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Bleach and freezing are your best bets here. The soft exoskeleton of spiders and spider eggs is no match to household bleach. Create a mixture that’s half water and half bleach and spray it directly onto the egg sac, and the spider eggs will be killed in less than five minutes. Freezing the egg sac or drowning it in cold water is another option.

The average lifespan of a stink bug is about six to eight months, depending on species and environmental conditions. Their life cycle includes three stages: Egg, nymph, and adult. Eggs hatch in roughly five days to two weeks, followed by a four to six-week nymph stage where they grow and molt. Once fully matured, adult stink bugs focus on reproduction and can fly to new areas, often seeking refuge in homes in search of warmth.

It can be difficult to know what type of animal is in your attic until you see it. But several clues can help you narrow down the suspects:

• Sounds: Smaller animals like rats and mice make scurrying and tapping/gnawing sounds. Larger animals like raccoons and opossums make louder clambering noises. Also, note when animals are noisy: Squirrels are active during the day, while rats are busiest at night.

• Droppings: Rats and mice leave small, rice-shaped droppings (the rat’s version is significantly larger). Bigger droppings belong to larger critters like raccoons. As long as you’re not squeamish, an image search can help you identify what you’re seeing in your attic.

When in doubt, take photos of damage or other evidence and show them to an experienced pest control pro.

While the term “gnat” is often used as a blanket term for tiny flying insects like fungus gnats and fruit flies, they are different insects. The primary distinctions are in their appearance, diet, and habitat. Fungus gnats are typically darker (gray or black) with long legs and are attracted to damp soil and decaying plant matter, often living in houseplants. In contrast, fruit flies are lighter in color (tan) with shorter legs and are drawn to overripe fruit, high-fructose organic substances, and other sweet materials.