Lady beetles, stinkbugs, crickets, boxelder bugs and other insects may become unwanted houseguests as they seek places to hole up or hang out for winter. Whether the insects are beneficial, insignificant or pests of the landscape and garden, they are creepy, crawly nuisances when they move indoors. Some can also bite or pinch and/or damage household items.

The best defense against insect invaders is to seal all cracks and crevices on the outside of the house. Check window and door frames, dryer vents, soffits, and siding seams, and seal them appropriately. Use weather stripping around doors and garage doors.

Inside homes and other buildings, use sticky traps behind furniture and appliances to catch insects. Otherwise, insects that make their way inside can usually be swept up with a vacuum or broom for removal.

Of the insects that move indoors in the fall, lady beetles are the ones that usually generate the most curiosity. They are multicolored Asian lady beetles and move indoors to overwinter. Asian lady beetles are particularly attracted to white and gray buildings that resemble the white and gray outcroppings where they overwinter in their native habitat. Asian lady beetles are more orange and slightly larger than native lady beetles, and may have anywhere from zero to 19 spots on their wings.

Asian lady beetles may bite or pinch if picked up and exude a yellow chemical as a defense mechanism. They are beneficial outdoors, so they can be captured and released outside if you have the heart for it. If vacuuming live insects, remove the bag afterward as they can chew their way out.

Stinkbugs are gray or brown insects with shield-shaped bodies that are about one-quarter to one-half-inch long. They are more interested in an attic or the inside of a wall than your living room, but occasionally end up hiding in boxes or stacks of clothes or other fabrics. They secrete a foul-smelling chemical when disturbed or crushed, so vacuum or remove with caution. Stinkbugs are plant pests in the garden and landscape.

Crickets are most annoying when they decide to play music in the house at night, particularly when hiding under a bed or behind a piece of furniture. They can also stain walls and curtains with their feces. Catch and release outdoors, use sticky traps, or dispose of however you see fit.

Camel crickets are lighter brown or gray than regular (field and house) crickets and have a humped back. They are also called cave crickets or spider crickets. Fortunately, they lack sound-producing organs, but they are still nuisances when they feed on plants, fabrics and other materials in the home. They can also be relocated but are more likely to be plant pests than field crickets. They are attracted to humid, moist locations and are most often found in damp basements and crawlspaces.

Boxelder bugs are most noticeable when they congregate outdoors, but they can also move inside in large numbers. They are black with an orange or red V on their back and are about one-half-inch long. They generally gather on walls with south and or west exposures where they sun themselves before moving inside. They are harmless inside, and can easily be vacuumed or swept for removal. They are also harmless to the boxelder and maple trees on which they feed in the summer months.

— Jennifer Smith is a former horticulture extension agent for K-State Research and Extension and horticulturist for Lawrence Parks and Recreation. She is the host of “The Garden Show” and has been a gardener since childhood. Send your gardening questions and feedback to features@ljworld.com.