Have small, shield-shaped bugs flown into your house and emitted a gross odor? These insects are called stink bugs because they possess a gland that releases an odor as a means of self-defense. There’s nothing like a good dose of “stink” to protect yourself from being eaten by a bird or lizard.
Stink bugs live in meadows, fields, yards, or gardens and especially those with low shrubs. They are most active from spring through fall, but they usually become house invaders at the beginning of fall when temperatures start to drop. They sometimes hibernate on the outside of some south-facing buildings for warmth, but usually over winter in protected areas under dead weeds, stones or in the bark of trees.
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The stink bug’s eggs are yellow, yellow-red, white, or pale green in color and can be found on the underside of leaves in clumps of 20 to 30 eggs. Eggs are only found outdoors on plants because stink bugs cannot reproduce indoors. Thank goodness for small favors. Plants are the primary source of food for stink bugs. They typically feed on fruit plants and nuts. They particularly enjoy honeydew, tomatoes, beans, corn, squash, peppers, cabbage, and any type of fruit, using their beaks to pierce and suck plant juice. This activity can cause major damage to gardens. If you discover stink bugs on your plants you can scoop them up using a pill bottle or other small container. This is time consuming, but the containers help you avoid the smell they emit.
Exclusion is the key to avoiding stink bug invasions. Sealing your house by closing doors and windows will help keep them out of your home. If there are cracks in your siding, windows, doors, utility pipes, behind chimneys, or other openings, good quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk will help stop their entry. Replace ripped window and door screens and install screens on attic vents. Inspect entries to crawl spaces to make sure they are properly sealed.
Here’s the part I know you will hate hearing. You just spent a ton of money installing outdoor lighting to make your home look warm and inviting. Or, you added lighting as a security measure. Well, stink bugs are attracted to light. So, now your house is a beacon that shouts “Come to me all ye stink bugs looking for a home.” Stink bugs are drawn to lights coming from your windows, too. I can’t ask you to shutter your windows at night, but closing the shades will help.
Stink bug eggs
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So, what’s a body to do? There are pesticides that will kill stink bugs that have amassed on walls and ceilings. Readily available aerosol-type pyrethrum foggers will knock them down, but the treatment will not prevent more stink bugs from emerging shortly afterwards. Exterior insecticide treatments applied in the fall containing synthetic pyrethroids like deltamethrin, cyfluthrin or lambda-cyhalothrin may provide some relief. If you are uncomfortable applying pesticides or lack the proper equipment you might consider having a licensed pest control operator apply the materials. It’s good to know that insecticides break down in sunlight, so the residual effect of the treatment will be short and may not have an effect on the bugs much more than several days or a week.
If your home becomes infested with stink bugs, be wary before sucking them into the vacuum cleaner. Squashing them or vacuuming them will usually make the smell worse. Wear gloves if you need to handle stink bugs because their unique beaks are fully capable of biting humans. Although their bites are not harmful, you will feel something similar to a sharp pinprick if you are bitten. Not fun!
Okay! You are armed with just enough information to do battle. Go out and fight a good fight!
Comments
Annette Jones
25 Jul 2008, 11:09
I have dusted my garden several times with 7-Seven. Why can I not kill the
stink bugs with that. They just continue to walk right thru the stuff and
stay alive. I need some help.
Ask the Exterminator
25 Jul 2008, 11:58
Stink bugs have built up a resistance to some pesticides. So, you need to
try a different approach. First, get rid of as many weeds as possible.
Stink bugs will hide in weeds. So, if you are only spraying your garden
plants you are not hitting the stink bugs.
Next, let's think about some alternative treatments. There are some good
articles about kaolin clay treatments on the web. This spray mixture coats
the plants and is supposed to protect them from a wide variety of insect
pests.
Neem is a botanical insecticide derived from a tree native to the Middle
East carried by lawn and garden stores. EcoSmart carries an entire line of
non-toxic products made with clove oil and the like, available on line.
Your local lawn and garden store also has a supply of organic soaps that
can help. I also like the concept of trap cropping which involves planting
strips of other stink bug host plants around the edges of gardens or crops
to be protected. For example, a tomato crop might be protected by growing a
rows of okra or sunflowers along the garden edges. This is supposed to lure
the stink bugs away from the valued tomatoes.
Of course, if all else fails, look for products containing cyfluthrin,
Bifenthrin, Cyfluthrin or Deltamethrin. Just be sure to read the label and
apply only as directed. Do not over-apply any pesticides!!!
Laura
28 Sep 2008, 16:42
I don't have a garden, but stink bugs gather in mass quantities around my
front door frame and a window in my living room. They haven't found a good
way inside yet (thank heaven for small mercies.) I can't spray pesticide
because it's a rental property. Is there something I can do to treat these
areas?
Ask the Exterminator
29 Sep 2008, 14:12
Nope! You are in their migration path and you just have to live with it.
The only products I would suggest are by EcoSmart, available on line. These
are non-toxic sprays. But, even those will not stop the stink bugs. It
will, however, make your tenants feel like their landlord is doing
something.
masterofdisaster
11 Oct 2008, 21:54
my dog has developed a taste for these he loves them sometimes he catches
them sometimes i catch them and feed them too him there like his favorite
treat he looks forward to them i come in with a cloth and say want some
stinkbugs and he gets excited but its great to have him to help rid my hose
of these
What A good Boy!
if this is not good for dogs please tell me
Ask the Exterminator
12 Oct 2008, 09:17
People from different cultures eat bugs as part of their diet all the time.
However, my suggestion would be to pose this same question to your vet.
casey
16 Oct 2008, 00:07
i had bought a car couple months ago not knowing that these bugs where
living in there and now there in my home. i have pets (2 dog) and dont want
to use pesticide becuase their health is there a way to get rid of these
nasty bugs without hurting my pets health??
Ask the Exterminator
16 Oct 2008, 13:54
There are several sites on line that sell stink bug traps. I have no idea
if the traps work, but it uses no pesticides and that seems to be your
goal.
megan
24 Oct 2008, 11:58
hey everyone. i'm a noob to stink bug problems becuase i've only had issues
in the past week. but, i've found 20 or so in 4 days in my dorm room. i
have a single in the dorms so it's incredibly small. even the hint of stink
bug lingers forever. but, i found out that my problem was my window air
conditioner. that's exactly how they are getting in. so yesterday, i taped
it shut (guess i'm not using my ac for awhile) and i haven't had any bugs
since. this could work for you! take out your window ac if you have one. or
just block them with a towel wehn they're not running
Nick
07 Nov 2008, 23:30
Thank you! This was really helpful actually. I have a nest of them or
something outside my window at school and I haven't been sure how to get
rid of them. I wasn't given a bloody shade, so maybe if I get one that will
help me out. The building's so old, I have no idea how well sealed this
place is.
