Tennessee Fall Invader Control

Asian Lady Beetles, Stink Bugs & Cluster Flies

When the first cool nights arrive across Tennessee, certain insects begin searching for somewhere to spend the winter. Sunlit siding, attic vents, and window frames can quickly become gathering points for bugs trying to work their way inside. 

As a family-owned business with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, Sherrill Pest Control builds our Fall Invader Reduction Service around this exact seasonal pattern. Rather than waiting until insects are already wandering through your living space, we treat the accessible exterior of your home during the fall migration period. 

Call (931) 914-3185 or use our online form to ask about the 3-visit Fall Invader Reduction Service.

Which Fall Invaders Are Targeting Your Home?

Three specific insects are at the center of this seasonal movement across Tennessee: 

• Asian lady beetles. Ranging from orange to deep red with distinct black spots, these insects are helpful in garden beds during summer months. Once temperatures drop, large numbers can gather on sunny exterior walls and find routes through small structural gaps.
• Brown marmorated stink bugs. Recognized by their shield-shaped, mottled brown bodies, these bugs are notorious for releasing a characteristic odor when disturbed or squashed indoors. 
• Cluster flies. Larger and slower than common houseflies, cluster flies gather around sunlit windows on warm winter days, trying to navigate their way back outdoors.

Why Insects Gather on Homes Each Autumn

Understanding what is actually happening on the outside of your home makes seasonal pest activity much easier to navigate. 

Fall invaders enter through small gaps around vents, window casings, siding, utility penetrations, and eaves, often gathering on the sunniest walls. Once inside, they settle into wall voids and attic spaces to spend the winter. They do not reproduce indoors or feed on food in your kitchen. 

However, on an unexpectedly warm winter afternoon, heat draws them out of hiding. That is when homeowners suddenly notice a few insects wandering around windows or living spaces. Seeing them collect on the outside of the house during autumn simply means you are watching the natural migration happen in real time. One thing homeowners sometimes find surprising is that the bugs appearing in January actually slipped into the structure months earlier. 

Our 3-Visit Fall Invader Reduction Schedule

Timing matters because insects do not all arrive on the exact same day. Insects typically start migrating around the first frost and continue over the following months. 

We structure our seasonal program around three visits timed to that migration window:

1. September. The first treatment begins the seasonal program before and during the early part of migration.
2. October. The second treatment maintains exterior coverage while fall invaders are actively gathering on sunny surfaces.
3. November. The final treatment covers the later part of the seasonal migration window.

Full Exterior Treatment: What We Treat

During each visit, our technicians perform an exterior treatment covering accessible areas of your home from the foundation up to the eaves. 

This includes targeted treatment around: 

• Windows and window edging 
• Vents and soffits 
• Utility entry points 
• Exterior structural transitions and siding seams

Setting Honest Expectations

Our program is a reduction service, not full elimination. The goal is to reduce the number of fall invaders that gather around the structure and make their way inside. Because these insects migrate seasonally, you may still see some activity outside during the treatment period. 

How Can You Boost Results: Physical Exclusion

Treatment and physical sealing are two distinct parts of managing fall invaders. While our service focuses on the accessible exterior of the structure, we do not seal or caulk structural openings. 

Addressing gaps on your end is a key step you can take alongside our exterior treatment:

• Screen attic and gable vents. 
• Apply exterior caulk around window frames, door frames, and cable lines. 
• Add door sweeps to exterior doors. 

Preparation Checklist Before We Arrive

To help our technicians apply a thorough exterior treatment and keep outdoor features protected, please complete these steps prior to each appointment: 

• Close all windows. 
• Store pet food and water bowls away from treatment areas. 
• Cover bird baths and fish ponds, and remove bird feeders. 
• Unlock gates so accessible areas can be reached.
• Keep pets secured safely inside.