Fall Bug Prevention Tips
Timely tips and tricks on ways to recognize and get rid of these pests trying to take over your home and garden!
Fall is a beautiful time of year with changing leaves, cozy sweaters, and pumpkin spice everything. But along with the changing leaves, fall also brings an influx of bugs. There are many types of bugs that are commonly found during the fall season. As the weather starts to cool down, these bugs seek shelter and food sources indoors, leading to an increase in pest problems. Common fall bugs include stinkbugs, cabbage loopers, yellow jackets, and stinkbugs.
But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with some fall bug prevention tips to keep the bugs from ruining your fall. Whether it’s garden invaders munching on your beloved cabbages or uninvited houseguests with many legs, keep an eye out for these little troublemakers! Give these fun and creative bug prevention strategies a whirl to show them whose boss and send them packing!
Fall Bug In the Garden – Cabbage Looper
These classic-looking green inchworms earned their title because when they move, they bring their back legs almost completely underneath them in a loop. But that is where the cuteness ends. Throughout the entire season, they eat and defecate on cole crops (the word “cole” means stem), such as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. You can reduce their numbers if you use a barrier, like a floating row cover, but if the cabbage looper finds your plants first, you’ll have to handpick the pests from your crops or treat them with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) to eliminate the insects.
Fall Bug That Can Ruin Outdoor Events – Yellowjackets
With their bright yellow and black coloration that screams, “Stay away from me!” yellowjackets have a reputation for being the bad characters on the block. They crash picnics and parties all summer and are notorious for monopolizing fallen apples and any other ripening fruit in the fall. The best you can do at this time of the year is to be vigilant. Be careful in the garden because they will sting seemingly without provocation, and try to harvest when the mornings are cool and the yellowjackets are slow.
Fall Home Invader – Box Elder Bugs
Named after their favorite snack, box elder bugs prefer the box elder tree, although they will also feed upon other ash varieties and maples. While they don’t do a lot of damage to the trees themselves, they become a pest when they try to move in with you in the fall. Some people have thousands in their homes, as the box elder bugs enter in an attempt to find a good place to spend the winter. Seal every crack and crevice in your home before the weather chills to prevent them from finding their way indoors. And, if they do congregate inside, use a vacuum to evict them.
Fall Least Loved Bug – Stinkbugs
The brown marmorated stinkbug, or simply stinkbug for short, is a prehistoric-looking, slow-moving bug that when crushed or threatened, emits a foul-smelling odor. They are becoming an increasingly problematic agricultural pest — the herbivorous insects inject their sharp, pointy mouths into fruit and other crops, leaving behind rotted areas that make them unviable for sale as fresh produce. As the weather turns colder, these bugs start invading homes in search of a warm place to spend the winter.
To keep stinkbugs from devouring your garden, you can sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth beneath growing watermelon, cantaloupe, squash, and all fruits and vegetables resting on the ground, as well as on plant leaves. While the above remedies are deterrents, you can also make a solution of mild soapy water with dish soap, and spray directly on the stink bugs to kill them.
Read more about stink bugs and how to get rid of them here.
Amy Grisak
Amy Grisak is a freelance writer, blogger, and photographer specializing in gardening, local food, and stories about her home state of Montana. She enjoys sharing her experiences with self-reliant living and outdoor recreation. Her article on the "hugelkultur" gardening technique appears in the 2021 Farmers' Almanac. You can follow her topics on her site, AmyGrisak.com.
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Amy Grisak#molongui-disabled-link
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Amy Grisak#molongui-disabled-link
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Amy Grisak#molongui-disabled-link
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Amy Grisak#molongui-disabled-link
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How do I get rid of fruit flies?
cabbage beetles are eating the leaves of my cabbage plants. Is there a homemade solution to get rid of these pests?
Hi Opal, try some of these: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/combat-garden-pests-naturally-20886
My grapevines are about 4 years old. I planted them mainly to pick the young leaves to can. The plants have white tiny bugs and little blackish round bugs and spiders. What can I do to get rid of these pests? Also the grapes never seem to grow. I get plenty of clusters but they never grow so we can reap the harvest. We are in the Southern CA area. Also how to prune vines and when. Cherry tomatoes also have little worms. What to do?
Hi Ann,
Pruning should be done during the full moon in the signs of Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, or Taurus. You can keep track of those days here. This information is on page 92 of the 2017 Almanac.