up online.