Not all pests are year-round problems. Some make their presence known only during certain times of the year, usually when outdoor conditions drive them to seek shelter, warmth, or moisture indoors. These unwelcome guests are known as occasional invaders, and while they may not be as destructive as termites or as risky as rodents, they can still cause plenty of frustration for business owners.
What Are Occasional Invaders?
Occasional invaders are insects and arthropods that generally live outdoors but may wander indoors, especially during seasonal transitions like spring rains or fall temperature drops. They’re not typically harmful to people or structures, but their sudden appearance in large numbers can be alarming.
The most common occasional invaders we see include:
- Centipedes (Class Chilopoda): Fast-moving and often spotted in damp basements or bathrooms. While they can bite, centipedes mostly prey on other insects and pose little threat to humans.
- Earwigs (Order Dermaptera): Recognizable by their pincers, these insects prefer moist, dark environments and can sometimes find their way into kitchens and laundry rooms.
- Millipedes (Class Diplopoda) Often found curled up and motionless, millipedes are more of a nuisance than a threat and tend to enter structures when it is too wet or too dry outside..
- Boxelder Bugs (Genus Boisea): These black-and-red bugs gather on sunny sides of buildings in the fall and can sneak indoors through cracks.
- Crickets (Infraorder Gryllidea): Their chirping may be a hallmark of summer nights, but inside your facility or an apartment complex, it quickly turns into an annoying intrusion.
- Ladybugs (Subfamily Coccinellinae): Not actually a bug but a beetle, these insects are often seen as beneficial outdoors. However theycan become a problem indoors during colder months, especially when they gather in large numbers.
- Pillbugs/Roly-Polies (Infraorder Holoverticata): Harmless but persistent, these crustaceans thrive in damp environments and can wander inside from gardens and mulch beds.
Where Are They Commonly Found?
Occasional invaders don’t discriminate; they’ll enter any structure that offers the right environment, including commercial facilities. Whether you operate a food processing plant, warehouse, healthcare facility, or retail location, these pests can disrupt operations and impact your brand.
Common areas where occasional invaders are found in commercial settings include:
- Loading docks and entryways: Frequent opening and closing of doors creates easy access points, especially for boxelder bugs, crickets, and ladybugs.
- Mechanical rooms and utility spaces: These often damp, dark environments are ideal habitats for centipedes, millipedes, and pillbugs.
- Storage areas and shelving units: Cluttered storage can trap moisture and provide shelter, attracting earwigs and millipedes.
- Restrooms and janitorial closets: High humidity and poor ventilation make these hotspots for moisture-loving invaders.
- Break rooms and kitchenettes: Crumbs, spills, and damp areas under sinks can draw pests indoors.
- Perimeter landscaping and foundation zones: Mulch, overgrown vegetation, and standing water outside your facility can serve as breeding grounds and entry points for these insects.
Even a small infestation in a critical area can raise sanitation concerns or violate regulatory standards. That’s why proactive pest management is essential in maintaining a pest-free commercial environment.
How Sprague Helps Prevent Occasional Invaders
We takes a proactive and strategic approach to managing occasional invaders. Here’s how we help:
- Inspection & Identification: We start by identifying the source and entry points. Understanding which pests are present and why they’re entering is key to building an effective plan.
- Exclusion Techniques: We seal off cracks, crevices, and gaps around windows, doors, foundations, and vents—stopping pests before they get inside.
- Moisture Control: Our team assesses moisture levels inside and around your property and recommends steps to reduce excess dampness that attracts these pests.
- Exterior Barrier Treatments: Preventative treatments around the perimeter of your property act as a shield, deterring bugs from getting too close to your home or business.
- Monitoring & Follow-Up: Our service doesn’t stop with a single visit. We provide ongoing monitoring to ensure pests stay out, adapting our strategy as the seasons change.
Don’t Let the Seasons Bring Pests Inside
Occasional invaders may not stay long, but they can quickly make your space feel uncomfortable. If you’ve noticed an uptick in insect activity, especially near doors and windows, it’s time to call in the experts. We have 100 years of experience helping commercial clients protect their spaces year-round. Reach out today to schedule an inspection—and enjoy every season, pest-free.