STINK BUGS IN YOUR HOME - Fall Invaders in September and October 
 

Brown Marmorated Stink bugs are a common pest in Delaware. They are actually an outside pest that make their way into our homes because they cannot tolerate the cold temperatures of winter in Sussex county and Kent county. Due to the habits of stink bugs, September and October is the optimal time to prevent stink bug infestations in your home. 

WHY ARE STINK BUGS IN YOUR HOUSE

Stink bugs are usually first seen as soon as the weather warms in the early Spring and they are active generally from March through October, depending on the weather, in sussex and kent counties. You may see them flying around lights or in window sills inside of your home during the first days of 70 degree weather. This is a potential sign that stink bugs overwintered in your home and are now trying to escape to the outside. 

As the weather begins to cool and gets in the 50 degree range, stink bugs will start looking for a nice warm place to overwinter. In early Fall, they can often be found on the side of homes as they look for suitable warm, overwintering locations that they need to survive during the winter. Stink bugs are known to enter homes in large numbers that could be in excess of hundreds in a fall season. They will find the perfect overwintering location and then release a aggregation pheromone, a chemical that communicates to other stink bugs, to alert and attract additional stink bugs that are in the same area of the ideal overwintering conditions that they have found to stay. 

As with many bugs, stink bugs need warmth to survive during the winter coldness. They will search out a place, many times, a home that is nice and warm, to enter and then they will stay there hidden throughout the winter. During the cold months, usually from October through March, they hibernate, or go into diapause where their metabolism slows, inside of the walls, baseboards, crawlspaces and attics of homes. If there is a nice, warm day during the winter, you may see one or two venture out but for the most part, they will remain there hidden away and overwinter for the duration of the cold months. Once they sense the longer days and warm weather temperatures, they will again reappear and start looking for away out of your home in order to get to the outside. 

Infestations of stink bugs are common in homes that are near fields, fruit orchards and ornamental plants or trees such as holly, eastern redbud, tree of heaven, cherry, walnut, and grape. These are food sources for stink bugs so homes that are near these locations may become stink bug overwintering sites. 

WHY DO WE HAVE STINK BUGS IN DELAWARE

The brown marmorated stink bug is not native to Delaware and they are considered an invasive pest to the United States. They originally came from Japan, China, and Korea and were first identified back in 2001 in Pennsylvania where since then they have become established in 17 states including Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Virginia, and have been found in over 40 states and in Canada. In Delaware, the brown marmorated stink bugs are considered to cause severe agricultural and nuisance problems. They are destructive and can cause damage to crops such as corn, beans and tomatoes, as well as the tree fruit of apple trees, peach trees, and pear trees and they have been known to feed on over 300 different plants in all. 

PREVENTING STINK BUGS IN YOUR HOUSE

Due to the habits of stink bugs of entering the home just as the weather begins to cool, preventative services to keep stink bugs out of your home should be scheduled and performed in September and October. Once stink bugs have gained entry and infested your home, they can be harder to treat as they hide inside of areas that cannot be reached easily, as well as due to their diapause state where they do not move around. A preventative service is ideal if your home has had stink bug activity and infestations in past years as they will more than likely return for overwintering. 

To help prevent stink bug infestations, It is important to exclude and seal up all potential entry areas. Inspect around your home for any areas that are 1/8” to 1/4” or larger to eliminate where stink bugs could potentially enter. Check that windows, screens, door frames, and vents for cracks and gaps and repair or seal up. Stink bugs will also enter under siding and soffits. In addition, stink bugs are attracted to light, so be sure to turn off lights that may attract stink bugs to your home. If you find any stink bugs in your home, manually remove, just be aware that stink bugs will emit a defensive smell when they feel threatened or are crushed. 

Integrity Pest Solutions offers preventative and control services for the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, as well as year round Maintenance Plans for stink bugs. Contact us in September or October to schedule your Preventative stink bug service or Give us a call if you notice stink bug activity in your home.

Integrity Pest Solutions is your local, family owned pest control and termite company, serving all of sussex county, kent county and the beaches in Delaware.