This “Stinks”. Does It “Bug” You Too?

Ok, this has nothing to do with any aspect of my business, but I occasionally blog about life.

As my property is currently overrun by a variety of stink bugs and potato and Japanese beetles (alright, overrun may be a bit strong, but we have a lot of the little devils), I thought I would pass this along.

The Loudoun County (VA) Extension Office has produced a fact sheet on the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, the invasive insect pest that is invading local homes.

The Extension Office offers tips on how to prevent the stink bugs from getting inside your home and also how best to deal with them if they do manage to get inside.

How to prevent them from getting inside: If a home or structure has a history of having stink bugs over- wintering inside, then preventative measures should be taken now to prevent re-infestation in the fall. Exclude stink bugs from the house by sealing up cracks around windows, doors, utility access points, chimneys, siding, trim, and fascia. Caulk can be used to seal many cracks, but attic and foundation vents, and weep holes will require wire mesh or screening. Do not seal cracks if the insects are already inside because they will be trapped and die indoors. How to control the bugs if they are inside: Caulk around baseboards, exhaust fans, light fixtures, and trim to prevent stink bugs from accessing interior rooms from basements, drop ceilings and attics. Vacuuming best controls individual insects. Spraying stink bugs with insecticide after they get inside still obligates your to vacuum up their dead bodies, so skip the insecticide and go straight to the vacuum. Avoid treating stink bugs you cannot reach with the vacuum with insecticide. If the stink bugs die inside the wall-voids or attic, their dead bodies may attract carpet beetles and other pests that feed on the carcasses and could lead to infestations of these pests.

The complete fact sheet is available online at www.loudoun.gov/extension.

http://www.newport-enterprises.com