It’s officially fall, which means Michigan’s woods and fields are buzzing with stinging insects fueling up for winter; and some of them are grumpy.
Yellowjackets are especially not in the mood to be trifled with as they can be really intolerant this time of the year. As things begin to wind down in the fall, they can become aggressive.We receive numerous calls each fall season with homeowners claiming to have a nest somewhere on their property Homeowners will notice singleton bees and wasps hanging out around their doors, windows, and soffits; they searching for any crevice to squeeze into. Yellowjackets often nest in the ground in colonies that can reach 4,000 to 5,000 workers. The entrance holes they are searching for might’ve been there since spring— but autumn is when the colony reaches its largest and when the insects become feisty. One reason is the last hatch consists of next year’s queens, which are the future of the colony.
Encounters
Swat a stinging insect and you might trigger and even more threatening response: Like a honeybee, a dying yellowjacket releases a pheromone that alerts the nest. Meddling or even stepping in the wrong place can trigger a full-on attack with the wasps swarming and pursuing.
Humans are most likely to encounter stinging insects as they look for food. Their diet somewhat changes. Throughout the summer wasps are predators, feeding on other insects. In the fall they develop somewhat of a sweet tooth. Fermenting fruit, colas, ciders, fruit juice, become more attractive to the wasps. Because of this, they tend to linger about orchards, cider mills, picnic areas, outdoor restaurant seating, and barbecues— all popular fall hangouts for Michigan residents.
Similar to mosquito bites, wasp stings contain a protein that can cause itching. They can and will sting multiple times, along with hornets. Both wasp and hornet stings can be painful and swell for up to 24 hours as they inject venom into their victims.
Honeybees, on the other hand, have a barbed stinger and can only sting once, as they die after stinging. The stinger remains in the victim’s skin until someone removes it. You can easily scrape it out with a fingernail or with a credit card.
Overall, avoiding these insects in any season is the best method to prevent stings. Knowing the correct precautions to take not only keeps your fall season safe but above all, fun!
For more information on how to distinguish stinging insects from one another, be sure to check this out!
Here are some examples of nests to avoid:
Miller, Korin. “Is That Stinging Insect a Bee, Wasp, or Hornet? Here’s Exactly How to Tell.” Prevention. 18 May 2020, www.prevention.com/life/a32389815/bee-vs-wasp-vs-hornet-difference/.
As shadows lengthen and days become shorter, we begin to see some six-legged critters sneaking around our windows, eaves, and soffits. This change is a good time for a reminder about just who some of these fall invaders are and how you can tell them apart. The insects are all just following the instinct to seek a secluded overwintering spot. Unfortunately for everyone, what happens next is anything but natural. The exterior sidewalls of our structures provide a beautiful array of nooks and crannies for these critters to sneak. The problem is that these spaces are often within human dwellings.
Who are the fall invaders on the side of my home?
Three of Michigan’s fall invaders are closely related in the order Hemiptera, or ‘true bugs.’ They are the boxelder bug, brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), and western conifer seed bug (Table 1). During late summer and fall, it is possible to find all three species on one building.
Of these three insects, the brown marmorated stink bug is the newest arrival to Michigan, and the only one is a garden or agricultural pest. Often mistaken as a BMSB, western conifer seed bug is less common and mostly remains unnoticed until fall. Boxelder bugs are native Michigan insects that can be relatively abundant in some parts of the state. Boxelder bugs are not considered garden pests, but they can become a nuisance in homes only due to the large quantities that can accumulate on around doors, windows, and in attics over the winter.
If you are unsure whether the insects in your home are BMSB or not, Table 1 will help tell them apart. We use the shape of their hind legs, overall body shape, and color to differentiate these three fall invaders.
Table 1. Features that distinguish Michigan’s most common true bugs (Hemiptera)
Like many insects in the order Hemiptera, all three have a piercing-sucking mouthpart and can use it in self-defense. In other words, handle them with caution. It is important to note, however, that none of these insects sting or transmit disease; they do not reproduce in the winter. They are simply nuisance pests. In some of the most severe cases, excretions from high numbers of these bugs may stain furniture.
A fourth fall invader worth mentioning is the Asian lady beetle. These beetles spend their summers dining on aphids and other agricultural pests. They form large aggregations on the sides of structures in the fall as they search for a spot to overwinter.
Unlike the three mentioned previously, multi-colored Asian lady beetles are beetles (Coleoptera), not true bugs. Asian lady beetles can bite but do not spread disease. They also emit foul-smelling defensive secretions that can stain fabrics, and, in rare cases, can cause allergic reactions.
What causes these fall invaders to gather?
The summer months are when insects are active outdoors. However, as daylight lessens, insects undergo a physiological change known as ‘diapause.’ diapause is a time of inactivity during which they eat little to nothing and do not reproduce. In their natural habitats, the insects spend winter beneath tree bark.
BMSB begin to gather on the SW-W sides of buildings when there is less than 12.5 hours of daylight, usually the second or third week of September in Michigan. They mainly migrate toward garages, sheds, and siding with small spaces or gaps that protect them from the elements. For several weeks in the fall, BMSB and other aggregating insects may attempt to enter homes searching for an environment protected from snow and cold temperatures.
How can I keep them out?
In fall, be sure to check for gaps on the outside of the house that are wide enough for insects to enter. You can cover these areas with screens, wire mesh, or caulk. Window air conditioners should be checked for gaps. When hundreds of swarming insects are outside of a home, leave the windows closed or check for openings in the screen. The force of water from a hose knocks insects off exterior walls.
On homes with severe outbreaks, we apply a pest control treatment to the foundation or siding.
What do I do once they are inside?
The best way to control nuisance pests indoors is through removal or exclusion by a professional. Inside, BMSB are attracted to light and may fly towards light fixtures, resulting in an annoying buzz. We do not recommend applying insecticides to overwintering insects that are already inside your home. The chemicals will only kill insects that make direct contact and prevent additional insects from finding their way inside.
When hundreds of stink bugs are in the home or shed, vacuum with a shop-vac, on warmer winter days, a stray stink bug or two may emerge from diapause and walk or fly around the house. By this time, all overwintered insects are already inside a home, and hand-picking is the easiest way to eliminate them.
Fall invaders perpetually return each year. However, knowing the signs and how to prevent an invasion from occurring in your home is imperative.
With winter at our doorstep, pests have already begun searching for shelter from the harsh elements. Unfortunately for humans, they often end up as unwelcome guests in your home and other buildings. The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) suggests homeowners take proactive steps to prevent overwintering pests from invading their houses. A few pest-proofing techniques can help prevent the aggravation of infestations and help prevent structural damage and protect family health.
When pests enter homes to overwinter, they can often go unnoticed. However, as the weather warms, they reemerge and become active, often revealing more significant problems.
There are all kinds of different people in the world. Some will stop everything they’re doing to chase a single stink bug around the house. Others can have hundreds crawling in their curtains, walking across their television, buzzing through the living room and kitchen—and dismiss them as nothing Most fall somewhere in the middle. No matter where you land, we’re thinking you would probably like to know how to keep those pests out of your house.
Keep Out!
Knowing how to prevent overwintering pests from moving into your home begins with understanding the reasons they enter a house in the first place. Overwintering pests are unique in that they don’t prefer to live indoors; in fact, many of them cannot survive inside. Their food sources are outdoors.
So, why come in? The secret is in their name. Overwintering pests are transient and need a place to stay for the winter months. Once the cold weather dissipates, they’re happy to go. The problem is, they can be quite a problem while they’re waiting to do so, namely in the spring, as they try to leave and have trouble figuring out how they got in.
In many cases, these pests will make themselves comfortable in seasonal homes where they become dormant. However, if a homeowner is to visit and raise the temperature in the home, these pests will awaken and emerge. This can be quite disturbing for anyone looking to celebrate a holiday or spend a peaceful weekend at the cabin.
Prevention
The two ways to avoid welcoming overwinterers are directly linked to the behavior of these pests. In the fall, rather than warming themselves on the sunny side of a rock, they are most likely warming themselves on the sunny side of your home. This can be easily averted by hiring a pest control company to treat any exterior walls. If the pests are unable to congregate, they won’t be exploring your defenses to find a way into the home.
The second way to avoid these pests is essential, but can be ineffective if not completed properly. Since overwintering bugs are searching for a way in, it makes sense that sealing your cracks and crevices in walls will keep them out. The problem is that your walls have a lot more vulnerabilities than one may realize. Many pests, including mice, can squeeze into tiny holes in areas under your porch or deck, slide under siding, wiggle in through torn screens, and make their way right down your chimney. While it is essential to address as many entry points as you can, the only real solution is to create barriers to seal them out.
Common Overwintering Pests
Stink Bugs – The brown marmorated stink bug, an invasive species from Asia, has quickly spread throughout much of the United States over the years. Though the majority of their lifecycle is spent outdoors, they become a smelly nuisance when they invade homes in high numbers searching for overwintering sites.
Asian Beetles – Most species of this beetle family pose little threat to humans, but the multi-colored Asian beetle can aggravate asthma and cause allergic reactions. They also tend to exude a staining, yellow, foul-smelling fluid. These are not to be confused with Lady Bugs, a harmless species of beetle.
Boxelder Bugs – Boxelder bugs congregate on warm spots of buildings before migrating indoors to overwinter in insulating cracks and crevices. Their fecal material can discolor fabric, and they occasionally bite when handled, which causes slight irritation.
Mice – Though they don’t “overwinter” per se, mice are active year-round and scurry indoors when the weather cools to nest and be close to food sources. Their constant gnawing causes damage and even spark electrical fires. They are also a sanitation issue, contaminating food and defecating on surfaces like counters.
To prevent pests this fall, repair torn screens, seal cracks with high-quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk, fill holes around utilities with steel wool and install door sweeps on exterior entrances. If you suspect an infestation, a qualified pest professional can evaluate the problem and recommend an action plan.
It is that time of the year (again) when homeowners need to start thinking about fall exclusion against overwintering pests and wildlife rather than prevention alone. It is most ideal for homes and businesses to take the necessary steps to exclude various pests before the temperature really begins to drop.
The most common fall pest problems include:
Rodents
Wildlife
Overwintering Insects
Rodents
The house and field mouse are two of the leading players in this group. The house mouse prefers grains, seeds, cereals, fruits, and vegetables— virtually anything humans will consume. They will take up residence inside and feed off of whatever they can find, and they do not come and go.
Field mice are most known to find dwellings inside in older homes and structures, such as barns, garages, etc. We most commonly find them in areas where there are more forests and fields. They are scavengers and will eat any food that is readily available to them— from birdseed to garbage.
Wildlife
Wildlife that you may find yourself trying to eliminate from your home would include raccoons, squirrels, birds, bats, and opossums. These animals can create several different issues depending on the animal. They all, however, can wreak havoc on your home, attic, and electrical equipment, not to mention the health hazards which can arise from the feces and urine. All of these animals search for ideal places to overwinter, which is why fall exclusion can be very common.
Overwintering Insects
These include anything that will try to survive the cold winter months inside a hidden protective section of your home or business. This includes stink bugs, Asian lady beetles, and cluster flies.
Stink bugs are small enough to use many different opportunities to enter a structure, so think about more than just the windows or doors as possible entry points.
Overwintering guests usually occur in the fall when the temperatures start to drop. They can be located in your attic for up to six months during the winter, which is why homeowners will then see huge populations as they make their way out around the windows and doors as the temperature begins to increase.
When the stinkbug or other pest starts warming up, you may begin seeing them move out of light fixtures, vents, and any other opening they may have found. Their antennae are capable of sensing temperature change and wind current.
So why exclusion as opposed to trapping?
Fall exclusion is always the best policy with overwintering pests (although it is not 100% when it comes to in-laws).
Protecting an area against pest access via physical exclusion is the most effective method for protecting your home or structure. Exclusion involves altering the environment so pests cannot enter or travel through.
Wildlife tends to occupy space under structures or decking through unseen gaps and holes. To most homeowners, merely trapping the animal seems like the best option. Though useful in most cases, trapping is not a permanent fix. Typically, property owners have had to trap an animal every year in the same spot. Excluding the deck using different applications, depending on the intended animal (or animals) that the homeowner would like to keep out, is the key to success. In most cases, the exclusion is guaranteed permanent.
How do you know exclusion is best for you? Just take a look!
The best starting point is to walk the perimeter, scanning the home top to bottom. Look for overhanging branches that may give easy access to the roof or vents. Look for entry points that need to be repaired. Think small; a mouse can enter into a hole the size of a dime.
Look for excessive coverage on the ground level. Make sure you are not giving rodents and other animals a protective place to move around with no chance of being discovered. Think about relocating woodpiles and other items that may be leaning up against the home or structures, as these can be safe havens or access points for unwanted guests.
Call a Pest Control or Wildlife Removal Professional
Exclusion reduces long-term pesticide requirements, as well as continued trapping. There are particular products we utilize to stop mice or other pests from entering a structure. A copper mesh can be used in most entry points where ventilation is needed. Caulk, netting, and wire mesh are ideal around windows, doors, holes, and cracks. Cap the chimney opening, ridge vents, and any other accessible runs into the attic should be repaired and closed off.
During our inspection, we will also check openings from the ground on up, look at the roof, shingles, vents, soffits, and plumbing penetrations.
We’ve excluded, but are still spotting wildlife scurrying about.
If you happen to be dealing with a severe rodent problem, it may be time to invest in bait stations and bait to place around the structure and keep them working for you year-round. This will keep the outside population under control and help stop them from entering at all.
For overwintering insects, applying a residual insecticide to the entry points will eliminate the large populations you may find yourself. Spraying the exterior of the home, usually, the south side is an excellent area to start as this will help reduce the numbers that make it inside.
Example of our work
Hogarth’s Pest Control & Wildlife Removal offers our customers a solution to the entire problem, not just a band-aid. If you are suffering from any unwanted pests or wildlife near your home this fall, exclusion may be right for you. Call us today!
A fall nuisance, boxelder bugs get their common name from the fact that they are often found on and around boxelder trees. The species is native to the western states; however, they can live wherever boxelder trees are—from eastern Canada throughout the United States to eastern Nevada. The bugs are primarily a nuisance pest as they enter structures, including homes, sheds, and garages to overwinter.
Boxelder Bugs Appearance
Boxelder bugs are black with orange to reddish markings on their back. Adult boxelder bugs have somewhat-flattened and elongated oval bodies and are about one half of an inch in length. They have six legs and two, non-segmented antennae that are typically half of their body length. Nymphs look similar in shape to the adults but lack wings and are bright red.
Infestation Signs
Boxelder bugs generally become a problem in the fall (and when they emerge in the spring) when they invade structures. Like many pests that overwinter, homeowners may see evidence of these bugs as the temperatures rise. This is when the insects emerge and go back outdoors.
Habits
Overwintering boxelder bugs emerge from hibernation in late March to early April when the boxelder tree buds open. During this time, the adults leave their hibernation sites to return to their host trees for the warmer months. They first feed on fallen boxelder seeds, later moving to the female boxelder trees where they will feed on the newly developing leaves. Occasionally, boxelder bugs will also feed on apple and plum trees.
The adult females lay clusters of straw-yellow eggs on stones, eaves, grass, shrubs, and trees; but especially in crevices in the bark of boxelder trees. The eggs will turn red as the embryos develop, hatching in about two weeks. The nymphs will feed on fallen boxelder seeds and then on freshly budded leaves. There are most commonly two generations per year in the warmer regions of the United States.
Threats
Inside, boxelder bugs are primarily just a nuisance pest; however, their fecal material can cause a red stain on curtains, drapes, clothing, etc. When crushed or handled roughly, boxelder bugs also produce a sharp, disagreeable odor.
Habitat
In autumn, boxelder bugs become gregarious and assemble on the south-facing side of trees, rocks, and buildings where the sun hits. After gathering in large masses, they will migrate to nearby homes or other structures to hibernate. They tend to hide in small crevices or cracks in walls to insulate themselves from the cold. In anywhere from late March to April, adults will leave their overwintering sites to return to their host trees for the warmer months.
Boxelder bugs are not known biters, but their piercing/sucking mouthparts can occasionally puncture the skin, producing a red spot similar to that of a mosquito bite.
How To Get Rid Of Boxelder Bugs
To prevent a boxelder bug infestation in your home or structure(s), be sure to repair holes in screens, seal crevices and cracks with a good quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk, and install door sweeps to all exterior entrances.
When getting rid of a boxelder bug infestation in homes or buildings, you should not make any attempt to eradicate them in wall voids. Insect carcasses can attract dermestid beetles (ie., carpet beetles, larder beetles, etc.). We recommend waiting until summer when all live adults have left the wall voids. To provide temporary relief, consider using a vacuum cleaner to get rid of the boxelder bugs. You should remove the bag to prevent the pests from escaping. Then, be sure to seal up all entryways into the living space – window and door frames, cracks in the baseboards, etc. – to prevent any future infestation. Remove the cover plate, seal and replace outlets, heating ducts, switch boxes, and air vents for electrical fixtures. For lights and ceiling fans, remove the fixture to its base plate, seal, and replace.
If you suspect a boxelder bug infestation, a licensed pest control professional should be contacted to evaluate and assess the problem.
Fall pests can be a real mood-wrecker. Cold weather brings everyone indoors, including some of the more undesirable houseguests. Snuggling up on the sofa with a pair of fuzzy slippers and a blanket wrapped around your shoulders can be a comforting feeling— until something scurries across the living room floor.
Unfortunately, your family may not be the only ones enjoying the warmth of your home. Pests such as mice, cockroaches, flies, and certain species of spiders have life cycles that last longer than a year; meaning they must find shelter during the winter months to survive. Apart from being creepy-crawly, these pests can pose serious risks to both people and homes.
When making their nests in walls, rodents often chew on drywall and electrical wires, and they are known to pass on diseases including Hantavirus and salmonella. Cockroaches will leave droppings around the home, contaminate stored food, and, especially in children, can even trigger asthma. On top of it all, some spiders commonly found in and around homes are poisonous.
Below are ten pest-proofing tips that every homeowner can follow to more effectively keep pests outside during the fall and winter:
Installing screens on attic vents and openings to chimneys, as well as keeping an eye on any other areas where the home may be open to the elements, such as animal doors and mail slots.
Keep attics, crawl spaces, and basements dry and well-ventilated. Pests are attracted to areas with an abundance of moisture, which is something they need to survive. Running dehumidifiers in garages and basements will help to keep these areas dry.
Caulk and seal any noticeable cracks and crevices on the outside of the home. Be especially mindful of the areas where utility pipes enter the structure. Keep in mind that many rodents can fit through a dime-sized hole.
Keep kitchen counters clean, dispose of garbage regularly in sealed receptacles, and store food in airtight containers. A buildup of trash and crumbs are an attractant to pests scavenging for a bite to eat. We recommend properly cleaning up and disposing of all waste after meals and to ensure garbage cans remain closed when they are stored inside of the home or outbuilding.
Replacing weather-stripping and repairing loose mortar around the foundation and windows is another means. Both are simple ways to keep not only pests but also cold air from entering the home.
Keep shrubbery well-trimmed and store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house. By merely removing areas where pests can hide near your home, you can significantly reduce the chance of them finding a way ins.
Install door sweeps and always repair damaged screens. Cracks under doors and torn window screens are ideal entry points for most household pests. When you open a window with a damaged screen, you are likely allowing more than just fresh air to enter.
Inspect items such as package deliveries, boxes of decorations, and grocery bags before bringing them inside. Pests often find creative ways to enter a home. Shake out and thoroughly inspect anything that has been left or stored outside or in the garage.
Avoid leaving pet dishes outdoors for prolonged periods. Pests will not discriminate between cat food and human food. Dishes that have been left sitting outside are extremely attractive to all kinds of rodents and insects.
Have and maintain a proper drainage system on the exterior of your home. Installing gutters or making repairs an existing system will help to draw water and moisture away from your home, which prevents any leaks or build-up that may attract unwanted houseguests (is not effective for in-laws, though!).
Following these pest-proofing tips in the fall when the temperature begins to drop is the most effective way to protect your home and prevent any pest infestation during the winter months. However, if you think you have a pre-existing pest infestation, be sure to contact a pest control or wildlife professional to assess the situation.
Opossums are North America’s only marsupial. They live everywhere except for the Rocky Mountains, plains of the west, and areas in the northernmost region. Opossums live in solidarity and are mostly nocturnal. They are distant relatives of the kangaroo; however, opossums are much slower and produce a nauseating smell when threatened. The opossum can survive in a wide range of conditions and locations due to their flexible diets and reproductive tendencies. If you are potentially dealing with an infestation, removal should be handled by a professional.
Opossums can reach up to 40 inches in length, which is about the size of the average housecat. Their bodies are covered in grayish-white hair. Opossums have a narrow, pointed face with hairless ears and a bald, rat-like tail. Additionally, the female opossum has a pouched stomach for holding their young.
Although the general public may use the terms “opossum” and “possum” interchangeably, they are different. A possum is a term used to describe a marsupial found in New Zealand, Australia, and China though they happen to be similar in appearance.
Habits
As mentioned before, opossums are nocturnal marsupials, which means that they are mainly active after dark. They are typically known to live in solidarity when they are not actively breeding. Though they prefer to travel by land, opossums are also skilled swimmers and can use their opposable rear thumbs and long tails to climb trees and other structures effectively.
Opossums enjoy a diet of grains, fruits, and insects, but will also eat out of garbage cans, compost piles, and pet food dishes if easily accessible. They will even eat fish, birds, and other mammals if need be.
Opossums usually bear two to three litters each year, with an average of seven young per litter. Like many marsupials, the newborn young spend their first several weeks of life in their mother’s pouch. After this period, young opossums will leave their mothers in search of their own home.
Opossums do not hibernate through the winter. Their greatest challenge, especially in colder climates, is simply to survive. In many cases, opossums will alter their foraging and sleeping habits during the winter months, coming out during the day instead. It is not uncommon for opossums in northern states to suffer from frostbite during these frigid periods. Their tails are particularly susceptible to frostbite as they have no fur to protect them.
Habitat
Opossums will seek out pre-existing structures such as hollow logs, tree cavities, brush piles, garages, or animal burrows when looking for a place to live. They are partial to environments near swamps or streams but also can survive in diverse areas, ranging from moist to arid, open fields to forests. Opossums will always prefer to make a home with proximity to water and food.
Threats
Though not dangerous to humans, opossums do cause somewhat of a structural risk. Opossums can den in garages and attics where they will construct a messy nest. They can also tear insulation and ductwork if they gain access to the interior of a home. When searching for food, they can also damage lawns. Opossums may destroy the nests of game birds and poultry. When startled, they tend to bare their sharp teeth and hiss.
Although the lifestyle habits and overall appearance of opossums make them seem like prime hosts for rabies, they are not. Their body temperature is too low to house the disease, and it is only in rare cases that they can contract it. However, opossums can carry an array of other conditions; this includes, but is not limited to, leptospirosis, tularemia, and tuberculosis. They may also become infested with mites and fleas, especially in urban regions.
Opossums have been known to “play possum” when startled or harmed; this can give a witness the impression that the opossum is diseased. They play possum by drawing back their lips, baring their teeth, producing saliva and foaming around their mouth, as well as secreting a foul-smelling substance from the glands of their anus. Rather than a sign of disease, this act is a natural defense mechanism. In other moments of extreme distress, opossums are known to play dead.
Opossum Removal
To prevent an opossum from shacking up in a home or other structure, homeowners should always store trash and compost in sealed bins with animal-proof lids, preferably in a locked shed or outbuilding. It is good practice to bring pet food dishes inside at night to avoid attracting not only opossums but other nuisance wildlife as well. Homeowners should also remove other apparent sources of food from the property, such as fallen berries and fruits. It is imperative to inspect the outside of the home or structure(s) for holes and access points, such as broken vent covers. To further limit opossum accessibility to a home, tree branches hanging near roofing should be trimmed, as opossums are skilled climbers and leapers.
If you suspect an opossum infestation in your home, contact a licensed pest control professional to conduct an inspection and work with you to develop an opossum treatment plan. Opossum removal techniques, such as traps and fencing, may be used. A professional can also provide more helpful opossum facts that can help prevent future infestations.
The brown marmorated stink bug, otherwise abbreviated as BMSB, is an invasive species; as it was introduced to the US from Eastern Asia in the mid-90s. It is also known as the East Asian or yellow-brown stink bug. The BMSB was first collected in the United States in Allentown, PA in the fall of 1996, but was not identified until years later in 2001. From there, it quickly spread east. Today, BMSB has been identified in 44 states including Washington DC. The stink bug’s native range includes China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.
Stink Bug Odor
BMSB is aptly named by the odor they emit when they feel threatened. It is thought that this odor aids in protecting against predators. The bugs produce the smelly chemical in a gland on their abdomen. Some species can actually spray the several chemical inches. The smell has often been compared to potent herbs like cilantro.
Interestingly enough, the composition of the odor is comprised of chemicals commonly used as food additives and is actually present in cilantro. This smell can linger for hours so it is in your best interest to try to avoid the bugs or carefully sweep or vacuum them up if they have entered your house.
Physical Attributes
Stink bugs are characterized in several different ways. They are described as “large and oval-shaped” and “shield-shaped”. Adult BMSB can reach almost 2 cm in length and are almost as wide as they are long. Their legs extend from their sides, which makes adult bugs appear even larger. The BMSB is brownish in color with lighter bands on their antennae and darker bands on their wings.
Adult stink bugs are strong fliers and fold their wings on top of their body when they land. The wings of nymphs are not fully developed but they do appear as they become an adult. Mature wings are an identifier of adults.
The nymphs are very tiny when they first hatch and are yellow and red in color. As they mature the yellow fades to white. Nymphs have bright red eyes during this stage of their lifecycle. They molt or shed their skin 5 times as they mature. Nymphs become larger each time they molt. By their final molt, the nymphs are almost as large as adult stink bugs.
Habits
In general, adult BMSB feed on fruits and the nymphs feed on leaves, stems, and fruit. The life cycle of BMSB typically involves mating, then reproducing, and feeding from the spring months to late the fall. Upon the cold temperatures, stink bugs seek shelter to spend the winter in a dormant phase known as ‘diapause’.
BMSB search for overwintering sites in late fall before the weather conditions change drastically. They spend the winter in diapause inside homes or buildings, usually within the walls, attics or crawl spaces. However, diapause may not be the total competition of their season. If the weather warms up for long enough, overwintering stink bugs may be misled in thinking it is time to exit diapause and become active once again. Stink bugs will then reemerge in early spring and become active.
BMSB mate and create up to 3 generations per year depending on their habitat. Colder areas only see one generation each year, whereas warmer areas will likely see two or three. Stink bug females typically lay 20 to 30 eggs. These eggs are light green and barrel-shaped, attached side-by-side in a mass on the underside of a host plant’s leaves. The eggs will hatch within four to five days and from there the nymphs will begin to feed.
Signs of an Infestation
In most cases, homeowners will first detect stink bugs by their large invasions in the fall months. Finding large numbers of living or dead stink bugs is also a sign of an infestation. Stink bugs will show themselves on sunny sides of homes where they enjoy warming themselves. Farmers often detect an infestation by the damage caused to their crops.
Threats
The BMSB cannot sting and is also unlikely to bite humans or animals. The stink bug’s mouthparts are grouped into the piercing/sucking category, but they do not use blood as a food source like mosquitoes, bed bugs, or biting flies. Their mouths are not structured in a manner that allows them to bite through human skin.
Stink bugs are relatively harmless to humans, though they do have the potential to spread throughout the country. This could result in harm to the agricultural industry, as they destroy crops. BMSB can cause damage to fruit trees, ornamental plants, and gardens, but they are more of a nuisance pest than an actual threat to humans. They do not spread disease or cause structural damage.
To avoid a potential infestation of these pests, proper exclusion is of the utmost importance. Hogarth’s is well-versed in varying types of exclusion for residential and commercial properties. We will seal entrance holes around pipes, windows, ridge vent and soffits. It is important to note that exclusion alone will not always fix the issue; the home will need to be treated to keep every BMSB away from the structure. Call us today!
