Posted on March 28, 2012 with No Comments
Doug Inkley, whose home was invaded by thousands of stink bugs last year, holds one on his finger.
Hotter than usual springtime temperatures could lead to an earlier arrival of summertime critters — including a stink bug invasion. In America, 2,550 heat records were set during the week of March 18, and unseasonably warm weather forces the dreaded bugs to break out of hibernation earlier than usual, Business Insider reported. Halyomorpha halys, better known as stink bugs or “stinkers,” originally come from Asia and were first spotted in the U.S. in 1998, in Allentown, Pa. The insects have spread throughout the country in recent years, having been spotted in 37 states (including New York) and becoming a major agricultural pest, ruining fruit and vegetable crops. In Pennsylvania, the bugs were to blame for a reported 25% loss in apples and stone fruits during 2010, according to the state’s Department of Agriculture website.
Since stink bugs aren’t known to transmit disease or cause any physical harm, they’re no more than a nuisance to humans — just don’t step on them. When squashed, the hard-shelled insects emit an odor that’s “pungent and obtrusive, but not harmful,” according to the website.
Last year, a Maryland man was nearly forced out of his home when it was invaded by tens of thousands of stink bugs, the Washington Post reported. “When you find them in your food, in your sink, in your bed, in your hair and everywhere else, it’s a problem,” he told the newspaper.
Over nine months, Doug Inkley counted 56,205 of the bugs in his house and garden. The invasion cost him $10,000, and some bugs still remain.
Stink bugs aren’t the only unwanted critters to keep an eye out for this year. With the warm weather comes a earlier crop of beetles, ants, termites and even mosquitoes, USA Today reported. “We’re seeing insects out there that we don’t usually see this time of year,” Missy Henriksen of the National Pest Management Association told the newspaper. “Several states have even reported tick sightings, which is especially worrisome as people head outdoors to enjoy the weather and are unprepared for tick encounters.”
Posted on March 22, 2012 with No Comments
Stink Bug
The news has been riddled with stories of bed bug infestations around the New York in the past few years, yet this time of the year the pest that has most people worried about stink bugs. While they do not cause notable physical harm, they can destroy crops, smell when crushed and they will find a way to get into your home. Stink bugs (aka Western Conifer Seed Bug), like other pests, are going to find refuge from the cold harsh climate of the winter season…and your home is a perfect place. The significant difference is that stink bugs usually try and start finding a warmer spot about a month earlier than other bugs. This means that as the temperature drops during late September and October the amount of stink bug complaints will be on the rise. If you spot a stink bug make sure u do not commit the cardinal sin of crushing them. They release a foul odor, hence the name “stink bug,” therefore, one should gentle pick the insect up with a piece of paper of some tissue like substance (paper towel, toilet tissue, etc…), or vacuum them up. Stink bugs have a very similar lifestyle to Lady Bugs as well, the most common room that you will find these bugs are in the bathrooms.
We offer an Overwintering Insect program that is designed to prevent these pests from gaining access to your home. Please contact us today for more information before it’s too late.
Posted on October 25, 2011 with No Comments
Here’s a great article, How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs Safely Around Children, written by Matt Frye, an Entomologist at JP McHale’s Pest Management located in Buchanan, NY. The article was recently published by and can be at DinkerandGiggles.com
Posted on October 19, 2011 with No Comments
Cornell Stink Bug Photo
Cornell University is seeking the public’s help to dentify locations where Brown Marmorated Stinkbug (Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are being spotted.
“The Stink Bug Project began a year ago to address the potential impact this invasive species could have on NYS commercial agricultural commodities while documenting its pest status in the urban environment. The Hudson Valley Region, along with Metropolitan NY and Long Island may currently be the leading edge of the population expansion. By monitoring several agricultural commodities in the region, collecting, verifying and documenting the population spread along the agricultural-urban interface, we hope to assist residents and agricultural producers alike in understanding this pest and mediating its impact.“
Posted on October 3, 2011 with No Comments
Photo's & Story Accredited to: Matt Frye, MS, PhD, Urban Entomologist JP McHale Pest Management, Inc.
It’s a beautiful fall day, and through my open windows I can appreciate the changing of seasons. Buzzzz…. clunk! But there it is again, a sound that brings frustration and anxiety. Hesitantly, I glance over from my typing machine and observe the small 5-sided body creeping along the screen. It pauses, orients, and starts moving again as it looks for an entry point around the window frame. And so begins another invasion by the brown marmorated stink bug!
The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) and I share a long history. I went to college in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where this insect first arrived in the US on a shipment from the Orient. With piercing/sucking mouthparts, this BMSB feeds on plant juices, damages fruit and renders apples, pears, peaches, and other fruits aesthetically unacceptable for sale. During summer months, stink bugs feed on a variety of host plants and large numbers can be found in agricultural fields. Their reign of terror continues into the fall, when adults seek overwintering sites to protect them from harsh winter conditions. Around widows and doorframes in our Allentown dormitories, we encountered so-called “crunchy bugs” that made a pungent odor when crushed. The BMSB has since spread to several states, and is reported as for north as Maine, south to North Carolina, and west to Michigan with new populations in Wisconsin and Washington. A once unknown pest, the BMSB now receives great attention at trade shows and other events to which I bring my insect display. When viewing the 3/4 inch, brown, shield shaped insect, onlookers protest, “how do I get rid of stink bugs?!”
The BMSB belongs to the pest management professional’s category of “overwintering pest,” which also includes the Western conifer seed bug, the multicolored Asian ladybird beetle, the boxelder bug, and cluster flies. As fall approaches and important cues such as cooler temperatures, shorter days, and decreased quality of host-plant material arrives, these insects start their assault on homes and other structures. Why? In their natural habitat, overwintering insects seek southwest-facing, light-colored structures such as rocks that are warmed by afternoon sun. These areas provide some protection and buffering against cold winter temperatures, and enhance survival of the insects. Where buildings have replaced natural landscapes, these structures now provide similar cues to insects preparing for winter. Some overwintering pests use pheromones to form large aggregations, later fleeing to enter buildings. For the most part, overwintering pests cause no damage for the homeowner. However, some species can bite and leave fecal stains (boxelder bug), while a mass of dead insects (ladybird beetles) is displeasing to homeowners.
The best way to address overwintering pests is also the most difficult: exclusion. These insects are adapted to exploit tiny cracks and crevices leading to safe harborage areas. Eliminating entry points is a guaranteed way to provide long-term control. Here are just a few tips to keep overwintering pests out of your home.
- Screen exterior vents that lead into the home
- Seal pipe chases and openings around wires with expanding foam
- Eliminate cracks, crevices, and openings around doors, window frames, fascia, etc. with caulk (silicone)
- Replace or repair damaged screens or doors
- Remove window air conditioning units that provide direct access to interior
If you experienced an infestation in the past, or have recently observed large numbers of insects invading your home, consult your pest management professional for treatment options.
Posted on September 29, 2011 with No Comments
The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) encourages homeowners to take proactive steps to prevent a stink bug infestation in and around the home this fall.
NPMA offers the following stink bug prevention tips:
- Seal and caulk cracks around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, behind chimneys and underneath the wood fascia and other openings.
- Repair or replace damaged screens on windows or doors.
- Keep outdoor lighting to a minimum as stink bugs are attracted to lights.
- If stink bugs have already entered a home, use a vacuum cleaner for their removal and dispose of the bag immediately.
- If an infestation has developed, a licensed pest professional should be contacted to evaluate and assess the severity problem.
