Ladybugs overwintering inside a wall. Picture by Anthony Boyle

Ladybugs overwintering inside a wall. Picture by Anthony Boyle

          Overwintering for insects is kinda like a bear hibernating for the winter.   The winter does not kill off all the insects like many of you would hope. If that were the case, they would not be here season after season. This is the natural life cycle.  With some, the entire population overwinters, some only the reproductives, and some only the eggs.  The monarch butterfly even migrates to warmer climates for the winter. The obvious reason for this is the cold temperature.  The other main reason is food availability.  Other species of food and prey are thinned and the plants and trees providing food are not blooming. So, they take a winter nap. Thanks to Anthony Boyle for the 2 pictures of ladybugs inside a wall.

Entry points

           Where do the pests like to overwinter?  Our homes are the perfect winter getaway and we make it so easy for them.  They love the cracks around windows, doors, behind gutters, between storage items, and behind siding especially at the edges that become their front door.  Nature also provides many hidden crack and crevices for them to hide in.

Varied Carpet Beetle

           Dermestid beetles that are attracted to dead insects inside your wall are in the same family used by taxidermists to eat the flesh off of bones.  Once these are inside the walls of your home eating the bugs you killed, they are much worse than the overwintering pest that started this whole mess.  The varied carpet beetle can cause extensive damage to carpets, furniture, and clothing. It can also cause skin irritations.