10 Tips on How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs Inside
What is a Stink Bug?
If you want to know how to get rid of stink bugs, you need to know what they are. The stink bug, aka the "brown marmorated stink bug", comes from East Asia. This pest is now found in North America (where it was accidentally introduced). They are a big problem for orchards owners and fruit producers given their habits and diets. This small pest has also been rearing its stinky head in Europe and South America.
10 Stink Bug Removal Tips
Stink bugs are infamous for their foul odor, giving them their on-the-nose name. As the weather cools down, they might try to get into your home in search of warmer surroundings. While they don't pose a health risk to humans, they can be incredibly annoying and smelly.
Here are 10 stink bug removal tips to help you keep these trespassers from getting into your business or home.
- Reduce Stink Bug Foodstuffs
These little critters love fruit. If you leave fruit out in bowls, you’re inviting stink bugs inside. Seal up fruit, keep your garbage covered and don't leave crumbs lying about. Lastly, immediately clean up anything sticky that spills (maple syrup, honey, etc.).
- Don't Give Bugs a "Free" Ride
Don't give stink bugs a free ride into your home. They might hitch a lift on fruit you picked from your garden or on bags and sacks you set down before entering your house. If these pests are an issue in your area, inspect suspect items before bringing them inside.
- Vacuum, Don't Squish
Whenever possible, vacuum stink bugs up. Don't squish or crunch them, as this will cause their reeking odor to emit from their pores, stinking up the surrounding area. Get rid of the vacuum bag ASAP (after sucking them all up) to keep their odor out of the air.
- Limit Exterior Lighting
Light attracts stink bugs, which means excessive outdoor lighting acts as a beacon. Sodium-vapor and yellow light bulbs aren't quite as appealing to these insects. Also, you should turn off unnecessary outdoor lights at night and draw the drapes or blinds to keep inside light from radiating outside.
- Check for Property Damage
A crack in a wall, a poorly sealed window or a tear in a screen can let stink bugs in. Check buildings for this kind of property damage, then repair the damage to keep these crawling pests away.
- Seal Up Access Points
In addition to repairing property damage, seal up potential points of access (attics, crawl spaces, doors, windows, chimneys, pipes, cable lines, etc.) into your home. Caulk is a wonderful "weapon" in your anti-insect arsenal when working out how to get rid of stink bugs.
- Reduce Outdoor Bug Habitats
If you reduce outdoor stink bug habitats by keeping bushes, hedges and grass trimmed, and not letting piles of debris, wood and other goods stack up next to your building, you'll keep stink bugs away from your property. If they aren’t on your land, it’s easier to prevent them from getting into your house. If you have fruit trees, try not to plant them too close to the house.
- Minimize Moisture
Drainage ponds, puddles from rain or sprinklers and pipes or hoses that leak, plus other sources of moisture, can draw stink bugs in because they love warm and moist climates. Minimize moisture in and near your home or place of work and reduce its attractiveness to these pests.
- Install Proper Ventilation
Proper ventilation in your home will reduce moisture and humidity. Cozy and moist spaces are appealing to stink bugs, which is why you need to limit them. Ensure that your home or office is properly ventilated.
- Employ Pest Control Solutions
When all else has failed in your battle against stink bugs, consider employing pest control solutions. At MosquitoNix®, our mantra is "No More Pests. Period."
If you're dealing with an invasion of stink bugs, we can help. We offer a variety of proven stink bug treatments. Get in touch with us and get an online stink bug quote or video consultation today.
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