The Return of the Stink Bugs

Spring is a time that everything, including plantings, animals, and even pests are beginning to re-emerge after a winter of dormancy or slumber. While seeing plantings start to bloom by the roadside every spring can be heartwarming and lift many people's spirits, some signs of spring are not as welcome as others. I am referring to the return of the stink bugs every spring! The brown marmorated stink bug is an invasive species from Asia that arrived in Pennsylvania in 1996. It is most well known for the smell that is released when disturbed or crushed. That means that if one of these mottled grayish-brown pests with a shield-shaped body makes it way into your home, the best thing is not to crush or startle it or you will be left with a strong odor. If your home is a common overwintering site for these smelly pests, you may notice them first in the fall as they look for a safe place to ride out the winter and then again in the spring as they emerge from their location. It is during these times that stink bugs occasionally enter homes and other structures when searching for overwintering sites. During the warm months, they often congregate in large numbers on the sides of buildings. Stink bugs are more of a nuisance to homeowners as they do not bite and do not eat wood like some other pests. They do however, have the potential to spread throughout the country, which could be harmful to the agricultural industry, as they do destroy crops. To prevent stink bugs from becoming a nuisance, homeowners should seal cracks around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, behind chimneys, and underneath the wood fascia and other openings. In addition, screens and windows should be checked and repaired if there are any openings in or around them. If you find that your home commonly has these little stinkers in the fall and again in the spring, you may want to contact Pest-End Exterminators in order to remediate the problem completely. Call Pest-End at Toll-Free: 800-287-4321 Phone: 603-382-9644 Phone: 978-794-4321.