Stink Bugs

What Are Stink Bugs?

Stink bugs are becoming more and more of a problem in the United States. Despite this, there is still a lot of information people don’t know about these troubling pests. For instance, did you know they are commonly referred to as Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs (BMSM)? While they are an invasive pest from Asia, they can excrete an offensive-smelling liquid from the small glands located on their thorax. This is one of the things that make them so troublesome and part of the reason they adopted their name. The very first Stink Bug infestation was identified in the United States in the small town of Allentown, PA, but since they’ve been located all over the world.

They are commonly found in several states within the United States, including but not limited to Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and West Virginia. These bugs are usually ½ to ¾ inch in length and can appear in different shades of brown or gray. As far as appearance goes, they are most frequently recognized by the triangular plate located on their back. They will also have black and white stripes on their antenna.

Why Does Ohio Have Stink Bugs?

If you’ve ever heard of overwintering pests, you likely know that Stink Bugs fall into this classification. If you are not familiar with the term, you might not know that overwintering pests enter the home or building in the fall. They usually do so through tiny openings. They’ll enter the property during the fall, looking for shelter for the upcoming winter months. Sheltering locations usually include, but are not limited to attics, basements, crawl spaces, and walls. These bugs are usually only detected during the Spring because this is when they begin to reemerge. If you see these bugs in the home, it means they are simply looking for a way back to the outside. They do not want to be in the home.

While they do not pose your home or building any potential structural damage, they can be extremely damning to agricultural products. This is why they are commonly referred to as agricultural pests. They can cause massive loads of damage to fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. Stink Bugs in the home mean they are simply just looking for a way out.

Are Stink Bugs A Threat?

While Stink Bugs do emit an offensive smell, they don’t pose any major physical threats to humans or animals. Your kids and pets are safe around Stink Bugs. They are not even known to reproduce in the home, which is a major plus. All this being said, it doesn’t mean that these bugs aren’t a nuisance. They’ll become just that, especially when squashed or threatened. This is when they’ll emit that offensive odor from their small gland.

Help! How Do I Get Rid Of Stink Bugs?

Unfortunately, it is hard to eliminate Stink Bug threats. This is because they are hard to remove from the outside of the structure and doing so usually requires the assistance of a trained and certified pest management professional. They’re also extremely difficult to eliminate from inside the structure because they like to make their way into the walls, floors, and ceilings, where they’ll try to wait out the winter. Most people just vacuum up the pests, trap them in bags, and dispose of the bags in a manner where the bugs cannot escape. Regardless, you can contact our Akron, Ohio offices and our trained professional will devise a plan to help you successfully eliminate your Stink Bug problem.

Are There DIY Stink Bug Treatments?

With a little time and research, you’ll find that there are a handful of DIY Stink Bug treatments available. Unfortunately, these will likely deliver little to no results. And, this is because the insecticides and pesticides required to kill these insects must be purchased by a trained, licensed, and certified individual. Anyone else doing so or handling these chemicals is doing so illegally.

Is It Possible To Prevent Stink Bugs?

Luckily, there are many different ways that one can go about preventing a Stink Bug infestation. The only problem is, these methods are oftentimes long, drawn-out, and complex. This is why prevention usually requires the assistance of a trained pest management professional. Something we are more than glad to help with. All you have to do is reach out to our Akron, Ohio offices and well dispatch out a tech.

When Will You Get Here?

Speaking of dispatching out a tech, we’ll have someone out at the property 24 to 48 hours after you make contact. While we stay busy all year round, we always try to accommodate our customers. We also have emergency services standing by, in the event they are needed. Whether you have common concerns, questions, or just want to chat, you can give our Akron, Ohio offices a call.

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