Stink bugs are small, shield shaped, brownish stripped bugs that are very common here in Ohio. Odds are, you’ve probably already seen them, possibly without even knowing it. Stink bugs are most identifiable, however, by the bad tasting and horrible smelling substance that they let out when they’re scared or squished.
Stink bugs are most often seen around March and April, when the weather starts warming up outside. The stink bugs start popping up out of nowhere. Well, that’s because, technically, they’ve been there all along. Stink bugs sneak into your house when the weather starts getting chilly to hibernate for a while – preferably in an attic or somewhere they can find one spot and just rest, undisturbed for the winter. The warm weather and more sun makes the stink bugs wake up, and soon enough they’re itching to get out of your house as much as you want them out.
Really, aside from stinking and looking a bit creepy, they’re harmless. Stink bugs don’t bite or sting, and they’re not as creepy as spiders to look at. They mostly feed on plants, so if you’ve got houseplants, you might be more anxious to get the stink bug out of your house than others.
That’s easier said than done. If you scare them or squish them, they’ll let out that horrible smell and it’ll take forever to get it out of your home. The same goes for vacuuming the bugs up – the smell will never leave your vacuum. If you have to vacuum them up, use a shop-vac and empty it outside right away. Or, if you don’t want to risk it, try spraying them with some hot, soapy water. Stink bugs that are just now waking up from hibernation are really weak, and they don’t need a lot of encouragement to bite the dust.
Keeping stink bugs away from your garden can be a little bit trickier. USA Today recommends using older chemistries of insecticides, since healthy stink bugs can be pretty tough. But, if you want to stay away from the nasty chemicals, you might want to look into some specialized trap and kill stations to kill the stink bugs and keep them away from your garden.
The best way to keep a stink bug infestation at bay is in prevention. Stink bugs are nearly impossible to get out of your house after they’re in it. Before the weather gets cold again, make sure to do the basic upkeep in your house that will save you hundreds in exterminator bills later. Seal up any cracks in your doorways, windows, house – basically anywhere where you can suspect they’ll get in – with some high quality silicone caulk. Fix up any holes in your window screens and take out that in-window air conditioner. It’s the simple preparation things that will save you a lot of time, hassle and hair pulling later.
