Occasional Invader Identification & Prevention

What are occasional invaders?

Occasional invaders are pests that live outside in our yards and outdoor spaces throughout most of the year. They are usually happy outside until the weather makes it so they can't live comfortably.

Occasional invaders tend to have high moisture needs, and our homes provide them with the sources of water they are looking for. In the Las Vegas area, there are three different occasional invaders that property owners deal with regularly: boxelder bugs, crickets, and silverfish.

Boxelder Bugs

Boxelder bugs have a striking color pattern that helps identify them — a black body, with their wings and thorax outlined in an orange-red color. Nymphs look like small adults but are bright red.

Crickets

Crickets have rounded heads, long thin antennae, and wings that are bent down at an angle. Crickets also have a pair of back legs larger and stronger than the rest of their legs. Their back legs provide them with the ability to jump that crickets are known for.

Silverfish

Silverfish have a carrot-shaped body and are gray and covered in metallic scales. They move using a distinctive wiggling fish-like manner. These insects have three long tail-like appendages that emerge from the end of their body.

Are occasional invaders dangerous?

"Danger" is not the middle name of occasional invaders. These pests don't cause significant damage to structures, nor do they harm people. However, having any pest crawling throughout your home is never ideal as they will contaminate food and surfaces with the bacteria they carry on their body.

Other potential problems that occasional invaders cause include chewing on fabrics and paper, staining surfaces with excrement, and being difficult to eliminate once they find a way into your house.

Why do I have an occasional invader problem?

Leaky pipes, dripping air conditioners, and pooling water are the biggest reasons occasional invaders are attracted to the outside of your home. As they move around its exterior, they find a way inside through openings they discover. Foundation walls, exterior doors, and crawl spaces are common entry points.

The desert climate found in our area is the biggest reason occasional invaders are driven indoors.

Where will I find occasional invaders?

After occasional invaders move into a home, they will move to dark, quiet areas like attics, wall voids, and crawl spaces. They can find the moisture they seek from leaky pipes, drains, sinks, and tubs. 

Boxelder bugs also live outside and feed on the leaves, stems, and branches of boxelder trees and other seed-bearing trees.

Silverfish and crickets all live outside under mulch, landscape ties, woodpiles, rocks, and shrubbery that typically border our homes. The damp soil that collects under trash cans, recycling bins, and compost containers is also an ideal place for these pests to gather.

How do I get rid of occasional invaders?

At Anderson Pest Control, we understand how frustrating occasional invaders can be, popping up at the most inopportune times. To combat these pests, we offer excellent customer service and effective, ethical pest control solutions to eliminate occasional invaders and prevent them from returning throughout the year.

Using Integrated Pest Management (IPM), we combine our proven pest control methods with our knowledge of pest biology and habits to provide our customers with a long-term pest solution. If you are ready to learn more about our family-owned company and the residential or commercial pest control solutions we offer, reach out to Anderson Pest Control today!

How can I prevent occasional invaders in the future?

In addition to our home pest control and commercial pest control services, protect your property from pests with the following prevention tips:

• Maintain your yard and landscaping. Dense vegetation can provide occasional invaders with places to live near your home's exterior.
• Cut back tree branches and shrubs from the outside walls of your house.
• Occasional invaders like to hide in clutter. Keep basements, closets, and other storage areas in your home free of excess clutter.
• Place trash cans and recycling bins away from the outside walls of your home.
• Get rid of access points by sealing cracks in the foundation, placing door sweeps on exterior doors, and sealing spaces around utilities moving into your home.
• Reduce moisture levels in your home by repairing leaky pipes and adequately ventilating your basement or crawl space.