Insect Populations at their Highest in Fall - by Kimberly Dishongh

First posted on 09-26-2008

LITTLE ROCK - Fall is on its way, but insects are likely to keep bugging you for a while longer in spite of the dropping temperatures.

“The basic tenet here is that insect populations increase through the summer, and all insect populations are pretty much at their highest point in the fall,” says Dr. John Hopkins, entomologist with the University of Arkansas Department of Agriculture.

Crickets, for example, can be a real nuisance this time of year, says Hopkins, as they clamor to make their way into homes to escape the cooler weather.

To keep the noisy pests out, make sure the seals under doors are intact, and check for other ways they might get into your home. Caulking around gas, water and other conduits that enter your home and any cracks in your home’s foundation, is also a good strategy.

A perimeter spray - usually something with a residual pyrethroid insecticide - can get a large cricket population under control, says Hopkins. Your county extension agent can offer guidance regarding which insecticide might work best.

Then there are multicolored Asian lady beetles, otherwise known as ladybugs, and boxelder bugs.

“Always remember that there are certain insects that do come in in the fall and try to over winter in your home,” says Hopkins. “If you had them last year doesn’t mean you’ll have them this year, but if you’ve had them a couple of years in a row then you can probably expect them again. If you haven’t had a problem with these nuisance pests, cross your fingers and you may never have a problem.”

Again, a residual insecticide barrier can help to control an invasion. People moving houseplants inside for the winter might want to spend a little extra time making sure they won’t be inadvertently bringing in bugs as well.

Hopkins suggests relocating a plant from the spot where it’s been all summer to a new place, still outside, and observing to see if there is evidence of insect inhabitants - an ant colony, for example.

There are various insecticides that can be used to eliminate infestations in houseplants, as well. Hopkins recommends checking with your county extension agent for more information or consulting MP144, 2008 Insecticide Recommendations for Arkansas, online at http://www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/publications/HTML/MP-144.asp.

From a health standpoint, mosquitoes are the biggest concern during the fall, because they have the ability to transmit diseases.

“It’s important that you wear your repellent and protect yourselves this time of year,” says Hopkins.

Mosquitoes are most prevalent at dawn and dusk, so it’s a good idea for people to avoid being outside at those times of day when possible.

Eliminating standing water also minimizes the opportunity for mosquitoes to breed, says Hopkins, so check your property for spots where water might collect, like dishes under potted plants.

For more information about insect control, visit the extension’s Web site, http://www.uaex.edu, or contact your county extension agent. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture