As the summer approaches and temperatures rise, so is the number of people having troubles with Stink Bugs. There is nothing more annoying than looking at your house being infested in no time. I am constantly getting questions from readers asking for tips on how to deal with this annoyance.
Well, I was in the same situation in 2008-2009 wondering if there is anyone in this world that could actually help me solve my problem. Regrettably, this was the start of the infestation wave in the US, and I was not able to find much information on the internet or anywhere else.
Now the situation is completely different and you, my dear friend, can benefit from the experience of others.
Now let's move to the battlefield and explore the tactics for fighting the little buggers.
Tactic 1 - Explore The Battlefield And Enemy Formations
One common problem, which I notice with all my readers is that they do not look for a solution to the infestation until it is too late. Let me tell you - this is a war, and it is better when you are prepared for it.
Monitor the behavior of the Stink Bugs in and around your house. The first signs that you may get in trouble come from around your home. If you notice an unusually high number of the insects in your garden, on the grass or on the fruit trees, be sure that coming in your dwelling is just a step away.
Be alert and look for signs of Shield Bugs inside. If you notice just a few of them, do not simply kill them or throw them away, but do more. Explore your house and see if you can find more of your enemies. Then deal with them immediately!
Tactic 2 - Prepare Your Defense
It is a known fact that any kind of insects will get inside your home attracted by light. We see it every day during the summer. The mosquitoes, flies, wasps and Shield Bugs will do everything possible to go where the light is. When you open your windows at night, do not keep the lights on! I have definitely learned my lesson the hard way, but you can do it right now, before it is too late.
Buy insect window screens to prevent them from coming in. This is a simple yet a powerful tactic.
Seal any cracks in your house, which may provide a good hiding place and also an entrance path.
Tactic 3 - Prepare To Repel An Attack
Sometimes despite our efforts to prevent the Stink Bugs from coming inside, we can still miss something and end up with a home full of them.
I know that the easiest way you may see right now is to go to your local gardening store and buy all sorts of bug killing sprays. However, I have done it myself and was absolutely disappointed by the "effect" these chemicals had. What makes the Shield Bugs different from many other insects is their resiliency to the insecticides we can find on the market. You will spray them directly using the whole bottle of "Raid" and the little bugger will continue crawling like nothing happened.
I have found that the home-made solutions are working best. Remember you do not want to squash the bugs, as they release their horrid smell!
Dish soap and water solution works like a charm. Just mix it up in whatever proportion you find appropriate. I personally put more soap because I want to see them die fast! You can use some old bottle from a window cleaning agent with a spray to pour the solution in. Once done, go after the bugs.
I have also noticed that anything containing ammonia could be effective. Window cleaning fluids have ammonia. Spray directly on the Shield Bugs to kill them.
You may also consider using a dusting treatment. It has a long-lasting smell and seems to produce good results in fighting the infestation.
Tactic 4 - Fight The Guerrilla Units
In all wars, fighting directly on the battlefield is just a part of the whole "game". The hardest to overcome are usually the guerrilla units hiding and sabotaging you.
When you are dealing with an infestation in your home, you have to know that what you see is usually not the whole picture. The Stink Bugs have a hiding spot within your house, which is providing protection and conditions to reproduce.
Explore every corner of your "castle". Seek for dark and isolated places, which are good locations for a guerrilla base camp. Here are some possibilities:
• Attics
• Under or behind the furniture
• Old empty boxes
• Anything else you might think of
Once you locate them, use some of the methods explained in Tactic 3.
Getting rid of the Stink Bugs is much more than just killing the ones that you see. It is a complex task, but definitely not complicated. I know that if I have managed to deal with them, you will manage too.
I wish you a good luck in this war!
Well, I was in the same situation in 2008-2009 wondering if there is anyone in this world that could actually help me solve my problem. Regrettably, this was the start of the infestation wave in the US, and I was not able to find much information on the internet or anywhere else.
Now the situation is completely different and you, my dear friend, can benefit from the experience of others.
Now let's move to the battlefield and explore the tactics for fighting the little buggers.
Tactic 1 - Explore The Battlefield And Enemy Formations
One common problem, which I notice with all my readers is that they do not look for a solution to the infestation until it is too late. Let me tell you - this is a war, and it is better when you are prepared for it.
Monitor the behavior of the Stink Bugs in and around your house. The first signs that you may get in trouble come from around your home. If you notice an unusually high number of the insects in your garden, on the grass or on the fruit trees, be sure that coming in your dwelling is just a step away.
Be alert and look for signs of Shield Bugs inside. If you notice just a few of them, do not simply kill them or throw them away, but do more. Explore your house and see if you can find more of your enemies. Then deal with them immediately!
Tactic 2 - Prepare Your Defense
It is a known fact that any kind of insects will get inside your home attracted by light. We see it every day during the summer. The mosquitoes, flies, wasps and Shield Bugs will do everything possible to go where the light is. When you open your windows at night, do not keep the lights on! I have definitely learned my lesson the hard way, but you can do it right now, before it is too late.
Buy insect window screens to prevent them from coming in. This is a simple yet a powerful tactic.
Seal any cracks in your house, which may provide a good hiding place and also an entrance path.
Tactic 3 - Prepare To Repel An Attack
Sometimes despite our efforts to prevent the Stink Bugs from coming inside, we can still miss something and end up with a home full of them.
I know that the easiest way you may see right now is to go to your local gardening store and buy all sorts of bug killing sprays. However, I have done it myself and was absolutely disappointed by the "effect" these chemicals had. What makes the Shield Bugs different from many other insects is their resiliency to the insecticides we can find on the market. You will spray them directly using the whole bottle of "Raid" and the little bugger will continue crawling like nothing happened.
I have found that the home-made solutions are working best. Remember you do not want to squash the bugs, as they release their horrid smell!
Dish soap and water solution works like a charm. Just mix it up in whatever proportion you find appropriate. I personally put more soap because I want to see them die fast! You can use some old bottle from a window cleaning agent with a spray to pour the solution in. Once done, go after the bugs.
I have also noticed that anything containing ammonia could be effective. Window cleaning fluids have ammonia. Spray directly on the Shield Bugs to kill them.
You may also consider using a dusting treatment. It has a long-lasting smell and seems to produce good results in fighting the infestation.
Tactic 4 - Fight The Guerrilla Units
In all wars, fighting directly on the battlefield is just a part of the whole "game". The hardest to overcome are usually the guerrilla units hiding and sabotaging you.
When you are dealing with an infestation in your home, you have to know that what you see is usually not the whole picture. The Stink Bugs have a hiding spot within your house, which is providing protection and conditions to reproduce.
Explore every corner of your "castle". Seek for dark and isolated places, which are good locations for a guerrilla base camp. Here are some possibilities:
• Attics
• Under or behind the furniture
• Old empty boxes
• Anything else you might think of
Once you locate them, use some of the methods explained in Tactic 3.
Getting rid of the Stink Bugs is much more than just killing the ones that you see. It is a complex task, but definitely not complicated. I know that if I have managed to deal with them, you will manage too.
I wish you a good luck in this war!
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