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7 tips to keep bugs, pests out of your house in Kansas and Missouri

Stories by Kansas City Star journalists, with AI summarization

Homeowners in Kansas and Missouri are often facing potential bug invasions, particularly as the seasons change.

Common pests such as crickets, ants, and Asian lady beetles exploit gaps in windows, doors, and foundations for entry, with crickets being particularly drawn to warm spaces and ants seeking food sources. Take control of the situation with proactive measures like sealing entry points, removing crumbs or mulch near foundations, and using sticky traps or insecticides.

Effective pest management requires vigilance. If left unchecked, you or your pets' health could be at risk.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Ants crawling inside of home on the floor By DZM

NO. 1: ARE THE ANTS MARCHING INTO YOUR KANSAS CITY HOME? HERE’S WHY AND HOW TO GET RID OF THEM

It’s not you, it’s the Kansas City weather. | Published May 8, 2024 | Read Full Story by Eleanor Nash

Squash bugs wreak havoc on the garden this time of year. Take steps to eradicate them and save your gourds.

NO. 2: READY TO SQUASH THIS GARDEN PEST? TAKE STEPS TO BANISH THE BUGS, SAVE BELOVED GOURDS

One of the most powerful tools at your disposal is crop rotation. | Published June 28, 2024 | Read Full Story by Anthony Reardon

Don’t let ticks take a bite out of your summer. There are ways to prevent the pesky critters for you and your pets.

NO. 3: TICKS ARE ON THE RISE IN THE KANSAS CITY AREA. HERE’S WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET BITTEN

An insect expert explains what could be causing the uptick. | Published June 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by Eleanor Nash

Hackberry psyllids are responsible for creating nibble galls on the leaves of hackberry trees.

NO. 4: WHAT IS THAT CREEPING ON YOUR WINDOW? A GUIDE TO THE INSECTS INVADING YOUR HOUSE

So how does a homeowner deal with Asian lady beetles and these other bugs? | Published November 8, 2024 | Read Full Story by Markis Hill

House crickets are

NO. 5: CHIRPING CRICKETS CAN INFILTRATE KS, MO HOMES THIS FALL. HERE’S HOW TO KEEP THEM OUT

The six-legged insects love warm buildings during the fall. Learn how to keep them away. | Published November 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Eleanor Nash

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.