Stink bug season is almost upon us. You may have seen one or two of these bugs on your window screens or inside your home. The cool evenings and comfortable day temperatures drive pests and wildlife indoors as they look for a warm environment to spend the winter.
What are stink bugs?
A macro shot.
Also known as the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Stink bugs were accidentally introduced from Asia into the Allentown, PA area during the mid-1990s. Stink bugs get their name from the very unpleasant odor they release when they are threatened or crushed. It may be a defense mechanism to ward off predators, but it is a nasty side effect of swatting them to homeowners.
These nasty-looking creatures appear both oval-shaped and shield-shaped and appear as a grayish-brown color. Stink bugs have six legs, an antennae and can be almost an inch in length. They do not bite, yet their mouths are used for piercing and sucking the moisture and food from leaves, plants, and gardens.
Do stink bugs bite?
No, stink bugs do not bite people or pets. But they are considered an agricultural pest because they feed on plants, fruits, vegetables, and legumes. They bite into and make holes in plants removing the sap that nourishes the plants. They love maple trees!
How do they get inside your home?
Stink bugs can get into your home through the smallest of cracks and openings. They look for space between your window screen and gaps in the siding or foundation. Stink bugs will appear in your in the upcoming weeks of early fall.
Six simple checks to keep them out of your home
Stink bugs love windows, screens, and doorways. Barrier prevention combined with ensuring your home is adequately sealed is the best method of keeping them out of your home. Diligence is the key:
- Remove plants and standing yard debris such as heavy weeds from around your home this time of year.
- Make sure crawl spaces are sealed.
- Install screen windows and doors and regularly check for tears in the screens.
- Seal your windows using caulk when necessary.
- Install weather strips on every outside access door.
- Check pipes, roof pipes, dryer vents, and other access points for cracks or gaps in the closure.
Stink bugs can gain entry into your home through some tiny and tight places. They only need a small space in a window screen or door to get in. This time of year, stink bugs are looking for warm areas to stay.
How do I know if I have an infestation?
Homeowners begin to call our office this time of year about an increased number of stink bugs in or around their houses. Pestworld.org shares its view on infestations:
Finding large numbers of live or dead stink bugs is a telltale sign of an infestation. Stink bugs will turn up on sunny sides of homes where they warm themselves. Growers often detect an infestation by the damage they cause to their crops.
If an infestation has developed inside the home or building, contact a licensed stink bug control professional to evaluate and assess the severity problem and help to identify the access points for this invasive species.
How do I get rid of stink bugs?
Hiring a licensed pest control company like Accurate Pest Control affords homeowners a custom solution and treatment. In addition, our technicians will perform an inspection of your home, both inside and out.
- We will suggest areas of the home that need to be sealed to prevent them from getting inside.
- We will apply the right products to treat the outside of your home and discuss treatment plans.
Together these two processes work to reduce the appearance of stink bugs in and around your home.
We can help.
Ongoing treatment for all household pests, nuisance wildlife, and invaders is critical to long-term protection for your home and family. If you are not utilizing our annual service agreement, ask us about it and see how you can get rid of stink bugs, ants, and other pests and nuisance wildlife.
