Why Do I Have Stink Bugs In Spring?

Are you wondering where those stink bugs are coming from? After all, didn't we just have a bunch of snow? You'd think all those stink bugs would still be recovering in some dirty hole or tree nook. But there is a good chance those bugs aren't coming in from the outside. The brown marmorated stink bug is a notorious overwintering pest. When cold weather comes, it will crawl under the siding of your home just as quickly as under the bark on a tree, sometimes even more quickly.

If you haven't seen them till now, you're actually doing pretty good. Stink bugs can stay active even when there is a blizzard outside. All they need is something to feed on. This is usually fruit on your counter or leftover tomato products on dirty dishes. If they stayed hidden, that means you didn't give them much reason to come out. Most stink bugs go into a low energy state called diapause during cold months. In this state they move slowly, or stop altogether, to conserve energy. Inside your wall voids or attic spaces, they will sit quietly and wait for spring, unless you lure them out with the smell of sweet foods.

What to do if you have this pest in your home already.

• Stink bugs are looking for their favorite meal: fruit. When you buy fruit from the grocery store, keep it in a bag or a refrigerator till you're ready to eat it. Brown marmorated stink bugs are an agricultural pest, and are just as happy to eat fruit that is laying on a counter, as they are to eat fruit on a tree.

• If you have only a few stink bugs, you can catch those bad boys with a cup and a hard piece of paper and release them back into the wild.

• Some people get creative and use a 1 liter soda bottle to make a stink bug trap. But be warned. If you leave dead stink bugs in a bottle, you're going to get maggots.

• The best way to deal with stink bugs is to get a professional pest control company to do an inspection of your home and apply pest protection and deterrents. They will get rid of all insects currently infesting your home.

What to do if they are coming in from the outside.

• Entry points must be found and sealed. Use a caulking gun to seal up gaps, cracks, and rotted openings around your home.

• Check all windows and doors closely. Look for gaps and damaged spots on your screening.

• Do an inspection of your door sweeps. Stink bugs have no trouble squeezing under your door. If you have a draft, you may also have stink bugs entering.

• If you have sliding doors, check the weather stripping. If it has slidden down because of gravity, you're going to want to reseat it. A stink bug is able to compact its body and slip past a surprisingly small gap.

Stink bugs can be a small nuisance, or a very big pain in the neck. If your problem is small, you should be all set with the above tips. If you need more protection, don't hesitate to call in the big guns. Pest control professionals deal with this problem all year round. They know how to locate infestations, and how to quickly eradicate them. Sometimes letting the experts take care of your problem is the best way to go.