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But what’s attracting them to your space in the first place? Plus, learn what you can do to get rid of stink bugs for good. There are more than 200 species of stink bugs that call North America home, but that doesn’t mean you want these critters in yours. Figuring out what’s drawing them to your abode can go a long way in preventing the critters from popping up. Although pesky, stink bugs are more of an annoyance than a danger to people.
Prevention
Experts say they're seeing more reports of stink bugs - KARE11.com
Experts say they're seeing more reports of stink bugs.
Posted: Fri, 06 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Unfortunately, exterior lights attract stink bugs, so turn yours off when they’re not required. You could also consider swapping to motion sensor outdoor lights so they only come on as necessary. Close blinds and drapes after dark, too, so the light from inside your home isn’t beckoning the beasties. While some say that stink bugs smell like cilantro, others note burnt tires.
How long do stink bugs live?
"It's sometimes difficult to prevent a stink bug infestation," Gore says. If you’re looking for a scent to ward off stink bugs, McLean suggests harnessing the aromas of essential oils. “While stink bugs themselves are smelly creatures, some of the scents we consider pleasant aren’t well-received by these pests,” he explains. Try using essential oils such as lemongrass and/or spearmint, which McLean says stink bugs often shy away from.
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
The stink bugs produce the smelly chemical in a gland on their abdomen. Some species can actually spray the chemical several inches. The smell has often been compared to strong herbs and spices like cilantro and coriander. Immature stink bugs, called nymphs, are very tiny when they hatch from their eggs. Nymphs of the brown marmorated stink bug are yellow and red. They have bright red eyes during the nymph stage of their life cycle.
Once one of these insects has found a warm, cozy spot to wait out the winter, it can release pheromones that attract others to join it (don't worry, you won't be able to smell that). Commercial insecticides may kill off some of the stink bugs in your house, but these toxic methods are generally ineffective and don’t offer a long-term solution. “Their shield provides them with protection against many insecticides,” Price says. Even after treatment, bugs can migrate from other areas of the house or emerge from cracks and crevices, including gaps around baseboards and molding. Insecticides do nothing to prevent more bugs from coming in, either.
These are usually cracks and openings in exterior walls, door or window frames, or even electrical outlets and fixtures. Just like learning how to get rid of ants, seal up any gaps with caulk (a silicone-based formula is advised for glass), or make necessary repairs to fix larger openings. In addition, close all windows and doors or add screens on them to prevent stink bugs from entering the home. So, how do you keep stink bugs from returning once they’re gone?
Stink bugs have become established in many areas of the country, posing a particular threat to the agricultural industry, since they destroy crops. A stink bug infestation can damage ornamental plants, fruit trees, and gardens, but they are more of a nuisance than a threat to people. If you’re wondering how to get rid of stink bugs, take solace—these pesky bugs may smell bad, but they’re not harmful to humans.
They are gray to dark brown but often have a shiny metallic appearance. This defensive behavior, known as conglobation, protects them from predators and preserves moisture. Pill bugs are often confused with sow bugs, but sow bugs cannot roll into a ball.
Keep them out by sealing cracks and gaps
Spray the mixture along any cracks or potential entry points for stink bugs. There are a few things you can do to get rid of stink bugs, involving a combination of prevention and removal efforts. When a stink bug finds a good spot to shelter, Black says they release a pheromone that attracts other stink bugs to their location.
To do this, add a teaspoon of dish soap to an empty spray bottle and fill the rest up with water. Spray any stink bugs with the soapy water, then dispose of them in the toilet or trash can once they've died. There are a variety of stink bug species in the United States.
You’ll also get a double benefit of saving on your heating costs. You’ll find references to the brown marmorated stink bug, calling it BMSB for short. The brown marmorated stink bug is native to China, Japan, and Korea. It likely hitched a ride on a ship and was first found in the United States in 1998. Finding favorable conditions, it has multiplied quickly and may be found annually in over forty states. Essentially, any kind of opening in your home that allows access from outside is a potential entryway for stink bugs.
Many LED light bulbs emit cool, white light, and should be avoided if flying insects are an issue at your home. To keep your basement dry, check the grading and downspouts around your house to make sure that rainwater is draining away from, not toward, the foundation. Be sure to address other potential sources of leaks—including windows and sump pumps—as problems arise. They just move in to take a load off for a few months — scientifically, they enter a dormant phase known as diapause. Stink bugs damage ornamental trees as well as fruits and vegetables, and they pose such a threat that the U.S. Department of Agriculture funded the Stop the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug strike force.
Though most stink bug infestations are fairly easy to manage, a serious and prolonged infestation may warrant bringing in the help of a pest control professional. If none of these DIY solutions are making a dent in your stink bug populations, it's time to call a professional pest control service. Additionally, make sure screens are always covering any open windows or doors, and keep the space around any window fans or air conditioners as sealed as possible. It's best to do all of these things in spring and summer, before stink bugs start making their way into your home in fall.
Place the bottle in the area where you're finding lots of stink bugs and make sure all the other lights are off. While their love of fruits like apples and pears can make them quite the pest to commercial agricultural operations, in everyday life, stink bugs are harmless to homes and humans. They cannot damage any part of your home, nor can they bite or sting you. Stink bugs are considered an invasive species, meaning a pest of foreign origin.
This moisture-seeking pest comes into the home looking for water sources and is most seen in bathrooms or areas where pipes may leak. While they have pincers that protrude from the abdomen and can grasp onto your finger, these pests do not sting and have no venom. Houseplants breathe life into an indoor space, but unfortunately, they can also attract a variety of pests. Many houseplants attract aphids, which may seem like an isolated issue, but aphids, in turn, attract ants.
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