As the seasons change and the weather turns colder, it is normal to see more insects indoors as they try to find shelter. One of the most common pests in the Kentuckiana region is the stink bug, halyomorpha halys. Recognizable by its grayish-brown color and “shield-shaped” body, it is annoying and also emits an unpleasant odor.
Stink bugs are experts at finding cracks in windows, doors, and walls. If you seek warmth, you can find them in sunlight, on the side of a building, or in particularly warm places in your home. However, they can also overwinter hiding in spaces between walls or vents. They will re-emerge in the spring, trying to find a way back to the outside.
Stink bugs are found almost everywhere in the United States, despite having arrived relatively recently. Originating from Japan and China, they actually emerged in the US in the mid to late 90s, and have been on the rise here ever since. There are more than fifteen species of stink bugs, the most common in the US being the marbled brown stink bug. In the spring, they lay 20 to 100 large white or yellow to red eggs on the underside of the leaves.
Once hatched, stink bug larvae grow during the summer (40-60 days), feeding on products and plants. They are a pest to farmers, causing tremendous damage to commercial crops in some circumstances. They are polyphagous, which means that they will feed on many crops, including fruit trees, nuts, vegetables, and others.
According to the Annual Entomology Review, released in 2010, stink bugs lost 37 million to tree fruit growers in the mid-Atlantic region. They can cause stunted growth, irregularities, and even kill small plants and young trees. In fruits, their feeding often creates a strange indentation. Given the damaging potential of an infestation, these pests should be dealt with as soon as possible. Follow the instructions for some helpful ideas on how you can prevent these common pests.
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Maintain Your Yard – Keep your yard and the area around your home in good repair. Prune weeds and maintain weeds to avoid creating an ideal habitat for these pests.
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Secure Your Home – Spend some time sealing your home and removing potential ways that pests and critters can enter. Use window screens, weather stripping, and high-quality silicone / caulk to secure your home and protect it from outside pests. This can be especially beneficial and important for drafty older homes.
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Limit Access to Ripe Fruit – Stink bugs are attracted to ripe fruits like bananas, so if you’re trying to reduce the likelihood of an infestation, it’s wise to limit the amount of ripe fruit you have in your kitchen.
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Contact a pest control expert – Killing stink bugs on your own is never a good idea, due to the foul odor they release.
If you are experiencing any type of insect infestation or are practicing a rigorous prevention effort, it is wise to consult with a licensed and experienced pest control company. While stink bugs are not known to cause physical harm to humans, they can certainly pose a very real threat to plants and crops in the area. A proven pest control strategy can eliminate these and many others from your property and keep them out indefinitely.