Smith Integrated Pest Management

10/14/2026

BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUGS: The Problem

Brown marmorated stink bugs may not cause much damage once they’re inside, but that doesn’t make them welcome houseguests! 🏠

As temperatures drop, these fall invaders begin searching for protected places to spend the winter. Small cracks and gaps around windows, doors, siding, vents, and other exterior openings can give them a way into your home or business.

Once indoors, stink bugs can gather in walls, attics, and other hidden spaces. On warmer winter days or as spring approaches, they may become active again and suddenly appear around windows, ceilings, and living areas.

And of course, there’s a reason they’re called stink bugs! When disturbed or crushed, they can release a strong, unpleasant odor. The best approach is to stop them before they settle in for the season. Treatments from Smith IPM can help keep stink bugs and other seasonal pests from turning your home or business into their winter hideout.

Jeromy Smith Owner,
Smith Integrated Pest Management
Website: www.smithipm.com
Office: 765-268-0087

10/13/2026

Honored to announce that Smith Integrated Pest Management has been named the Greater Lafayette Commerce Small Business of the Month for October 2026! 🏆🎉

This recognition means so much to our team, and we couldn’t be more grateful to our wonderful customers, dedicated employees, and the Greater Lafayette community for their continued support and trust in our business. 🙏

And we’d love to see you at the ceremony! Join us for the official ceremony as we mark this exciting milestone together on Wednesday, October 28th!

Details: https://bit.ly/4B0wwrx

Jeromy Smith Owner,
Smith Integrated Pest Management
Website: www.smithipm.com
Office: 765-268-0087

10/12/2026

BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUGS: How to Identify Them

Brown marmorated stink bugs are common fall invaders, and their distinctive appearance makes them fairly easy to recognize once you know what to look for. 🔎

Adult brown marmorated stink bugs are about 1/2 to 3/4 inch long with a broad, shield-shaped body. Their coloring is mottled brown and gray, helping them blend in with tree bark and other outdoor surfaces. One of their most recognizable features is the alternating light and dark bands along the edges of the abdomen. You may also notice pale bands on their antennae and legs.

As temperatures cool, these pests often gather on the sunny sides of buildings before finding small gaps and openings where they can spend the winter.

If you’re seeing shield-shaped, mottled brown insects around your Indiana home or business this fall, brown marmorated stink bugs may be the culprit.

Contact Smith IPM for help identifying and managing fall-invading pests, as having us perform properly timed fall invader treatments can help prevent these pests from overwintering in your home or business!

Jeromy Smith Owner,
Smith Integrated Pest Management
Website: www.smithipm.com
Office: 765-268-0087

10/10/2026

FALL INVADERS: Why They’re a Problem

Fall invaders may be looking for a warm place to spend the colder months, but that doesn’t mean you want to share your home or business with them!

Different pests bring different problems. Asian lady beetles can gather indoors in large numbers and may stain surfaces or release an unpleasant odor when disturbed. Boxelder bugs can also congregate by the hundreds and leave stains behind. Brown marmorated stink bugs can invade buildings in large numbers as well, and when disturbed or crushed, they release the unpleasant odor that earned them their name. Cluster flies can emerge from walls and attics throughout the winter and become a persistent indoor nuisance.

Spiders may follow other insects indoors in search of food, making an existing pest problem even more noticeable. Rodents like mice are a bigger concern: they can chew through wiring, insulation, packaging, and other materials, contaminate food and surfaces with urine and droppings, and potentially spread disease.

There’s also one thing many fall invaders have in common: once they find a protected place inside, they can remain hidden there throughout the winter. That’s why properly timed preventative treatment in the fall can make such a difference. Don’t wait until unwanted guests have already settled in! ⚠️

Jeromy Smith Owner,
Smith Integrated Pest Management
Website: www.smithipm.com
Office: 765-268-0087

10/07/2026

FALL INVADERS: Pests To Look Out For

When temperatures start dropping across Greater Lafayette, we’re not the only ones looking to stay warm! Fall is prime time for seasonal pests to start searching for sheltered places to ride out the colder months, and your home or business may be exactly what they’re looking for. Here are some common fall invaders to keep an eye out for:

🐞 Asian Lady Beetles: Often gather in large numbers on sunny exterior walls before finding cracks and openings that lead indoors.

🪲 Boxelder Bugs: Frequently cluster around buildings in the fall and seek protected spaces inside as temperatures drop.

🪳 Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs: Often gather on the outside of buildings in fall before slipping through cracks and gaps to overwinter indoors, where they can become an unwelcome nuisance.

🪰 Cluster Flies: May enter structures in large numbers and spend the winter tucked away inside walls, attics, and other hidden areas.

🕷️ Spiders: Increased pest activity around your property can also mean more spiders following their food source indoors.

🐭 Mice: As outdoor temperatures fall and food becomes harder to find, mice may look to homes and businesses for warmth, shelter, and a reliable food source.

Many fall invaders enter buildings specifically to survive the winter, which means prevention is most effective before they’ve found their way inside. Properly timed fall pest treatments from Smith IPM can help create a barrier against seasonal pests before they settle into your home or business for the colder months.

Jeromy Smith Owner,
Smith Integrated Pest Management
Website: www.smithipm.com
Office: 765-268-0087

10/05/2026

PREVENTATIVE CONTROL REMINDER: Why It’s Important 🍂

Fall has officially arrived in Greater Lafayette, and as temperatures begin to drop, pests start looking for warm, protected places to spend the colder months. And your home or business can quickly become the perfect spot.

Preventative pest control helps stop fall invaders before they make their way inside and settle in for the winter. Having Smith IPM perform properly timed fall invader treatments can help prevent seasonal invaders from overwintering in your home or business, because the key is getting ahead of the problem. Once pests are already inside walls, attics, cracks, and other protected spaces, they can be much more difficult to address.

With years of trusted experience serving our area, Smith IPM wants to be the team you can count on to protect your home or business each season. We offer affordable, eco-friendly pest control solutions and FREE 30-MINUTE ESTIMATES, so you can know what you’re dealing with and what it’ll take to address it.

Trust Smith IPM to be your go-to for preventative pest control this fall and contact us today!

Jeromy Smith Owner,
Smith Integrated Pest Management
Website: www.smithipm.com
Office: 765-268-0087

10/03/2026

ASIAN LADY BEETLES: DIY Prevention Tips

Asian lady beetles start looking for warm, protected places to spend the winter as temperatures drop, so fall is the time to make it harder for them to get inside your home or business. Here are a few tips to help with prevention:

✅ Seal cracks and gaps around windows, doors and siding.

✅ Repair damaged window and door screens.

✅ Replace worn weather stripping around doors and windows.

✅ Seal gaps around utility lines, vents and other exterior openings.

✅ Inspect sunny sides of the building where they tend to gather and look for potential entry points.

It’s important to remember that while these tips may help keep pests like Asian lady beetles away, the best prevention is properly timed pest control. Having Smith IPM perform fall invader treatments can help prevent fall-invading pests from overwintering in your home or business.

Head to SmithIPM.com for more info on our services!

Jeromy Smith Owner,
Smith Integrated Pest Management
Website: www.smithipm.com
Office: 765-268-0087

09/30/2026

09/30/2026

ASIAN LADY BEETLES: Why They’re a Problem

Asian lady beetles may look harmless, but they can quickly become a nuisance for homes and businesses when temperatures start to drop.

In the fall, these beetles gather in large numbers on sunny, light-colored buildings while searching for warm, protected places to spend the winter. They can squeeze through small cracks and gaps around windows, doors, siding and other openings.

Once inside, Asian lady beetles can be difficult to get rid of. When disturbed or crushed, they may release a yellowish, foul-smelling fluid that can stain walls, fabrics and other surfaces. Unlike many familiar ladybugs, Asian lady beetles can also bite people, although their bites are generally mild.

Dealing with a possible infestation? Contact Smith IPM for professional, eco-friendly pest control solutions. Properly timed fall invader treatments can help prevent pests like these from overwintering in your home or business! 📞

Jeromy Smith Owner,
Smith Integrated Pest Management
Website: www.smithipm.com
Office: 765-268-0087

09/28/2026

ASIAN LADY BEETLES: What Are They?

Asian lady beetles are small, dome-shaped beetles that are often mistaken for common ladybugs, and it’s easy to see why! 🐞

The coloring of Asian lady beetles can range from yellow or orange to bright red, and the number of black spots on their wings can vary widely. Some may even have no spots at all. One of the easiest ways to identify an Asian lady beetle is to look just behind its head. Most have a distinctive black “M” or “W” shaped marking on the pale area behind the head.

While “ladybug” is a common name used for many members of the lady beetle family, Asian lady beetles are a specific species originally native to Asia. They were introduced into the United States to help control agricultural pests such as aphids and have since become widespread. So if you spot something that looks like a ladybug around your home or business, take a closer look. It may actually be an Asian lady beetle, which can gather in large numbers and find its way indoors as temperatures drop.

Stay tuned this week as we discuss how they can become a problem. And don’t forget that having Smith IPM perform properly timed fall invader treatments can help prevent pests like Asian lady beetles from overwintering in your home or business!

Jeromy Smith Owner,
Smith Integrated Pest Management
Website: www.smithipm.com
Office: 765-268-0087