This guy and many of his cousins will soon be seeking refuge in your home!
Soybean harvest is in full swing in Ohio. Something that coincides with this event is the movement of the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) from the fields to our human inhabited spaces. Stink bugs are a diverse group of insects that feed on a wide range of plant material. The BMSB is especially irritating to humans because when fall approaches, the seek refuge from the cooling temperatures in our homes.
This stink bug is native to China. The six-legged, triangle-shaped bug first appeared in North America in 2001, likely after hitching a ride in boxes or packages. They do not pose a threat to human health, but they certainly are annoying!
Keep these five tips handy for dealing with these pesky critters.
- Prevent them from entering in the first place. Use silicone or silicone-latex caulk to seal cracks and crevices around doors, windows, chimneys, utility pipes, fascia and other areas. Remove window air conditioners, which are particularly attractive to stink bugs because of the narrow vents. Fix broken screens and windows.
- Vacuum them up. Use a utility vacuum like a Shop-Vac or use a household vacuum that has a bag and empty the vacuum right away to prevent the odor from remaining.
- Startle and collect them. Stink bugs tend to go for the highest point in a house, congregating on ceilings or high up on a wall or window. They fall straight down when startled. Startle them, with a broom handle, for example, and collect them in a container as they fall. Collected bugs can be put in a plastic bag that is sealed and disposed in the trash.
- Create an indoor trap. Use a disposable aluminum pan (like the kind used for lasagna), soapy water and a lamp positioned over the pan. The bugs are attracted to the reflective surface; the soap breaks the surface tension, so they don’t float but instead meet their demise by drowning. While unfriendly to stink bugs, it is a pesticide-free option.
- Call an exterminator. Some people find it helpful to have an exterminator spray around windows and doors outside. At this point there is no evidence that suggest spraying around windows and door frames is effective indoors.
Strategies 1-3 typically work for me, although option 5 is sometimes tempting. Get your caulk, vacuums, and soapy water ready.
Source: Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension