STINK BUGS: THE BUG WE LOVE TO HATE
I remember many things about growing up, and – although my memory is certainly in a decline with each passing of year – one thing I do not remember is ever seeing a stink bug. Many other insects are associated with distinct memories for me: mosquitoes on camping trips, lightning bugs on warm summer nights (usually involving a jar to capture them…), and ants trailing from a sticky watermelon seed forgotten on the picnic table, just to name a few.
The reason I do not remember seeing them is that they simply did not exist in our country until the late 1990’s. It has been determined that they were introduced into the United States from Asia, and first showed their archaic-looking selves in the lands around Allentown, Pennsylvania. Once entering the US, they quickly acclimated themselves to our culture, and decided to travel around and see the sights of our great nation! They are now residents of over 20 states, ranging from the Northwest in Washington and Oregon, to the South in Tennessee, to a good portion of the eastern states.
Stink bugs do not harm humans (unless you count nearly dying from a heart attack when finding one under the pillow in the middle of the night). They are a minor pest to the agricultural world, however, feeding on fruit bearing, ornamental, and other plants.
So, why the name “stink bug?” I will admit, I have not ever actually smelled a stink bug. I am a coward at heart and a “girly girl” – I do not care for stinky things. I am loath to actually find out how stinky they truly are. I will not squish them, and I will not vacuum them. I simply gather them gently in a tissue and flick them out the door. I am always careful not to startle them because the word on the street is that they release their scent as a natural mechanism to predators like birds and other animals. The fact that I have never actually smelled them while picking them gently off my curtain is probably due to the fact that they think of me more as a roommate than a predator. Great. Someone needs to tell them that fish and (most) company stink after three days! That said, I thought it might be helpful for me to have a little knowledge on the little stinkers so I could prevent as many future encounters as possible. Learning the habits of an “enemy” is one of the best defenses against future encounters.
The stink bug is attracted to the outside of houses on warm fall days (September and October). They are looking for a comfortable, protected area to spend the winter. These snowbirds choose to set up house in between blankets, under cushions in seldom-used rooms, in the folds of curtains by a sunny window, or in a host of other comfy locations. In the beginning of June, they show more signs of life, and prepare to emerge from their hiding/resting places. Then they mate and lay eggs until August. Don’t worry – they accomplish this activity outdoors, leaving their eggs on the underside of leaves. (When inside over the winter, they are harmless, and do nothing unwelcome like feed or reproduce – yaay! This was welcome news to me!). Adults appear in late August to enjoy the autumn until cooler weather arrives, and then begin the cycle of looking for a warm place to hibernate for the winter.
To keep the pests away, start outdoors with a chemical repellant. This is best applied in the months of September and October. Seal up any cracks located around window frames, doors, vents, or up around the eaves of your home with the proper caulk. Please don’t write to me and ask about what kind of caulk is appropriate! This blog is about stink bugs and I know a lot about them now, but nothing about appropriate caulks…you’ll have to visit your favorite home store for that information.
Killing them with an insecticide indoors is apparently not recommended because although you may kill many by doing this, they will just march back in from outside immediately following the slaughter and set up shop again. Your best defense is to prevent their entry from the outside the best you can. Treatments will not totally eliminate the problem, but it should at least reduce the quantities that are evident. Say, reducing the population from a “college frat party” to a “tea with the ladies.” This sounds reasonable to me. I’m getting older now – I’ll take a few good friends over a lot of obnoxious ones!