Beware the Creepy Crawlies! 🕸️🏚️

Autumn brings cooler temps…and the critters that want to creep into your cozy home. Below is a homeowner-friendly, spooky-themed guide to four common “creepy crawlies” we've seen on the job recently: termites, carpenter ants, powderpost beetles, and boxelder bugs.

For each pest, you’ll get what to look for, risks & costs, and quick homeowner actions.

Termites — “The Silent Wood Eaters” 🪦🐜

What to look for

• Discarded wings (small, paired translucent wings) near windowsills or doors in spring/swarming season. (Terminix)

• Mud tubes on foundations or walls (thin, pencil-width tunnels). (Terminix)

• Wood that sounds hollow when tapped, buckling paint, or unexplained sagging floors/doors that stick. (Orkin)

Risks & cost factors

• Termites chew structural wood from the inside out — damage can be extensive before you notice it. Structural repairs vary widely; national averages commonly reported range from ~$1,000 up to $10,000 depending on severity (many sources cite mid-range averages around $1,800–$3,000). Treatment (extermination/soil treatment/baiting) is an additional cost. (Angi)

Homeowner action (fast & spooky-smart)

• If you see mud tubes, discarded wings, or hollow-sounding structural wood — call a licensed pest pro for an inspection right away. Prevention: reduce wood-to-soil contact, fix leaks, keep gutters clean, and store firewood off the ground away from the home. (Terminix)

Carpenter Ants — “The Silent Sawmill” 🪚🐜

What to look for

• Large black or red ants (about ¼–½ inch) foraging inside or piles of fine sawdust-like shavings (frass) near wooden structures.

• Winged reproductives indoors (indicates established colony/nesting nearby).

Risks & cost factors

• Carpenter ants excavate galleries in wood to build nests (they don’t eat wood like termites, but the structural weakening can be serious over time). Treatment is more complicated than normal ant control because the nest must be found and eliminated — professional treatments commonly run a few hundred dollars and repairs for damage raise costs if structural timbers are impacted.

Homeowner action

• Inspect for damp or rotting wood (carpenter ants prefer moist wood) and repair moisture problems. If you find frass or see large ants inside, contact a pest management professional — DIY sprays often fail because they miss the nest.

Powderpost Beetles — “The Ghosts of Hardwood Past” 🪵🕳️

 What to look for

• Fine, flour-like wood dust (powder) near small round exit holes (often 1–2 mm diameter) in hardwood floors, furniture, trim or structural hardwoods. Fresh frass and tiny holes are telltale signs.

Risks & cost factors

• These beetles attack seasoned hardwoods (flooring, furniture, trim) and can cause slow but progressive damage. Because they act over months to years, infestations sometimes go unnoticed until visible damage or exit holes appear. Treatment options vary (localized insecticide, fumigation for severe infestations, or replacing infested wood) — costs depend on infestation extent and whether whole-structure fumigation is needed.

Homeowner action

• Inspect hardwoods for tiny round holes and powder. For antiques or visible damage, consult a pest pro or wood-restoration specialist — fumigation may be recommended for widespread activity, while localized repairs plus sealing/heat treatments work for small, contained outbreaks.

Boxelder Bugs — “Fall’s Unwanted Party Crashers” 🍂🪲

What to look for

• Clusters of black bugs with red/orange markings on sunny exterior walls, window frames, or inside attics/behind blinds in autumn as they seek warm overwintering sites. They’re conspicuous in fall; you’ll often find them congregating by the hundreds.

Risks & cost factors

• Boxelder bugs are nuisance pests — they don’t eat or structurally damage buildings nor spread disease, but large numbers can stain surfaces with excreta, emit unpleasant odors if crushed, and be a cleanup headache. Treatment cost is usually minimal (sealing entry points, vacuuming, and spot treatments); professional services are rarely needed unless numbers are extreme. (National Pesticide Information Center)

Homeowner action

• Seal cracks, repair screens, install door sweeps, and remove nearby seed-bearing boxelder (or female boxelder) trees if practical. If they’re inside, vacuum them up (don’t squash), or use a soapy water spray for small numbers. (Better Homes & Gardens)

Keep your home protected this October...

Think of your home like a haunted mansion: some ghosts (boxelder bugs) are harmless but annoying, while others (termites, carpenter ants, powderpost beetles) can gnaw away at the very bones of the house. If you spot the signs listed above, document them (photos help), and contact a licensed pest professional for suspected structural pests (termite, carpenter ant, powderpost beetle). For nuisance fall invaders like boxelder bugs, preventative sealing and simple removal usually do the trick. 

Concerned about a bug problem? Contact our team so we can help guide you to our network of trusted professionals.

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