Why Stink Bugs Stink
Even beyond their name, stink bugs don’t have the greatest reputation. Known for being slow, lazy and annoying – on top of being stinky – they plague many New England homes every year: starting in the fall where they loaf around until spring. Thankfully, they don’t carry any threat to anything but your sense of smell.
About that smell, though… Have you ever wondered what, exactly, makes stink bugs stink?
A Tale of Two Stinks
Come to think of it, what makes them stink in the other sense – the same way chores or cavities or hitting traffic stink? In other words, why are stink bugs considered pests if all they do is lounge around (and occasionally stink up the place)?
To Stink, or Not to Stink
Before we begin, let’s first distinguish between the two species both commonly referred to as “stink bugs.” Bona fide brown marmorated stink bugs get their rotten apple smelling stink from a chemical brewed up in their abdomen, which they can spray a distance of several inches to ward off predators.
Similar in appearance, but different in how they stink, western conifer seed beetles are at least still technically “bugs” if not actually “stink bugs” like some people call them. Their stink is more of a musky, evergreen-turpentine odor.
How to De-Stinkify Your Home
As with other so-called fall invaders (pests that move into your home during the colder months), the best way (or dare we say, the only way) to get rid of stink bugs is to keep them out in the first place. This involves sealing up any openings to the inside, including rips in screens or cracks along the foundation. Secondly, it involves treating the exterior of the sunniest side of the house (where they tend to congregate) with a temporary deterrent that discourages them from taking any interest in your home during the few weeks each autumn when they are looking for shelter from the cold.
Smell Ya Later, Stink Bugs
Want to know the trick to predicting whether or not your home will get invaded with stink bugs this fall? It’s simple: if you had stink bugs move in last fall, they’ll probably be back. Stink bugs tend to invade the same homes year after year, as do other fall invaders like lady beetles and cluster flies.
That’s why at JP Pest Services, we developed our Fall Invader Program, which is designed to prevent such yearly migrations into your home when the weather starts to turn chilly in the early fall months. We start offering these services in August and appointments fill up quickly, so it’s best to sign up early before the cold moves in. The longer you wait the less effective treatment could be.
For more information about our Fall Invader Program, call and speak with a representative today.
