What Attracts Stink Bugs?

1. Shelter

 

As temperatures dip in the fall, we see an increase in stink bug invasions. This is because these little shield-shaped bugs are on the lookout for shelter for the coming cold. Stink bugs enter a state called diapause, which is the insect equivalent of hibernation. It is a state of extraordinarily deep sleep in which their metabolic processes slow to a stop and the bugs survive off stored energy which can last up to a year for some creatures. In order to both stay warm and safe from being hunted by wintertime opportunists, insects that engage in diapause seek out shelter.

2. Lights

 

Like moths, stink bugs are attracted to lights. So, if you have porch/patio lights or don’t close your blinds while your lights are on at night, you may unknowingly be attracting stink bugs to your home. Furthermore, outdoor lights tend to be placed right around doors, and any indoor light is typically seeping out through windows. This means that the lights also lead the bugs directly to entryways into your home.

3. Fruits

 

While stink bugs can feast on a variety of greens, they tend to have a particular taste for fruits and berries. This means that leaving fruit out on your counters, or even simply having fruit in your gardens can draw these smelly bugs to your yard and into your house.

4. Other Stink Bugs

If you already have a small stink bug infestation, it’s likely that it will quickly grow as stink bugs will release aggregation pheromones. These special pheromones attract other insects of the same species to an area for the purpose of mating and sharing food sources. In addition to this, stink bugs have high productive potential and between the months of May to August, female stink bugs mate and lay batches of eggs. Each batch contains about 20 to 30 eggs that hatch after only about 5 days. So, whether stink bugs are drawing others to your home with pheromones, or they are breeding on your property, other stink bugs are almost always a sign of a larger infestation in the future.

Keep the Stink Away

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 typically descend upon homes in groups of hundreds to thousands and, if squashed, give off a terribly off-putting odor. The best way to tackle stink bugs, is to avoid them in the first place by securing your home as best you can and working with professional pest control to administer regular preventative treatments that will deter these pesky stinkers. Call us today for more information on how we can help you, and your nose, stay protected from a smelly siege of stink bugs.