Autumn Home Invaders Are Looking for Shelter

MANHATTAN, Kan. – This fall’s frosty nip in the air has insects looking for warm places to hide – places such as Midwesterners’ homes.  

These insects include crickets, boxelder bugs, millipedes, and especially the multicolored Asian lady beetle, said Kansas State University Research and Extension entomologist Jeff Whitworth. They try to invade homes at this time of year to find shelter to survive the winter. They pose no threat to human health or property, but when significant numbers build up, they can be a serious nuisance.

Despite their nuisance factor as they aggregate for overwintering, multicolored Asian lady beetles are considered “beneficial” insects during the growing season, Whitworth said. The USDA first imported the beetles into the United States during the late ‘70s and early ‘80s to help with aphid control.

They are efficient aphid predators, the entomologist said, but since they have biting and chewing mouthparts, they can deliver an irritating bite to people. If enough beetles congregate inside a home, they also can cause a small odor problem, may stain certain surfaces when smashed, and can occasionally cause an allergic reaction is some people.

If there are significant numbers of beetles in an area this fall, that probably means aphids were plentiful in nearby crops and other plants in past summer, he said. The beetles are primarily attracted to the south- and west-facing sides of structures because those walls radiate and reflect the most heat.

“The best way to protect your dwelling from these pests is to limit access by eliminating or at least reducing the points of entry,” Whitworth said. “Ensure that all screens are tight-fitting and intact. Make sure the caulk around window and door frames is in good condition. Remove excess foliage and mulch from around the foundation.”

Insecticides can be effective if homeowners treat the exterior foundation and some of the area around the outside of the building, he said. This often reduces the number of potential household invaders.

Once the pests are inside, sometimes hand-picking or vacuuming is enough to eliminate the problem. Glue boards can be helpful in trapping the insects. With significant numbers, however, an insecticide application inside the home may be required. Aerosol sprays may give a quick knock down but have short lasting effects. Insecticides with longer lasting effects often work quite well and can be sprayed along baseboards and in cracks, crevices, and other hiding places.

“Always check the pesticide label to make sure the product you select is effective against the target pest and has no unwanted side effects, such as stains or unsightly residues,” the entomologist said.

Weather Can Be a Trick or a Treat on Halloween in Kansas

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Around Halloween time, the weather in Kansas can be either a trick or a treat, according to climatologist Mary Knapp. 

“We would normally expect highs in the 60s and lows in the mid 30s to around 40, with moisture about a third of the time,” said Knapp, who is the state climatologist of Kansas. “For a treat, we sometimes see highs in the 70s, lows in the 40s and 50s, and no moisture -- perfect weather for fall festivals.”

The trick, said Knapp, who runs the Kansas Weather Data Library, based at Kansas State University, comes in the form of an early winter storm. From Tribune to Manhattan to Winfield, Halloween has sometimes seen high temperatures only in the 30s with lows as low as 12 degrees.

On Halloween 1991, for example, Manhattan saw a high of 35 degrees and a low of 21. Tribune had a high of 18 degrees.  Even Winfield in southern Kansas registered only 36 degrees for a high.

That Halloween’s snow, ranging from almost 4 inches in Tribune to a trace in Winfield, was the final trick of a scary Halloween storm, Knapp said.

Information about Kansas weather is available on the Weather Data Library Web site: http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/wdl/ . “Weather Wonders” audio reports are available on the K-State Research and Extension News Media Web site at http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/news/. 

Fall Color Display Can Add to Landscape ‘Wish List’

TOPEKA, Kan. – Plant lover Jamie Hancock is advising Kansans to pay special attention to fall’s color show this year. The tree and shrub leaves are spectacular.

“Besides, this can be a great time to choose some ornamentals you’d like to have in your yard,” said Hancock, who is a Kansas State University Research and Extension horticulturist. She suggested the following as useful approaches:

*  Visit a local nursery to see what’s in color now.

“That’s an especially good way to select plants for fall display,” Hancock said. “Not all varieties produce good autumn color – even if you’ve heard they’re supposed to. Maples, for example, are a good choice in general, but some varieties simply don’t color up well. So, seeing a particular variety in color at the nursery can be a good way to guarantee success.”

*  Pay special attention to the plants that catch your eye as you drive up and down neighborhood streets.

“If you don’t know what kind of tree or shrub a particular eye-catcher is; collect a few of its fallen leaves that are still in good shape and take them to your county or district Extension office for help with identification,” Hancock said. “Collecting a branch with leaves would be preferable, of course, but first you’d need to get permission from the owner.

“In that case, the owner may already know what the plant is, remember its source and be willing to tell you about the plant’s good and bad points. That certainly would save you a trip or two.”

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