When Nature Comes Inside!

Stink bugs in the home

 

Source: N.C. Cooperative Extension


Seen this guy lately?  Don't worry, you're not alone.  Though this critter goes by the name, "stink bug," it's presence in your house is not an indicator that you have been slacking off on your cleaning duties.  In fact, all across the state, these insects are taking up residence in locals homes.  These insects are not harmful to your home and they won't get into your food, but they are a nuisance.  And if you have ever killed one, you will know why they are called "stink bugs."

 

This particular insect is called a brown marmorated stink bug.  These are non-native, invasive species that have hitched their way over from Asia.  They first appeared in North Carolina in 2009 and populations this year are at an all time high.  So why are they in your home?  They are searching for a suitable, warm habitat to winter over.  Cooler weather triggers their hibernation patterns. 

 

Though they do represent a significant threat to agriculture, they are harmless in the home.  The N.C. Cooperative Extension does not recommend using pesticides in your home.  This would be a short term solution and potentially more harmful to household residents, particularly children.  The best way to control these critters is to put up as many physical barriers as possible; fix any screens with holes, replace door stops to create a tighter fit, and just generally try and plug any possible pathways into your home.  They also recommend vacuuming them up and throwing away the vacuum bag...or use old pantyhose as a vacuum filter so you won't have to discard all those vacuum bags!

 

The other solution is to just wait it out.  Joanna Radford of the N.C. Cooperative Extension predicts that we will see a decrease of stink bugs by the end of October as they start dying off due to cooler weather.  But Radford also predicts a rise in lady bugs over the next couple weeks.  Lady bugs, also innocuous in your home, are actually beneficial to agriculture as they eat harmful pests such as aphids.  So pack your bags stink bugs because lady bugs are moving in!

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