Stinkbugs are small, brown insects with distinctive shield-shaped bodies and a foul odor when crushed or threatened. They can be a hassle and a threat to your plants. Stinkbugs feed on fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. They also seek shelter inside homes during the colder months, where they can hide in cracks, crevices, furniture, or curtains. If you have a stinkbug problem in your home or garden, you may wonder how to eliminate them. Here are some methods that you can use.
Keep Stinkbugs Out
Try to prevent them from entering in the first place. Seal openings around window and door frames, siding, and pipes. Use caulk to fill the gaps.
Add screens to deny entry to your home. If you have any damaged screens, repair or replace them immediately.
They are also attracted to light. Turn the lights off or use yellow bulbs that bugs don't like. You can also draw curtains or blinds at night to block the indoor light from shining outside.
Remove Stinkbugs from Your Home
If you find stinkbugs inside your home, you should avoid squashing them or vacuuming them up, as this will release their odor and may attract more stinkbugs. Instead, you should sweep up stinkbugs and flush them down the toilet. Use a dustpan and avoid crushing them to prevent an accidental odor discharge.
Control Stinkbugs in Your Garden
Stinkbugs can also infest your garden and damage your plants by sucking their sap and leaving puncture marks or scars on fruits and vegetables. To control stinkbugs in your garden, you can use several methods.
Use Insecticidal Soap or Neem Oil
These natural products are safe for plants and beneficial insects but lethal for stink bugs. You can buy them from your local garden center or online and follow the instructions on the label to apply them to your plants. When stink bugs are most active, spray them early or late in the evening.
Attract Natural Predators
Some birds, such as bluebirds, cardinals, and wrens, eat stink bugs. You can attract these birds by providing them with bird feeders, bird baths, and nesting boxes.
Hire Professionals
If you have a severe stinkbug infestation that you cannot handle on your own, you may want to hire an exterminator to deal with it. These experts can inspect your home and garden, identify the source and extent of the problem, and apply the appropriate treatment to eliminate the stink bugs and prevent them from returning.
An exterminator can also offer you advice on maintaining your home and garden to keep stink bugs away in the future. They can also provide you with a guarantee or warranty for their work, so you can rest assured that your stinkbug problem will be solved.
For more info about pest control, contact a local company.