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‘Lawn & Garden’ Archive

Stink Bug vs. Human: An Epic Battle

Friday, October 21st, 2011

On some days, it can seem like stink bugs are trying to take over the world. There aren’t just hundreds of them; there are hundreds of thousands! Even worse, it seems that stink bugs have no natural predator to reduce the numbers of their population. Thankfully, with the below stink bug control tips, you can become a natural predator of the dreaded stink bug.

vacuum bugsStink Bug Control Made Easy:

Unfortunately, you can carry a fly swatter around with you and squash a few stink bugs, but you will quickly become aware of how these bugs become known as “stink bugs”. Fortunately, there are stink bug control methods that allow you to avoid experiencing the unbearable stench of a stink bug.

  • Traps:
  • Stink bug traps can be placed outside of your home to trap pesky, intrusive stink bugs before they make their way into your house. Traps are available in two types: electrical or natural sticking. Both stink bug control traps do an excellent job of lowering the stink bug population.

  • Suck ‘Em Up
  • If stink bugs have made their way into your home, vacuuming them can be the most efficient way to get rid of them. However, be warned that depending on your vacuum cleaner, doing so could leave a bit of a stench in your home.

  • They Aren’t Morning Bugs:
  • Stink bugs are at their slowest in the morning, leaving you with an advantage. By trapping them in the morning hours and drowning them in soapy water, you can effectively get them out of your house.

  • Stop Them Before They Start:
  • One of the most effective stink bug control methods is prevention. Don’t wait until stink bugs have invaded your home; seal any holes, cracks, or crevices before they even think of coming in. By doing so, you should be able to have a stink bug-free home!

    Get Rid Of Those Stinky Stink Bugs

    Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

    The stink bug is not one particular type of insect. In fact, stink bug is the accepted name of a family of insects. Within that family, there are many different species. Stink bugs are found in most parts of the world, including widely in the United States. Two of the better known species of stink bug are the green stink bug and the brown Marmorated stink bug, both of Asian origin. Stink bugs share common characteristics. The stink bug is a large, shield-shaped bug normally five to seven inches in length. The origin of the name stink bug is in the stink bug’s secretion of a foul smelling liquid from stink glands found on the thorax. Stink bugs normally live in clusters, and they may produce this substance by group. The substance serves a defensive function for the stink bug, and is released when they are threatened.

    The stink bug is an agricultural pest. They use their piercing mouth parts to feed on various plants and insects. Stink bugs commonly infest gardens where food is plentiful, and may also live in yards. In addition to food, plants and weeds shield stink bugs from predators. Stink bugs may also infest crops, and can cause wide damage on farms. Stink bug control is a critical task for farmers.

    Stink bugs also infest homes and buildings, though more often that is to seek refuge from the cold of winter. Stink bugs seek shelter indoors. Given their offensive nature, stink bug control inside is also of great importance. This is especially true where the infestation is in a home.

    Stink bug control inside and stink bug control outside are different processes, involving different steps and different substances. Fighting the bugs outside, it is possible to use insecticides.

    Fighting stink bugs inside, it is said that prevention is the best cure. Stink bugs get inside through cracks and holes, so it is necessary to seal a building completely to prevent infestation. Poison insecticides should generally not be used inside, but if infestation has already occurred, it may be necessary to resort to some form of insecticide. Once a building is sealed properly and the bugs have been removed, they probably will not return.

    Getting Rid of the Stink Bug Pest

    Monday, October 17th, 2011

    dead stink bugsWith the rising population of stink bugs rising in the northeastern United States, there has been a sudden creative storm in the invention of the stink bug trap. A variety of devices have been designed both for use indoors as well as out, that are supposed to be helping the problem of the stink bugs that get into the home. How do you know which stink bug trap will work best for your home? With all the different kinds to choose from, you’ll want to compare and contrast methods and expense. Luckily, the majority of these traps are relatively inexpensive, and some can even be made at home by yourself.

    One of the most popular kinds of stink bug trap is the very simple sticky pad. This is basically the same kind of trap that is used for other pests like cockroaches, small mice, spiders, etc. What you’ll get is a lightweight piece of cardboard or a heavy paper that is folded up into a hollow rectangular shape. On the bottom, inside the tube, is a layer of sticky glue. The bug walks into the trap, gets stuck in the sticky glue, and is trapped and will die. The good thing about this stink bug trap is its ease, convenience, and affordability. The bad thing is that since the bugs don’t die instantly, they will be able to release the foul odor from which they get their name.

    To avoid the problem inside your home of the bad smell stink bugs produce, you’ll need a stink bug trap that kills instantly. Some of the easiest traps with this in mind are those that use a liquid to both attract and drown or poison the bugs. The traps will prevent them from releasing the noxious smell as they struggle.

    To stem the onslaught of stink bugs outside your home it would seem that one of the best forms of stink bug trap is a homemade contraption. Simply place two pieces of cardboard spaced between small wooden boards, to make an open ended box of sorts. It attracts the bugs, and then you just dump them into a bag at the end of the day, and spray poison in the bag and toss it.

    Simple Homemade Stink Bug Trap

    Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

    One stink bug can be a pain. Multiple stink bugs are a problem. Any bug infestation can be frustrating, but when stink bugs are the infesters, life can get complicated. When stink bugs are harassed, such as by a homeowner who wants them out of their house or a cat who wants to play with them, the odor makes these bugs really frustrating. There are several store bought stink bug traps that can be effective against stink bugs, but for the thrifty or the person who just likes to “do it yourself”, there is another effective way of getting rid of these bugs without the use of pesticides.

    One effective stink bug trap requires a few pieces of cardboard and wood. Simply take three thinnish boards, usually one quarter of an inch thick and a couple of inches wide pieces of cardboard that will leave about one half inch in between each board, then either staple or nail the boards to the cardboard so that the wood cannot shift. It is believed that stink bugs came to America in packing materials so it seems that the cardboard of this trap attracts them. It is best to seal one end of the trap with duct tape. Lean the trap against a wall in your house or garage, then in the evening take the trap and shake the bugs into a trash bag. The safest thing to do is spray pesticide in the bag, then seal it. This protects the environment by not spraying the pesticide in the area where people and pets will be make this one of the more eco-friendly stink bug traps. Make two or three stink bug traps and likely the infestation will soon end.

    Stink bug infestations are a pain for homeowners, however, it is good to know that there are stink bug traps that don’t require an over use of pesticides and don’t require getting sprayed by the stink bugs.

    Build Your Own Stink Bug Trap

    Thursday, September 29th, 2011

    From September to June, stink bugs invade homes, creating a problem. Killing them emits a foul odor- vacuuming really brings out the stink. Trap and release them outside; they’ll be back within a day. The only solution is to build a stink bug trap to eliminate them altogether.

    Begin with two pieces of quarter inch plywood, two feet by three feet. Cut three pieces of furring strips, each three feet long. Staple one furring strip on top of each edge and the middle of one board. Secure the other board on top, creating two long, narrow chutes. This is the stink bug trap. Although not necessary, waterproof so the trap lasts through winter snows and spring rains.

    Lean the stink bug trap against the side of the house with the highest concentration of bugs. Leave out overnight. In the morning, fill a bucket with a gallon of water and add a cup of ammonia. Shake the stink bug trap into the bucket. They can swim, but the ammonia kills them instantly.

    This stink bug trap will allow the user to kill the pests by the hundreds every day. While no trap can eradicate them all, it does reduce their numbers greatly. Use one or more all around the house if necessary.

    Since the stink bug trap is made from scrap wood (or even cardboard and scrap wood), use it inside mudrooms, porches, laundry rooms and wherever the bugs are found. Let everyone know the traps should be left alone so the bugs feel safe crawling in, until their final “swim.”

    The best part of this trap is that no pesticides are used. It is safe around children, infants, pets and people with allergies. It costs little to nothing to make, and when built from wood, is reusable year after year.

    The Natural Control of Stink Bugs

    Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

    stink bug life cycleStink bugs present a growing problem to both homeowners and gardeners all over America. Although they are harmless to humans and animals, they are smelly and annoying, and they breed rapidly. In spring and summer, they feed on and damage plants. During late fall and winter, they congregate inside of your home. They’re also responsible for widespread crop damage to soybeans, fruit trees and vegetables. Unfortunately, they are resistant to most common pesticides, making stink bug control difficult. Fortunately, there are other methods of control that are both safe, effective and inexpensive.

    Diatomaceous earth is made from deposits of microscopic fossilized algae-like water plants. When used for stink bug control, is works as a desiccant, dehydrating the offending bugs to death. It is perfectly safe, and is ideal for use in attics, basements, garages and sheds.

    Perhaps the best method of stink bug control is the use of predatory insects. The Trissolcus wasp, measuring a measly 2 millimeters, is a natural predator of the stink bug. They seek out the eggs and parasitize them by laying their own egg inside. Though the adults feed on plant nectar, their sole host is the eggs of the stink bug.

    Spraying repellants for stink bug control, like hot pepper oil and neem oil, makes plants unpalatable for them. Neem oil has the added benefit of killing stink bugs eggs, preventing future generations from hatching.

    As with most things, avoiding a problem before it starts is the best policy for stink bug control. To keep them out of your home, check for any places they might be using to get inside. Seal these entries with caulk or foam insulation. If you see them on the outside of your house, take a vacuum cleaner and suck them up. For prevention in the garden, do some regular weeding, since stink bugs like to use them for cover. If you have the time, go around to your plants and pluck stink bugs off and toss them into a container of water to drown them.

    The Benefits of Stink Bug Traps

    Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

    stink bugStink bugs can be a menace to homeowners in a variety of ways. When they start to infest the area around your home, a stink bug trap can be an effective tool to help bring them under control.

    One place that stink bugs can cause a great deal of damage is in the home garden. They can destroy your fruits, vegetables and even do damage to larger farm crops. This happens when the adults lay eggs on your garden plants in early spring, around April or May. When the young hatch during the summer, they feed on the plants destroying your crops and cause extensive damage. Having a stink bug trap near your garden can attract the adults before they are able to lay eggs. This stops the cycle before it gets started.

    A stink bug trap can also benefit the inside of your home. Once the summer months have passed and cold weather sets in, these pests start to look for new shelter. Your home is often the destination, where they choose to spend the colder months in your home’s attic. Once spring time rolls around, stink bugs start to emerge from their hiding place to become an even greater nuisance in your home. Setting a stink bug trap in your attic can help to alleviate this problem.

    By strategically placing stink bug traps around and in your home, you can protect yourself from these annoying insects. You can also prevent damage to your garden plants and keep them from settling in on your property.

    Trapping Stink Bugs

    Saturday, September 17th, 2011

    trapping stink bugsStink bugs are considered pests in some areas due to their ability to destroy crop. There are two kinds of stink bugs: herbivores that feed on plants and predatory ones that feed on caterpillars and other insects. The stink bug that feeds on plants can be a nuisance for many with prized gardens or farmers with crops. People who sell apples at the local farmers market or produce store know firsthand how troublesome these stink bugs can get. Stink bugs have piercing mouthparts that they use to pierce the flesh of the plant they are feeding on. With apples and other crop, that makes them unmarketable, which causes the person to lose money. They also are famous for the stinky smell that they release when threatened or killed. People who find stink bugs in their houses don’t know what to do to get the insect out without having it release its stink.

    That is where Rescue stink bug trap comes in. The Rescue stink bug trap is an odorless trap designed specifically for stink bugs. The trap releases a certain pheromone that attracts stink bugs. It is non toxic and doesn’t endanger other insects or animals. The best part of the Rescue stink bug trap is that it protects the owner’s house, property, and plants from the destruction and discomfort that stink bugs may cause. If you have a garden or fruit orchard and have a stink bug problem as well; the Rescue stink bug trap may be your answer. It traps adult stink bugs as well as younger generations that feed on gardens and fruit trees. With Rescue, you will be stink bug free.

    Trapping Stink Bugs With Light

    Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

    stink bug trapStink bugs can be a major frustration in the home and can be quite detrimental when it comes to farm fields and crops. Luckily, there are options available to get rid of these pests. A stink bug light can be used in a number of different locations and be placed indoors as well as outside.

    Stink bugs are naturally attracted to light. A stink bug light will lure in the bug and trap them. Depending on the specific trap, a stink bug light will either collect the bugs in a trap or could hold them on an adhesive area of the light. Once the bugs die, they are usually quite easy to dispose of in the trash.

    Some lights also have chemicals or pesticides that are used. The light draws in the stink bugs and then a chemical is used to quickly kill the pest. With these models, it is important to know all of the precautions, especially if using the product in a home with small children or pets.

    A stink bug light will generally require an electrical source, so it should be placed in an area where it can be easily plugged in. For it to be most successful, there should not be other sources of light nearby that would potentially be drawing in the stink bugs.

    There are many different options when it comes to controlling a stink bug problem. The use of a stink bug light is a great way to get rid of this nuisance.

    Saturday, September 10th, 2011

    stink bug tomatoesStink bugs can be a nuisance for any homeowner and can be damaging when it comes to the fruit and vegetable crops that they destroy when feeding. To keep them away from the house and ensure that they do not return, there are a few things that can be done for stink bug control.

    Prevention is the best thing when it comes to keeping a home free from stink bugs. These bugs are generally attracted to the lights of the home. If possible, turn off outside lights to help with the stink bug control.

    There are a number of different insecticides that can be sprayed around the outside of the home for stink bug control. Be certain to use when that is targeted for stink bugs and take precautions is spraying the insecticide in an area where children or pets will be.

    Stink bug control in the home can be done with insecticides as well, but many people do not favor this method. If there are bugs in the home, they should be removed. This is easily done with a vacuum cleaner. If a stinkbug is picked up or squashed, it can emit a foul odor. Using the vacuum cleaner will prevent this. Once the bugs are vacuumed up, the bag or filter should then be tightly tied up and disposed of properly.

    Stink bugs can be a nuisance in any home and can usually be easily removed. If unsuccessful with these methods, a professional exterminator may surely be able to help with the stink bug control.


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