Stink bugs shifting indoors, so pest proof your own home – Elizabethtown Information Enterprise

Because the temperature drops, many bugs will seek for shelter for the winter months — many instances in personal residences. This 12 months, individuals might discover a brand new insect coming indoors.

This insect is the brown marmorated stink bug, and College of Kentucky entomologists already are receiving calls from owners regarding its look and offensive odor, mentioned Ric Bessin, extension entomologist with College of Kentucky Faculty of Agriculture.

The primary report of the stink bug in Kentucky was in 2010, nevertheless it now could be confirmed in 50 counties, largely within the east and central components of the state and the Louisville space. Hardin County has been added to the listing this 12 months.

As soon as it will get in properties, the stink bug releases an odor that smells like cilantro as a defensive mechanism. Alongside the East Coast, the place this stink bug is extra established, it has been identified to invade properties by the tens of hundreds.

Along with being a house invader, the stink bug is a serious pest of fruit and greens and can feed on corn and soybeans through the rising season.

The perfect factor owners can do to forestall stink bug issues is to pest proof their residences, Bessin mentioned. This consists of sealing off openings into the construction reminiscent of the place wires and pipes enter the constructing from the skin and any cracks or tears in window or door screens. Owners may wish to spray an insecticide across the perimeter of their residence. If stink bugs are present in a residence, owners ought to vacuum them somewhat than sweep or crush them. Sweeping or crushing might trigger them to emit the odor or depart a stain.

So what can a house owner do? Bug proof your home this fall!

Pest proofing your own home is essentially the most environment friendly solution to preserve these critters out. A swatter, broom or vacuum cleaner and trash container will care for pests that often wander indoors. It’s greatest to cope with stink bugs, boxelder bugs and woman beetles exterior, earlier than they enter your own home.

Following these tips will assist pest proof your own home or administrative center and a few might even enable you to preserve power and improve the consolation stage this fall and winter.

Set up door sweeps or thresholds on the base of all exterior entry doorways, paying explicit consideration to the underside corners which are a typical entry location. Bugs and spiders can enter by means of a niche of one-sixteenth of an inch or much less. Get down on the ground and verify for mild coming into below doorways; this means potential pest entryways.

To shut different potential pest entries, apply caulk on the underside exterior edges and sides of door thresholds; match storage doorways with a rubber backside seal as a result of vinyl doesn’t seal properly within the winter; and line the underside monitor of sliding glass doorways with foam climate stripping ½ to ¾ inch large to seal any gaps.

Utility openings the place pipes and wires enter the muse and siding are frequent entry factors for spiders, ants, yellow jackets and rodents. You should utilize caulk, cement, urethane expandable foam, metal wool and copper mesh to plug openings round outside taps, receptacles, fuel meters, garments dryer vents and phone or cable tv wires.

Apply a good-quality silicone or acrylic latex caulk to cracks round home windows, doorways, fascia boards and different openings. Earlier than you apply the caulk, clear current caulk, and take away any that’s peeling to help adhesion. You’ll want to use a great caulking gun. Fascinating options are a back-off set off to cease caulk when desired, a built-in “slicer” to take away the tip from new caulking tubes, and a nail to puncture the seal inside. These weapons can be found for lower than $10.

To cut back the entry of girl beetles, cluster flies and different overwintering pests, restore gaps and tears in window and door screens. Hold home windows closed when adults are rising to forestall entry. Repairing screens additionally will preserve out flies, gnats, mosquitoes and midges subsequent summer season.

One other solution to forestall pest entry is to use an exterior barrier therapy with pesticides. To realize essentially the most from this effort, apply long-lasting liquid formulations that comprise artificial pyrethroids. These merchandise can be found at some {hardware}, garden and backyard outlets.

Should you apply the barrier therapy, use a compressed air or hose-end sprayer to deal with the bottom of all exterior doorways, storage, crawl house entrances, basis vents, utility openings and beneath siding. It’s additionally helpful to deal with the skin perimeter of the muse with a two- to six-foot large band alongside the bottom and two to 3 toes up the muse wall.

Should you want to not sort out these pest-proofing actions, contact an expert pest management agency. Many corporations are providing pest-proofing companies.

For extra info on the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, go to pest.ca.uky.edu/EXT/BMSB/welcome.html or contact Hardin County Cooperative Extension Service at 270-765-4121, [email protected] or hardin.ca.uky.edu.

Amy Aldenderfer is a Hardin County Extension agent for horticulture. She may be reached at 270-765-4121, Ext. 114, [email protected].