Dead cockroach on floor with caution sign pest control
General Pest Control

3 Winter Bugs Hiding from the Cold in Your House

By Planet Friendly Pest Control·3 min read

Watch the video

01

These 3 Winter Bugs Hope to Call Your House Home This Season

02

The weather outside is frightful, and so these winter bugs want to scurry into your house. Here's what to look out for when it's cold outside.

Over 900,000 species of insects have been discovered worldwide, and scientists agree that we're not even halfway done. Many agree that we've identified about 1/5th of all insect species.

With so many insects in the world, it's no wonder that some of them seem to enjoy living in people's homes. This is a common behavior of winter bugs.

The good news is that the vast majority of insects and arachnids in the US aren't dangerous, and some are even helpful. However, many of them can be annoying.

We'll talk about some of the biggest winter bugs in the paragraphs below.

03

1. Spiders

Technically, spiders aren't insects. In most cases, they aren't a problem, either.

On rare occasions, you may have a brown recluse or black widow hiding somewhere, but this isn't common. Unless you have a relative who's allergic to spider bites, most spiders aren't an issue.

Many spiders are even beneficial. They eat a lot of the insects that we would think of as pests, such as cockroaches and mosquitoes. This may be one of the fewer winter bugs you do want to have around.

However, if you happen to have a dangerous spider in your house, or would just prefer not to be around spiders, there are ways to get them out.

04

2. Cockroaches

There's not much to say here. Unlike spiders, there's no real benefit to having cockroaches in your house. Not only will cockroaches steal food and infest your home, they can also leave dangerous bacteria that cause disease.

Among these diseases are some of humanity's most serious, such as cholera, dysentery, leprosy, and plague, among many others. This is because the insects are known to carry bacteria such as E. coli and those responsible for staph and strep.

Cockroaches are never fun, and you need to deal with them as soon as you can.

05

3. Japanese Lady Beetles

Japanese Lady Beetles can be pests, but can also be beneficial. They tend to congregate in warm areas, and we mean that in the truest sense.

If you're not paying attention, you may wake up one day to find a hundred of them dead in a lamp or a candle. They also leave an unpleasant smell and a yellowish goo if they're hurt or agitated.

On the other hand, they're a lot like ladybugs in that they'll kill and eat many of the pests in your garden. If you have a few house plants, Lady Beetles may be okay in the winter.

In most cases, though, it's best to keep them outside in the garden.

06

Winter Bugs and How to Get Rid of Them

Winter is a time where everyone is seeking a warm, comfortable place to lay low, and this isn't just the case for humans. There are many winter bugs that may try to come into your home for the season, and some of them are really unpleasant.

We've mentioned a few of the more egregious offenders in the paragraphs above, but there are more out there. We encourage you to do more research if you're interested.

If you want to know more about environmentally-friendly pest control, please visit our site. We can give you some advice on how to get rid of those annoying mosquitoes.

Spiderscockroacheslady bugsJapanese Lady Beetles

Written by

Planet Friendly Pest Control

Eco-conscious pest control for homes with pets across Southern Maryland & Northern Virginia — serving local homeowners since 2010.....

All articles

Happy Customers

Homeowners who made the switch

Hundreds of Google reviews across our verified service locations.

Excellent on Google

5.0
  • Josh F.

    Google review · Sep 2026

    Alex was great! Very professional and explained the whole process before doing any work. We had a wasp nest in our wall, getting in through a seam between our brick and siding. I thought it would be a costly problem, but it was taken care of in about 15 minutes.

  • Amy B.

    Google review · Sep 2026

    I am very pleased with the work of Planet Friendly Pest Control. I had a large wasp nest in the garage and they came out to treat it the same day! The process was clear and professional. I was told the price when I called and they didn't try to upsell me on a monthly or quarterly contract. As mentioned above, they came out the same day I called and they texted me when they were on their way. They treated the nest and then came back a week later to confirm it was taken care of and removed the nest. It's now been a couple of weeks since the initial visit and no sign of new wasps! I would not hesitate to use them again.

  • Nicholas V.

    Google review · Sep 2026

    Excellent service and full explanation of service

  • Jfk

    Google review · Sep 2026

    Great service. Wasps eradicated the next day.

  • Cheryl P.

    Google review · Aug 2026

    Tech was very nice, explained what the chemical is designed to do.

  • Patrick H.

    Google review · Jul 2026

    I want to sincerely thank Planet Friendly Pest Control and its owner, Gene Wright, for their immediate response and action to deal with a hive of Bald Face Hornets who, unbeknownst to me, had taken home in a fair size shrub at the back of my house. As I attempted to trim the shrub, I was swarmed by Hornets and stung 8 or 9 times before I could get to safety. I left my tractor and tools in a hurry and was afraid to retrieve them until the bee issue was addressed. Again, PFPC responded quickly and allowed me to get my tools and continue my recovery from the bee stings. I considered the price to be very fair for the treatment of the issue at hand and the sharing of knowledge to avoid further such mishaps. I will only call PFPC when in need of pest control.

  • Jason M.

    Google review · Jul 2026

    Gene was honest and thorough.

  • Betty E.

    Google review · Jul 2026

    Roger came out and killed hornets in large nest on our house. It was taken care of the day after I called for service.

  • Joyce

    Google review · Jul 2026

    Joshua was Friendly and efficient.

  • Ken C.

    Google review · Jun 2026

    Planet Friendly has been doing our pest control for several years now. They are reliable, and perform a great service for us. We are notified by email when the appointment is confirmed. They are always professional and knowledgeable.

  • Nikole R.

    Google review · Jun 2026

    Really appreciate Roger coming out to the house to not only treat for common insects that like to make their way into the house (regularly scheduled maintenance), but also exterminate a hornet nest we found on our deck this last week. Great service, arrives on schedule (and sends a text with arrival time when he’s on his way), and most importantly - no critters coming inside my house - or hornets potentially stinging us. Recommend Planet Friendly Pest Control to anyone looking for an exterminator.

  • Kathleen M.

    Google review · Jun 2026

    Great service. No bugs in the house! They quietly and quickly get the job done, no hastle.

  • San D.

    Google review · Jun 2026

    Roger was very kind and professional. He did an excellent job attending to areas of the exterior of our home that required extra attention.

  • Patti W.

    Google review · Jun 2026

    Gene Wright came highly recommended by multiple neighbors. He came out the same day I called and showed great knowledge about our mouse problem! Gene was responsible, knowledgeable and a delight to deal with. We highly recommend Planet Friendly Pest Control.

  • Denise A.

    Google review · Apr 2026

    This is my third year using Planet Friendly to control ants in my home. I have yet to see an ant. What a relief. This is a real necessity where I live. Thank you.

Dealing with pests around your home?

Hundreds of Google reviews across our verified service locations. Book a free initial inspection and we’ll start with the exterior — where most problems begin.

Get Your Free Inspection