One overwintering pest Texans will soon be dealing with is the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. This pest becomes very active during the spring and summer seasons and prefers to spend the warmer seasons outside. However, when the temperatures begin to drop they will begin invading sheds, garages and inside homes and businesses. With summer more than half way through, now is the time to start preparing your home for an upcoming invasion. A Five Star Termite & Pest Control will share more about the brown marmorated stink bug and how you can prevent their intrusion.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Damage
The brown marmorated stink bug is an insect that comes out during the spring and thrives throughout the summer. They feed on fruit trees, garden vegetation and ornamental plants which can damage the plant severely. More of an agricultural pest, they don’t spread easy diseases or cause structural damages. However they are regarded as a nuisance come the fall. Due to the brown marmorated stink bug’s shape and thin body they will aggressively invade homes during the fall and early winter seasons. They are among the few species of pests that overwinter inside our homes and other structures looking for a warm place they can hide or sleep out the cold of winter.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Infestations
When the temperatures begin to drop you will see the brown marmorated stink bug gather in groups. They will fly onto porches and cluster on the warmer side of homes. As the temperatures continue to drop they will begin looking for ways to get inside our home for a warmer, safer place to hide. The brown marmorated stink bug is a very flat insect. Their body forms the shape of a shield and they are dominantly brown in color with a few white and dark, almost black patterns. With a very small round head these insects blend into tree trunks and wood making them difficult to see.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs Smell when Killed
As the brown marmorated stink bug doesn’t carry any diseases or cause structural damage, they do emit a nasty odor. Scientists speculate they emit the odor to signal to other Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs. This may explain why they gather in larger groups. As the population of stink bugs increase, so does the odor. The odor becomes even stronger if they die or get smashed, which is why you never want to kill or crunch the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. If they begin to invade your home vacuum them up and seek pest control services to help control or locate the rest. However it is better to prevent them from entering your home instead of waiting for them to invade.
How to Prevent Marmorated Stink Bug Infestations
To prevent a stink bug invasion begin by leaving the exterior lights off or switch to yellow colored bulbs to reduce the stink bugs attraction to your home. Inspect all of your home windows. Make sure the screens are in good condition and that the window framing doesn’t have any holes, cracks or gaps around the exiting doors. Next inspect your home’s exterior. Look for cracks in the foundation or the siding. If any cracks or small gaps are found, seal them. Once your home is properly secured, use an insecticide and spray around the edges of your home and around all windows and doors.
Overwintering Pest Inspections & Treatment in Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Timberwood Park, Leon Valley, Alamo Heights, New Braunfels, Selma, Live Oak, Converse, Universal City, Cibolo, Seguin, New Berlin, St Hedwig, Adkins, La Vernia, Elmendorf, Losoya, Von Ormy, Macdona & San Antonio, Texas
If you require professional assistance to rid yourself of stink bugs and other pests around your home or business, contact A Five Star Termite & Pest Control.
