It feels like winter, but those pesky Stink Bugs are still here?
Posted By RichC on December 8, 2020
One of the irritations in using motion sensing security cameras (ani gif from previous post) at our house is that no matter how much I tweak the settings, they still detect motion and even declare “person detected” when it comes to movement. The biggest offender is slightly older Canary cam 
that I have set up inside a window. It is often visited by birds and bugs which triggers an alert … along with the blowing tree branches and occasionally bright sun interspersed by heavy clouds.
This time of year with temperatures near and below freezing, one would think insects would all be dormmate … you would be wrong. Most of the domestic bugs and spiders seem to know it is winter, but the invasive Asian Stink Bug is still showing up … although slower to move. I cleaned up most of the dead bugs when putting up our wreath, but low and behold a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug was still slowly crawling around. Hm, I don’t recall them even being around when I was a kid … now they are everywhere and all the time!
EDIT 12/9/2020: And with a warmer afternoon today .. even more bugs!
Brown marmorated stink bugs (BMSBs) are an invasive species from Asia that first arrived in Pennsylvania in 1996 and can now be found in much of the continental United States. Stink bugs earned their name from the defensive odor they release when disturbed or crushed. People most commonly encounter stink bugs in their homes during late summer and autumn as the temperatures outside begin to fall.
What do stink bugs look like?
Adult BMSBs are mottled greyish-brown in color and have six legs. Their body shape is a triangular shield and they are about ¾ of an inch long.
Where do stink bugs come from?
Stink bugs are a native of Asia and were accidentally introduced to the United States sometime in the late 1990s. Because there are no natural predators for stink bugs in the U.S., they have been able to spread rapidly to become a significant agricultural pest.
Why do they come indoors?
As the weather gets colder toward the end of summer and early fall, stink bugs begin searching for warm overwintering sites. This leads them to enter homes and other structures that could provide shelter. Stink bugs reemerge from their overwintering sites in early spring to become active once again. During warm months, they are frequently seen congregating en masse on the sides of buildings.
Are stink bugs dangerous?
Stink bugs aren’t known to bite humans or damage property, but caution should be used when handling them to avoid a release of their unpleasant odor. Their tendency to invade homes in high numbers can be quite a nuisance. Though they don’t pose a direct danger to people, stink bugs destroy crops and are a threat to the agricultural industry.
How do I prevent a stink bug infestation?
To prevent stink bugs from entering homes and buildings, seal all cracks around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, outlets, behind chimneys and underneath the wood fascia and other openings. Be sure to use a high-quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk. Damaged screens on doors should be replaced to keep stink bugs out. It can also be beneficial to replace outdoor lighting with yellow bulbs, which are less attractive to stink bugs. A licensed pest professional can treat for stink bugs in the late summer or fall to prevent infestations as they seek shelter from the cold.
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