Do Stink Bugs Fly

Any type of insect infestation is not good for a home. Stink bugs showing up on your doorstep can be an unsightly situation for you as a homeowner. Making sure that they do not make your home their place of hibernation is key. If you are a crop owner, you need to keep an eye on the crops during the late autumn months as temperatures start to drop. Keeping the stink bugs away from your crops is vital to a healthy crop yield for that season. Stink bugs can travel and can go places where they smell each other.

Do stink bugs fly? Yes, matured adult stink bugs have wings that can tuck into each other once they have landed. Their six legs help them travel around your home or outside plants as they seek the food and shelter that they desire.

Let’s take a look below at some more details regarding stink bugs.

What Are Stink Bugs

Let’s take a look at the facts surrounding stink bugs.

New to North America

They are native to Asia and were not discovered in the United States until 1998. They have since exploded in population and have populated almost every state.

Some Stink Bugs Do Not Bite

After review of the various types, it has been found that Brown Marmorated stink bugs don’t bite. They can bite into other insects and fruits, however not strong enough to bite through human skin. They can however irritate by scratching you with their rough-edged exoskeleton.

Few Natural Predators

Birds, insects, and reptiles will eat stink bugs, but not in large enough quantities to reduce the population.

Multiple Scents

Stink bugs have the ability to emit multiple scents. The odor that is given off to their fellow stink bugs when they have found a place to hibernate is vastly different than what you might detect. Often times the odor that homeowners smell when a bug is crushed is a cilantro or skunk like pheromone.

Fall Issues

If you have a stink bug problem it typically occurs in the Fall. Stink bugs cannot tolerate the cold air outside and seek shelter in your home. Those that do not find a home to stay cozy end up dying off.

Hibernation

Once they have entered your home for the Fall and Winter months, they go into hibernation mode. At this time they are not reproducing or eating. Simply seeking a place to stay warm and cozy while they sleep.

Year and Location

Stink bugs populations show a varying amount year after year. As temperatures change in various regions so does the stink bug population.

Understanding how to identify a stink bug is important. You don’t want to see stink bugs fly and then squish them, as the smell is a foul odor. They have 6 legs and a shield-shaped frame. This allows them to tuck their wings into each other and fold them onto their backside. Once you see one in your home, chances are high that there are more. They like to travel in groups and hibernate together. This gives them a chance to reproduce after their hibernation is complete.

Preventative Maintenance

Consider a year-long pest control service as if you had an infestation of stink bugs already. Preventing stink bugs from entering your home is the key to all of this. Ensure that all openings are sealed tightly. This includes cracks around windows, doors, stucco or siding, your utility pipes, chimneys (if you have them) and other openings around the home.

Stink bugs love to fly to the light and keeping a less attractive bulb in your lighting system is necessary. Consider, something dim like yellow bulbs or even a sodium vapor light. Lastly, make sure all openings have been sealed with a silicone-latex caulk properly and the ripped screens are replaced.

How Much Does It Cost

Typical pest control for keeping stink bugs out of your home can range from $150 to $400. This depends on the region that you live in. Making sure that you have done your diligence inside and outside of your home is key to keeping these bugs away.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Once you have determined that you need a pest control company to come out and take care of your stink bug issue, you can also have them look for termites. A termite inspection at the same time as your stink bug inspection is smart. Termites can enter the home in a very similar fashion as stink bugs. They look for openings and utilize the access areas from your pipes. This is when you can understand how to get rid of drywood termites, should you have them.

Make sure that water is not leaking outside of your HVAC unit. It can puddle up in your yard and allow mosquitos to lay eggs. The air handler inside can also leak and cause insects to be attracted to the water source.

Finally, you should understand why pest control is important. If you aren’t already utilizing a pest control company or service, then you can read up on why this is important.

When Should I Call A Professional

Taking care of a stink bug problem is not easy to do. You should consider calling on a professional pest control service to ensure that all stink bugs are eradicated from your home. Yes, you can spray around your home or even put down some insecticides to keep the bugs out of your yard. However, that might not do the trick. Calling on a professional pest control service gives you peace of mind, rather than relying on your pest control skills.

Conclusion

Stink bugs can bring a lot of issues to a home. Since they emit scents that we cannot smell, they invite many of their friends to come to stay in your home. Taking care of them before they move in is most important. As mentioned above, they can cause major issues to your home and are a nuisance that brings a powerful smell. Inside and Out Property Inspectors offer a pest control service and can check out your home in the Jacksonville and St. Augustine, FL areas.