Stink Bugs (and other fall occasional invaders)

Stink bugs are a relatively new pest to homes in the East, but the idea of bugs wanting to come inside when it gets cold is not new. Pest control pros refer to insects that come inside just to find shelter as “occasional invaders.” Occasional invaders don’t cause damage, feed or raise families indoors, they just hang out until the weather improves. Some occasional invaders I’ve been seeing are Stink Bugs and the Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle. The advice I’ll give in this post will work for both.

If residents are reporting Sow Bugs, Millipedes or Centipedes (other occasional invaders), check out the University of Minnesota’s factsheet. In addition to doing what I say in this post, you’ll have to manage moisture both indoors and around the foundation. 

As always, I’ll use the IPM model to problem-solve for these pests.

1. Inspect and identify.
To inspect for these pests:
find the insects,
identify them (see below), and
if they are in fact occasional invaders—look for places where they could be getting into the home. Check out around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, behind chimneys…any penetrations in the building envelope.

 
There are different kinds of stink bugs. What residents are reporting are the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug or the Western Conifer Seed Bug. Some of the characteristics they share are that they:

• eat plants that grow outside,
• seek shelter to overwinter (this is why they’re coming in our homes), and
• emit an odor when agitated or squished.

The Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle isn’t closely related to the stink bug, but by chance they too seek shelter to overwinter and emit an odor when agitated or squished. Ladybug larvae and adults feed on aphids—pests of outdoor plants.

2. Determine if action is necessary.
Many residents are creeped out by these bugs and want something done. The goal is to not have any in the home, but we always want to weigh the risk of having the insect around with the risk associated with the action we take against them. So take action, but think long and hard about using pesticides. Explain to residents that these insects are not causing any harm inside.

3. Plan treatment and take action.
Cultural control: Have residents keep screens on windows and keep their doors (screen or not) shut as much as possible.

 Mechanical control:
Keep them out: If property staff, residents or the pest management professional noticed any potential points of entry, put in a work order. This may mean sealing holes and cracks with quality silicone or silicone-latex caulking, installing door sweeps and screens or taking out AC units. This may mean more work orders for maintenance, but remember—mechanical control is less risk and more permanent than pesticides and prevents the entry of other pests like ants, mice, and American cockroaches.

Once they’re in:
Use a vacuum—the pest-managing resident’s best friend. Suck up some (a tablespoon is more than enough) cornstarch or talcum powder before using a vacuum for pest control. The powder in the canister or bag will plug up the insects’ breathing holes and kill them.

No vacuum? A tissue works too. Grab the pests with a tissue (paper towels will clog pipes) and flush them down the toilet. Warning: don’t squish them, they’re called stink bugs for a reason.

Biological Control:
There isn’t any that I know of. 

Chemical Control:
Don’t bother applying chemicals inside. If you can see the bug to spray it, just get rid of it. Dead bugs will attract other pests.

Exterior applications of insecticides may offer some minor relief, but because insecticides are broken down by sunlight, reapplications may be needed. As always, leave the pesticides to the professionals.

4. Evaluate effectiveness.
 
If residents are still reporting these pests, keep sealing up points of entry and encouraging residents to do their part.

If you’ve solved the problem, document how you did it so that you can take preventative measures at the end of next summer.

Thanks to Dan Gilrein of the Cornell Cooperative Extension System, Penn State IPM Program, and the Northeastern IPM Center for their useful information for this post!

Comments

[Stink Bugs]

these picture in your blog, are those all kind of stink bugs?

[Allie]

The figure shows a few kinds of insects people refer to as stink bugs. There are many more. Most are agricultural pests. In homes, when I hear people talking about stink bugs in the Northeastern US, it is usually the Western Conifer Seed Bug or the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.

[Allie]

http://www.stopbmsb.org/ has a good video from University of MD on how to keep BMSB out of your home. Direct link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wp8cd_VQBA&noredirect=1