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Along with water and shelter, food waste and crumbs can attract pests into your home. Garbage bags that haven’t been changed in too long or containers left half-open are easy, preferred food sources for bugs and rodents. Before long, these pests can become an infestation. You can help avoid this by storing food supplies in glass or metal containers and by taking out your garbage regularly.

Composting is great for the environment (and your garden) but that leftover food also increases the risk of attracting pests to your home. These tips for composting will help you avoid a bug problem: Food waste is appetizing for pests, so hide the smell in your bin by covering it with a layer of dirt and dried leaves.

Don’t compost animal products at home. Instead, store them in glass or metal until you can take them to a local composting facility. Block your compost bin from rodents by surrounding it with sticks, bricks or wire.

Surprise! Some bugs actually help the composting process. Two of these are pill bugs and slugs. As they move through the organic waste, they make holes that aerate it, speeding up the chemical reactions. Plus, they leave behind natural fertilizer—another boost. However, they might jump to your other garden plants or lawn if left unchecked, so call an Aptive professional if you notice them anywhere but your compost bin.

Portland’s temperate climate brings warm, relatively dry spring seasons, perfect conditions for ants and rodents to emerge from their hibernation spots—possibly in your home. Indoors and outdoors, ant and rodent activity picks up in the spring as these pests target garbage and open food containers.

The hot, dry Portland summer brings out the stinging insects—bees, wasps, yellow jackets and hornets buzz around pollinating and scaring people all over. Odorous ants also have a tendency of entering homes in search of crumbs in the summer. They’ll travel in the walls and along wiring until they find a food source.

Two insects that you might see trying to get into your house in the fall are earwigs and silverfish. These bugs look for warm places to stay over the winter and that usually means homes. Those annoying rodents will be looking for ways in, too, so it’s important to seal cracks and store food properly.

Though it’s hibernation season for many animals, cockroaches remain active around small, dark, warm places indoors. Pantry pests don’t hibernate either—if food isn’t sealed up, you might see insects such as meal moths or grain beetles invading your cabinets.