How to Keep Stink Bugs Out of Your Home This Fall

It’s only about a month away from the official start of autumn, which means cooler temperatures, leaf changes and, for the 47 states , brown marble stink bugs.

Although there are over 200 different types of stink bugs in the United States, this particular variety is a relative newcomer. Since they were first discovered in Allentown, Pennsylvania in the fall of 2001, brown marbled stink bugs have taken what it means to be an invasive species to a new level—not only do they damage crops and native plants, they invade to our homes. .

Once these insects have settled in, they are very difficult to get away, so it is best to prevent them from entering your home. Here’s how to do it.

What are brown marble stink bugs?

Brown marbled stink bugs (we’ll call them “stink bugs”) are typically 1/2 to 1 inch long as adults, have a thyroid body with striped antennae, and are mottled brownish gray in coloration. color (“marble” means marbled).

When threatened or killed, they emit an odor that is often described as similar to that of cilantro, if detectable at all. Luckily, they don’t bite or sting, and they don’t cause structural damage to your home. But they can fly.

Why do bed bugs fly in autumn?

Each year, stink bugs enter a period of their life cycle where they remain inactive. And, like other forms of hibernation, it passes during the winter. In preparation for this, they move in the autumn – usually at the end of September and October.

Once a stink bug has inspected your home and decides it is suitable for a seasonal refuge, it will emit a chemical scent that will attract their friends and family. Interestingly, they are not looking for warmth and cannot tell how cold the house will get in the winter when they move in. In fact, they are only interested in finding asylum.

How to get bedbugs out of the house

To prevent stink bugs from entering your home, you must block their entry points; namely cracks, gaps and crevices. Here are a few ways you can do this:

  • Check for cracks in your home’s foundation and repair anything you find.
  • Seal windows inside and out
  • Place seals around entry doors and/or install door brushes where daylight is visible around the perimeter of the door.
  • Rake or sweep away any debris and vegetation that has accumulated around your home’s foundation.
  • Cover or cover the top of the chimney if your home has a fireplace

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