Watch Out For Stink Bugs as The Temperature Drops
Cold temperature is the signal to all nature to minimize activity and hibernate- except human beings, of course. Out in the wild, very few animals maintain their regular daily routine. Some hide in caves, while others look for safe places to stay during the cold months. And yes, they survive because they store enough food during summer and fall- enough to take them through the cold.
Interestingly, some insects also change their activities during winter. Stink bugs are one of them. Here are some more details about them.
Stink Bugs and Cold
They go into hiding. You’d wish they could burrow a hole and hide in it, but guess what? Your home could be an ideal hideout for them.
Stink bugs like to seek shelter at the first sign of cold weather. During the fall months, they stealthily infiltrate homes and businesses to hide until spring. Walls, attics, and crawl spaces are all typical areas around the home where stink bugs rest during a period of inactivity called “diapause.”
If you’ve seen stink bugs around the house, it’s most likely because they were overwintering in your home. Stink bugs emerge from hiding at the first sign of warm weather and usually gather on the sunny side of the house. Unseasonable warmth may even cause them to emerge during the winter months. Read more at American Pest
Stink Bug Damage
Well, the bugs may not be harmful as bulldog ants are, but they can be more than a nuisance and a smelly affair.
Stink bugs feed on outdoor and indoor ornamental plants, such as shrubs, hostas, bushes, and gardens. Their secretions and excrement can also stain furniture and other surfaces such as floors and walls. The bugs may move into homes during the winter, but they don’t nest, reproduce, or lay eggs in homes.
The real reason experts consider stink bugs such an issue is because they feed on vegetable, fruit, nut, legume, and vegetable crops. Crop yields in the Eastern United States have been significantly affected by stink bug damage in the past. In other words, stink bugs are an invasive pest that affects food supplies more than individual homes. Controlling them remains important even if they don’t directly bother you. Read more at Griffin Pest
Stink Bug Elimination
The good news is that you can actually do something to keep stink bugs away from your home once the temperatures warm up. Here’s what you can consider doing.
Keep the garden and surrounding areas clean and free of debris. One of the first things you should do when getting rid of stink bugs is remove any nearby weeds or overgrowth, as they commonly use these for cover. Also, remove any hiding places like old boards, logs, etc.
Close off or seal any potential entryways. If stink bugs are a problem in the home, there are steps you can take to prevent their entry. Make sure that all doors and windows are shut or covered with screens. Many people have found success with rubbing their window screens with dryer sheets too — the more aromatic, the better — to repel these pests. Since they’re attracted to light, pulling shades or blinds closed may help at night. Fill any cracks or openings with caulking. In addition, the use of insect repellent around entryways may help deter these pests. Read more at Gardening Know How
Once you do your part, you need to also go the extra mile to ensure any loopholes are sealed. To do this, it is helpful to call in professionals.
At Backyard Bug Patrol, we are keen on ensuring that your home is free of bugs and pests- including stink bugs. Our organic program is both safe and effective, keeping your home from an invasion. the last thing you’d want is a smelly critter roaming around your home- or even multiplying there. So, don’t take any chances, keep the pests away. We’ll gladly do that for you!