What’s that smell? If it’s pungent and accompanied by brown, shield-shaped insects, it’s likely a stink bug infestation. While the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) has not always been an issue on Cape Cod, it’s become a growing concern across Massachusetts. Here’s everything you need to know about these pests, including some tips and home remedies that may help you get rid of stink bugs.
In This Article
- Stink Bugs On Cape Cod
- DIY Stink Bug Removal
- Can Stink Bugs Cause Damage?
- Schedule a Free Pest Inspection With Pest Pros Today
Stink Bugs On Cape Cod
Stink bugs operate on a seasonal schedule. Adults emerge sometime during April or May and deposit eggs throughout the summer. You can identify a nymph stink bug by its bright red and black coloring. It might also have white banding around its legs, depending on its developmental stage. As stink bugs age, these colors dull and they take on a tick-like appearance. Adults are brown-gray and grow to about 5/8 of an inch.
During the warmer months, they’re content to stay outdoors and rarely enter homes and businesses unless by accident. In Massachusetts, you can typically expect no more than a single generation each cycle.
Overwintering starts in September as temperatures cool and bugs seek a warm place to spend the chilled months. This is the time of year you might find large swarms of stink bugs huddled on your home or business’s exterior, especially near doors, windows and roofing vents. They tend to migrate toward the south and west sides of the building to bask in the warm afternoon sun. Stink bugs in the fall may try to squeeze into the small gaps in insulation or door jams and make a home inside before going dormant until the weather warms again.
While an occasional insect may awake early — especially during unseasonably warm days — most stink bugs won’t wake up until spring. It’s important to note that stink bugs don’t really want to be inside. If you see active ones in your home or business, it could be that they’re just looking for a way to get back out.
DIY Stink Bug Removal
While there aren’t any single treatments or barrier sprays that allow for long-term stink bug control, some do-it-yourself methods may help repel or trap them. For example, one team of researchers found the most effective method was to fill a disposable roasting pan with a combination of dish soap and water and place it in a dark room. They placed lights over top of their DIY stink bug trap to attract the stink bugs to the foil pan, which they were unable to leave.
You can also use a vacuum to suck up and dispose of or relocate the insects once trapped, making this a great way to eliminate any remaining stragglers after overwintering ends. Some people also claim that applying a homemade stink bug repellent solution of dish soap, water and white vinegar can kill stink bugs instantly — but this is largely anecdotal and shouldn’t be used as your first line of defense.
Stink bugs become much harder to control outdoors. If your garden is under attack, some broad-spectrum insecticides may help. That said, stink bugs are very resilient and move quickly, so your best option may be to contact a professional pest management company that specializes in stink bugs.
Stink Bug Prevention Is Key
Since home remedy sprays and traps aren’t effective long-term solutions, prevention is the most important step you can take to safeguard your property. Follow these steps to fortify your home or business:
- Seal cracks and gaps: Use silicone, caulk or foam sealant to fill cracks and gaps in your building’s exterior. Target exterior doors, garage doors and the areas near pipes, vents, windows, air conditioners and chimneys. Patch or replace any torn screens. A professional pest inspection can help you find hard-to-see areas that may let stink bugs and other insects slip through.
- Install weatherstripping: Weatherstripping around all exterior doors adds a layer of insulation and prevents bugs from slipping through unsealed gaps. For more protection, add sweeps under doors.
- Minimize exterior lights: Many insects are attracted to lights, so try to minimize how often you keep your exterior lights on at night. This is especially important for white, blue and black lights located near doors. Consider relocating lights away from common building entry points.
- Sprinkle diatomaceous earth: Sprinkling food-grade diatomaceous earth around and in your garden and near your building’s entry points may keep stink bugs at bay. This mixture works by drying insects out by absorbing fats and oils from their exoskeleton. The granules also have sharp edges, which also helps.
- Strategically place crushed garlic: Some people report crushed garlic and garlic oil repelling stink bugs — and it certainly couldn’t hurt to try! Apply it near entryways and on windowsills for the best results.
- Do some gardening: Planting sunflowers and marigolds may attract helpful pests that eat stink bug larvae, while aromatic herbs like mint may act as another layer of repellent.
Can Stink Bugs Cause Damage?
Stink bugs are relatively harmless indoors — they don’t feed on structures or household items and won’t reproduce inside. The worst part of having them in your home and business is the smell. They release a foul, overpowering odor to repel possible predators and to attract fellow stink bugs before overwintering. The smell is also intense when you kill a stink bug.
The real damage happens when stink bugs invade gardens and crops. They’re especially harmful if you’re growing:
- Apples
- Peaches
- Beans
- Edamame
- Eggplant
- Peppers
- Sweet corn
- Broccoli
- Tomatoes
- Cauliflower
- Cucumbers
- Asparagus
- Ornamental plants and grasses
Signs of stink bug damage include visible scarring, spotting and cat-scaping, which refers to physical disfigurement. To stop the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, a research initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture has a breakdown of management methods by crop.
Schedule a Free Pest Inspection With Pest Pros Today
Pest infestations are disruptive and damaging — fortunately, they’re also manageable! It all starts with a free pest inspection from Pest Pros. We’ll visit your home or business and conduct a thorough analysis of infestation signs to identify the type of pest you’re dealing with and the extent of any damage.
We use our years of experience to target areas where pests are most likely to hide. Once we have a full picture of your issue, we’ll discuss your options for removal, management and future prevention. This could range from a one-time visit or regularly scheduled quarterly services.
Learn more about our pest removal services and schedule your inspection today!
