As temperatures cool, several cold-blooded insects look for someplace warm to survive the winter. Our homes are perfect resting and nesting places, though many of us would prefer the creatures stay outside.

Boxelder bugs, spiders, wasps, crickets and some of the millipedes try to move indoors. Recently, the imported, multi-spotted Asian lady beetle also has decided that it wants to share your home during the winter.

There are several steps you can take to prevent insects from invading your home. First, make sure you keep any grass and weeds around the house mowed. You can't remove all the vegetation, but if you keep it managed, the insects are less likely to cause problems.

Ideally, keep a bare strip around the house. Don't allow grass to grow right next to the foundation. If you mulch, replace it with fresh material for the winter. Keep leaves raked away from the building as well. Don't wait until November to start this – do it as soon as possible.

Check the foundation. Make sure there are no cracks or crevices. Many insects can squeeze through a crack as thin as a dime. They can find openings around doors, windows, under siding, where utility wires enter the house, dryer and furnace vents and even around pipes.

If you find cracks and crevices, caulk them with an expandable material. Caulking also keeps out drafts and can help with energy bills. Make sure windows and doors fit tight; if not, adjust them so they are sealed against the elements and insects.

Anything you bring inside for the winter, such as plants, furniture, toys or gardening supplies, should be checked thoroughly for insect hitchhikers. You may want to repot plants to reduce the possibility of insect eggs coming indoors.

A foundation spray might be helpful in extreme cases. Apply diluted pesticide spray to the ground for about three feet out from the house and a foot or two up the side of the building. Read and follow all directions on the label. Choose the safest product on the market to make sure it can be used as a foundation spray. Remember, few of the insects survive indoors and hardly any reproduce. Most, such as crickets, are usually dead by Thanksgiving or Christmas. The lack of humidity and food sources contribute to their death.