The Return Of Stink Bugs
It might be back-to-school time for kids, but unfortunately the end of summer also often means a return of stink bugs. This invasive species of insect came the U.S. from China in the 1990s, and the Mid-Atlantic region is a prime breading ground. And according to a 2010 report, the bugs did $37 million in damage to a variety of crops in the Mid-Atlantic.
Although most of us don’t have to worry about losing millions in crops, stink bug infestations in Maryland still can pose a problem for home gardeners and homeowners alike. And while they’re harmless to humans, they are not always the most pleasant bug to deal with; they’re called stink bugs for a reason!
Preventing A Stink Bug Infestation
The trick, though, is to try to prevent an infestation in the first place. Stink bugs, like other fall invaders, like to crawl through cracks and other small openings. Take a weekend between June-August and seal off any cracks around windows and doors, in your siding, utility pipes and chimneys. You don’t want to do the work between Sept-May as you run the risk of sealing them in. Use a high-quality silicone or silicone-latex sealant. The good news is that this will help keep your house insulated during the coldest months!
The easiest way to get rid of stray stink bugs in your home is to drown them. Simply go around your house with a bucket filled with soapy water and scrape, flick or nudge any stink bugs you see into it.
However, if they’re in your house already, it means you have exterior gaps they are coming through. If that’s the case, you will need an exterior treatment to stop them before more can enter your home. The average migration trigger date for the stink bugs in central Maryland is September 22. Timing is critical and application of an insecticide must be done in the early fall to have an impact. If you need service and wait until mid-October it may be too late.
Get Professional Help
Exterior treatment by a professional is very effective. The number one method for controlling the species is prevention. Timing is certainly critical and application of the insecticide must be done in the early fall to have an impact. If you need service and wait until mid-October it may be too late.
Eco Care is a family-owned pest-control company. Eco Care owner Erich Grove, a board-certified entomologist, uses science to get insects and other pests under control in Howard County and surrounding areas of Maryland and that means you have science on your side. If stink bugs are troubling you and your home, please call our office at 410-465-3709 or schedule treatment online.