As a long, cold winter winds down in the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Tri-State Area, spring brings warmer weather that stirs pests like sting bugs out of their dormancy (the bug equivalent of hibernation).
If stink bugs are annual uninvited guests in your home, or if you saw increased numbers of them last fall, now is the best time for pest control to prepare and prevent them from taking over during.
Why Stink Bugs Come Out in the Spring
As temperatures drop in the fall, stink bugs seek a warm place to stay for the winter. They will seek out areas of your home like attics, basements, behind walls, behind siding and any areas where they are unlikely to be disturbed.
They enter a period of dormancy called diapause where they do not eat or reproduce, which helps them survive the winter like hibernation does for mammals.
In spring (around March in our area), rising temperatures signal stink bugs to emerge from their diapause to start eating, mating and reproducing.
Are Stink Bugs Harmful?
Stink bugs are not harmful in the sense that are not poisonous, and they are highly unlikely to bite. They also won’t damage your home like termites or carpenter ants.
They will, however, damage your plants—they love to eat fruits, vegetables, and even your decorative plants.
If you squish them or they feel threatened, they will release a very unpleasant odor (hence the name). The odor also isn’t harmful, but it can attract more stink bugs.
How To Keep Stink Bugs Out of Your Home
As with most pests, it’s best to prevent stink bugs from getting into your living space in the first place. Here are some tips for doing your own pest control:
- Seal potential entry points. Add caulk around windows and doors and seal cracks and other openings that could let stink bugs (and many other pests) inside.
- Reduce outdoor lighting. Stink bugs are attracted to light like many other pests, so limiting outdoor lighting will keep them from gathering around your home.
- Maintain your yard. Stink bugs love overgrown lawns and vegetation, so clear your outdoor areas of debris to keep them at bay.
- Spray essential oils inside. Stink bugs don’t like the smell of garlic, mint, lavender, and citrus.
What To Do When Stink Bugs Have Invaded Your Home
If you already have stink bugs in your home, the pest control steps listed above will limit their numbers. The next step is to eliminate the stink bugs in your home, not only to avoid the odor but to keep them from mating and reproducing under your roof.
- Vacuum regularly. Vacuuming is the easiest way to capture stink bugs while avoiding the unpleasant odor. Just make sure to empty the bag or bin right away.
- Set traps. You can find pheromone and light traps at most hardware and home improvement stores.
- Call Masters Pest Control. If your DIY efforts are not enough, you can’t stomach the thought of them, or there’s just too large of an infestation to manage, it’s time to contact the professionals at Masters Pest Control. Our experts will eliminate the infestation at the source.
Call Masters Pest Control at (877) 546-9575 or request a free quote. Let’s make sure only invited guests make themselves at home this spring!
