Avoiding Autumn Stink Bugs

Autumn Pests

As the weather gets colder, most people assume that pest activity will taper off. However, this is not necessarily the case. In fact, there is actually a surge of pest activity in the fall months that, if not addressed can lead to infestations both at the time and in the future.

Many pests become extremely active during this time as they are preparing for winter by foraging for extra food and looking for shelter where they can hibernate. The warmth and shelter that our homes can provide, as well as any crumbs or food they can find, make homes a prime target for pests during this season. If your home is not secured against these pests, they can end up hibernating in your home and producing the next generation under your roof.

Other pests are actually built for this time of year. It is the time they thrive, travel, and mate.  Some prominent Autumn pests include Asian lady beetles (aka. lady bugs), box elder bugs, foreign grain beetles, cluster flies, and the infamous stink bugs!

The Problems with Stink Bugs

Stink bugs aren’t dangerous, nor do they cause any damage to your home, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t super disruptive pests. They tend to come in groups of hundreds to thousands and, if squashed, give off a terribly off-putting odor. Also, while your home may be safe from these little stinkers, your garden may not be. In fact, stink bugs have been known to feed on over 300 different species of fruits, vegetables, trees, and other plants, making them a huge risk to your yards and gardens.

Keep Those Stinkers at Bay!

The best way to tackle stink bugs, is to avoid them in the first place. Try some of the following tactics to avoid stink bugs from finding a way into your home:

• Secure windows – make sure there are no cracks or tears in your screens and that there are no gaps or cracks around your windows.
• Squash them outside – the odor omitted from squashing a stink bug informs the others of danger. So, if you get the chance to squish a few outside so the stench doesn’t permeate through your home, it can help deter others from hanging out in your yard.
• Check for voids – this tip is vital for pest control in general. Make sure there are no gaps or cracks around your home that are letting pests in.
• Dryer sheets – recent testing has proven that dryer sheets help repel many different insects including stink bugs. Try rubbing some along the outsides of your windows to discourage them from even trying to find a way in.

Aside from those tips and tricks, we always have your back and will work tirelessly to help you for a pest-barrier around your home. Call us today for more information on how we can help you, and your nose, protected from these annoying pests.

Citations

Cole, J. and Bessin, R. (2015) Brown Marmorated Stinkbug in the Home Garden, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment. The Entomology Department at the University of Kentucky. Available at: https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef326 (Accessed: October 2020).

Schumann, N. (2020) How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs, Country Living. Available at: https://www.countryliving.com/home-maintenance/cleaning/a30627192/how-to-get-rid-stink-bugs/ (Accessed: October 2020).

Sting Bugs Stay Out: Study Measures Gaps Needed for Invasion (2019) Entomology Today. The Entomological Society of America. Available at: https://entomologytoday.org/2019/02/13/stink-bugs-stay-out-study-shows-size-gaps-needed-brown-marmorated-stink-bug-invasion/ (Accessed: October 2020).