Stink Bugs

As the weather cools and late summer approaches, stinkbugs start looking for warmer places in which to spend the winter months, and that normally means that homes will become infested by these small creatures which tend to wreak havoc on fruits and vegetables, regardless of whether they are indoors or outside.

The large majority of stink bugs are herbivores, which means that they normally feed off plant juices and nectar, but also on fruits and vegetables, including apples, peaches, tomatoes, green peppers, and others. To this effect they will use their mouths to pierce the skin of the fruit or plant, sucking the juice out. There are also some carnivorous species of stink bugs, but the most common home invader is the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, which can commonly be found chomping down on fresh produce around the infested home.

The stink bug gets its name from the foul, hard to eradicate, smell it emits when crushed, which is why it's a good idea to seal any cracks and small openings in your house towards the end of summer. Stink bugs also tend to hide inside walls, attics, and other small spaces, where they will find the warmth they need to survive the cold weather. As spring arrives, they will move outside to hunt for food.

While stink bugs are not harmful to the structure of your house itself, they can be the cause of allergic reactions, especially in small children, which can be severe. Exposing bare skin to stink bugs can result in an itchy rash, as well as becoming impregnated with their characteristic scent. Large numbers of stink bugs inside your home can be a nuisance as they spread all over and ruin your produce and other groceries, which is why it is a good idea to call in a professional at the first sign of infestation.