Occasional Invaders is a broad term for any insect, or other animal that is not generally considered a household pest but does upon occasion become one.  This category will include vertebrae pests such as squirrels and raccoons.  Invertebrates such as snakes, mites such as Clover mites, and insects such as boxelder bugs.  In other words, any thing that is not usually a household pest but upon occasion becomes one.

Insects

BOXELDER BUGS

Boxelder bugs lay eggs in bark and crevices or on leaves of boxelder trees as well as maples and some other species.  They are of little consequence to the trees, however the adults overwinter in the adult stage and often find siding and cracks in your house an ideal place to overwinter.  Often houses become covered with them in September through November.  When we have warm days in February and March they come out from their shelters and once again cover your house.  Sometimes they manage to get inside through cracks in windows and screens and become an even greater problem.

CONTROL- The ideal situation is to treat boxelder trees after the eggs hatch and before the adults become a problem.  This is usually in August.  In the event one must treat the adults once they are on and in the house, either "Tempo" or "Suspend" will give excellent control.  Inside a crack and crevice treatment with any of the pyrethroids will work.  Dust with an insecticide dust such as "Delta Guard" is also effective under sidings and other crack and crevice areas.

CLOVER MITES

The clover mite is a red mite about the size of a pin head.  They are a turf mite, but do no harm to the grass.  They only become a pest when they migrate by the thousands to your house. They are so tiny they can crawl through screens and any crack in your house.  Other than their sheer numbers, they do no damage to your house unless you crush them.  They then leave a tiny red blotch wherever they have been killed.

    Normally clover mites are a problem in April and again in October.  This year (1999-2000)  clover mites were active all winter.  The warm weather must have caused a third generation.

    Those that study mites have never found a male clover mite.  They are all female and reproduce asexually.  Their presence has increased in number largely due to heavily fertilized and well kept lawns.

CONTROL