Stink bugs are a uniquely disgusting and unwelcome pest in North America. This disagreeable insect enjoys dark spaces and makes its presence known with a lingering and foul odor. Learn how to stop a stink bug infestation by following our tips and tricks for integrated pest control management and natural repellents.
Halyomorpha halys, or the brown marmorated stink bug, arrived in America by accident in the 1990s. Unintentionally shuttled over from East Asia, the stink bug has aggressively put down roots across North America; stink bugs are found in 46 states.
As the weather changes, you might see stink bugs huddled against your windows and around doorways, trying to find a space for hibernation. If they’re permitted entry, stink bugs will come by the thousands. While they don’t reproduce once inside or cause structural damage, they’re pretty terrifying in large numbers. Once they settle in, stink bugs release a pheromone that attracts hordes of new stink bugs.
Discover Incredible Ways to Stop Stink Bugs
Sometimes called a shield bug because of its odd body shape, the stink bug is found all over North America. They enjoy habitat stretching up the West Coast and the East Coast, from North Carolina to New York state.
The Environmental Protection Agency states that there are few effective pesticides for stink bugs and that integrated pest management strategies are the way to go. Integrated pest management means using several environmentally conscious ways to reduce the number of invasive pests.
How to Stink Bug-Proof Your Yard
Since they arrived in North America, stink bugs have become a notorious agricultural pest. They enjoy at least 170 crops, including beans, corn, apples, and peaches. Adult stink bugs eat and mate through the summer months, so paying special consideration to your yard and garden is essential.
Integrated pest management is your best friend when fighting the illusive and resilient stink bug. A series of small checks and balances does more for prevention than most pesticides currently available to fight the stink bug. Like moths to outdoor light, certain things encourage stink bugs to flock to your yard.
One of the best ways to stop stink bugs is to plan before you plant. Homes with large ornamental plants and shrubs draw stink bugs. Any host plant or tree that grows delicious fruits and berries attracts a stink bug problem. Unfortunately, once a stink bug finds your yard, it’s much easier for them to find your house.
Stop a Stink Bug Infestation by Sealing Cracks
As temperatures change, researchers like Gutierrez Illan from Washington State University predict the stink bug’s natural habitat could expand by 70% as the year 2080 approaches. Having a superior set of stink bug controls up your sleeve puts you a step ahead.
Stop your stink bug problem before it starts by performing regular maintenance indoors and out. Look for worn and damaged window trim, door trim, and access points in the siding. Check for foundation cracks, inspect the roof overhang, and give the dark corners of the garage a thorough once-over.
One of the best ways to stop stink bugs is to prevent accidental entry into your home. Fill gaps with caulk or weatherstripping to give your home renewed security over the colder months. These precautions prevent stink bugs and even provide bed bug control, rodent control, and protection against cockroaches.
Use the Vacuum to Solve a Stink Bug Problem
The stink bug gets its name from a fairly obvious source. When crushed, the adult stink bug emits a defensive stench. Worse, they can voluntarily deploy the scent when they feel threatened.
Some people are unexpectedly allergic and develop contact dermatitis from touching the substance. If you spot a stink bug infestation, stand back and blast them with the vacuum before the terrifying creatures can fly away or release their repulsive defense odor.
Use the vacuum hose with a long attachment, if possible. Crushing the bugs with the vacuum rollers only releases the scent. The vacuum method requires a vacuum with a bag. Seal the bag immediately and dispose of it away from your yard and home.
Try a Soapy Water Spray to Fight Stink Bugs
If the stink bugs have arrived, prepare a spray bottle full of soapy water and initiate a surprise attack. This inexpensive spray should stop a small stink bug invasion in its tracks. Remember, quick hands and a solid plan are the only things that stand between you and the stink bombing of a lifetime.
When you have a stink bug problem, you have to act quickly. This DIY spray works best for pest spot control treatments and bugs in small numbers. The idea is to soak the stinkbug and the bug eggs before they have a chance to react.
Once you mix the spray, approach cautiously and aim carefully. Douse the bugs and return later to sweep up the corpses.
Use Neem Oil to Control Stink Bugs
The EPA and the National Pest Management Association consider the brown marmorated stink bug an invasive species. This doesn’t mean you have to throw heavy pesticides at the problem. Neem oil is a great way to fight stink bugs without leaving a toxic environmental footprint behind.
Pure cold-pressed neem oil is available at your local home and garden store and comes with the manufacturer’s mixing directions. However, you’re free to use our recipe, too. Once the neem oil is diluted, spray it along the entry points of your home and on your ornamental plants biweekly.
Neem oil isn’t a kill-on-contact pesticide but works quickly to suppress appetite and disrupt successful reproduction. While neem oil is safe for continued use, be wary of spraying it around beneficial pollinators because the effects of neem oil are indiscriminate.
How to Make a Simple Stink Bug Trap
Researchers at Virginia Tech spend a lot of time working on ways to control the invasive stink bug because West Virginia tends to be hard hit during the crop season. They’ve learned a clever way to make a dent in local stink bug infestations with this simple trap.
Get a cheap aluminum pan at the grocery store and fill it with hot, soapy water. Set the pan out in an area with frequent stink bug activity, and plug in a small desk lamp or night light.
Stink bugs are attracted to bright, warm light, so the trap should be full of them by morning. Throw the disposable pan away, and continue to set the trap until there are no more stink bugs.
Use Professional Pest Control for Extreme Stink Bug Infestations
Sometimes it’s not about different ways to stop stink bugs; it’s about recognizing when you need assistance. It’s not unusual for the average homeowner to report a stink bug population of hundreds or thousands living in the basement.
In one instance, roughly 3,000 stink bugs were living in an unused bread box and 30,000 in an abandoned outhouse. Those infestation numbers are impossible to tackle without professional assistance. Use a licensed exterminator with the proper certifications to help with excessive stink bug control.
We hope you enjoyed learning about stink bugs and how to stop a stink bug infestation from taking root and then taking over. Prevention is part of an overarching integrated pest management plan and is the most successful way to keep stink bugs from coming to your house.
If a stink bug invasion plagues your area of North America, don’t grow ornamental plants or delicious fruits that could attract them. Be militant about maintaining your weather stripping, access points, and gutters to prevent accidental entry as the bugs look for a warm place to overwinter.
Use eco-friendly pest control methods like a bagged vacuum cleaner or soapy water for small infestations. Try a neem oil spray to keep the garden stink bug population down. Once you start to see the bugs in numbers, contact a pest control technician and let them do the heavy lifting.
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