Do You Have A Stink Bug Problem? Here’s How To Tell…
If you are a homeowner in Virginia, you know how annoying it can be to find stink bugs in your home. The foul smell they produce when threatened is meant to protect them against predators, but it also creates a very unpleasant experience for anyone in the vicinity for up to three hours. To make matters worse, stink bugs can cause significant damage to plants and crops if left unchecked.
Stink bugs are predominantly outdoor pests, but you might find them inside as well. This is particularly the case in the winter months, as they try to escape the cold outside.
How can you tell that you have a stinkbug problem? Here are some of the things to be aware of:
How do stink bugs look?
They are large oval-shaped insects, according to many scientists. A more accurate description is ‘a shield-shaped insect’. This is because the wings of a stink bug cover its back like a shield when they are not flying.
Adult stink bugs can reach almost 2 cm in length. They are almost as wide as they are long. Their legs extend from the sides, so this makes the adult bugs look even larger than they really are.
Immature stink bugs, called nymphs, are very tiny when they hatch from their eggs. As they develop, the nymphs molt or shed their skin five times. Each time it molts, the nymph becomes larger. By the last molt, the nymphs are almost as large as adult stink bugs.
Adult stink bugs are good fliers and fold their wings on top of their body when they land. Nymphs do not have fully developed wings. The wings appear when the nymph becomes an adult. Fully developed wings are a way to identify adult stink bugs. Read more from Orkin…
A stink bug may be brown, green or grayish in color, depending on the type of species.
Can stink bugs fly?
Adult stink bugs are good at flying and when they fold their wings on top their body when they land, it seems like they are shielding their bodies. Because immature stink bugs, do not have fully developed wings, they could be more difficult to identify than adult stink bugs.
Yes! Stink bugs can fly.
If you hear an erratic, strange buzzing noise in the distance, chances are that you probably think a helicopter is flying around overhead.
What else could it be, right?
Shockingly enough, stink bugs have wings which fold perfectly to create the shield of their backsides! When they’re ready to take flight, the wings pop out and off they go.
However, their ascension isn’t as smooth as one might assume. Their wings are bulky and awkward which creates a popping, buzzing noise when they lift off.
This droning is highly irritating and can quickly identify a swarm of stink bugs a mile away (sometimes literally)! Read more from Pest strategies…
On close observation, you’ll notice that stink bugs fly in a strange random pattern with no rhythm. In fact, their strange but unique flight patterns are still being studied.
What do stink bugs eat?
Stink bugs are mostly polyphagous, meaning that they eat off a wide variety of plants while some eat other insects. So, no they do not bite humans or pets, but your beautiful garden plants and orchids could be destroyed.
Stink bugs are often found in agricultural areas, gardens or other cultivated places. Depending on the species, they may be found on ornamental plants, vegetables, crops or fruits. They will eat both the flowers and buds of the following plants, as well as any seeds or fruits.
Common types of plants that attract stink bugs include grasses and weeds, corn and other grains, peach trees, soybeans, peanuts and pecan trees.
Ornamental plants that pique their interest include Eastern redbud, holly and mimosa, and they are often found on fruit trees including peach, apple and pear.
If you garden, you are likely to see them on sunflowers, berries, peppers and tomatoes. They may also snack on your beans, eggplants or okra. Read more from Terminix…
You can tell that stink bugs have attacked your plants when you notice pinprick holes that may have a cloudy area below them. Now that you are aware of how stink bugs look, why they would be in your home, and what they eat, you can quickly tell when they invade your home in Herdon, VA.
Reach out to us at Backyard Bug Patrol for the most effective control measures. We offer seasonal stink bug plans to prevent infestations. Our knowledgeable technicians will assess the situation and recommend an appropriate solution. We are just a phone call away.