Stink Bugs

Shammy Davis · Postby **Shammy Davis** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 11:36 am

We've been dealing with these bugs since early spring. I understand they were introduced off a cargo ship from West Africa in PA and our migrating south. Anyone else dealing with them? Anyone know of any infestation controls?

Blue feather · Postby **Blue feather** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 12:46 pm

I am in the middle of orchard country so they have been terrible here. They seek the warmth of indoors so seal all openings as well as you can. I vaccum the them up with a wet/dry vac and release them outside. As I'm sure you know, if you squash them, they stink. Good luck!!

pfrsue · Postby **pfrsue** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 1:20 pm

Are you talking about the Asian beetles we have in the Midwest? They look almost exactly like ladybugs, except that they bite and smell like musty gym socks?

Jessi P · Postby **Jessi P** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 3:50 pm

pfrsue wrote:Are you talking about the Asian beetles we have in the Midwest? They look almost exactly like ladybugs, except that they bite and smell like musty gym socks?

No, these are different (at least the ones we have been fighting in the Pittsburgh Pa region.

http://www.alddlroom.com/what-to-do-wit ... b8jrn4.htm

http://www.articlesbase.com/p-articles/ ... 42500.html

http://www.pennmanor.net/pennpoints/?p=8075

Shammy Davis · Postby **Shammy Davis** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 4:16 pm

They damn things are everywhere. I was in Tractor Supply the other day. I picked up a bag of feed and between the bags I counted five of them. They are in the house. In the sheds. In the garage. Between the saddle blankets. It's a nightmare.

pfrsue · Postby **pfrsue** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 8:08 pm

Yep, that's a different critter. Thanks for clarifying, Jessi P.! Regarding the variety we have out here, I had a major problem with them when I lived in an old farm house out in the country. I didn't like using too much insecticide in the house (the kids were little) so I saturated a filter cloth for my little shop-vac with a pyrethrin spray and then vacuumed the bugs up. They croaked in the shop-vac, so I didn't have to worry about them escaping and coming right back in the house after I'd dumped them out.

That probably doesn't help much for the scope of the problem you're talking about, Shammy, but it's the best I've got.

Sue

Shammy Davis · Postby **Shammy Davis** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 6:15 am

Thank you for the information. I've sealed all the windows and doors, but everytime we go out and open the front door, some fly in. They are like heat seeking missles.

I got the shop vac out and will use your idea. If you mash them, it stinks up the house.

xfactor fan · Postby **xfactor fan** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:00 am

Shammy,

What do the little buggers eat? And what eats them? Can you put out a feeding station away from your house and barn, and lure them to some kind of doom? Do chickens or Guinea hens eat them?

Also have you looked at diatomacous earth? This is the specialty milled fossilized diatoms. The milling process exposes microscopic spines that slice the wax coating that covers all bugs. They then dehydrate. Then die.

Apparently this is safe for mammals, but very hard on bugs. Might be something to investigate.

Good luck combating your infestation.

Shammy Davis · Postby **Shammy Davis** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 10:46 am

Xfactor: They seek warmth. I've sealed all the doors and windows to the house. Those that have gotten into the house haven't eaten anything. They congregate in folded clothes, blankets, behind curtains, under seat cushions, etc. They are not like moths or crickets that will eat wool. They just seem to hibernate by hundreds. I'm thinking that the ones in the house will die if we don't turn the heat on when the temperature gets to freezing this winter. :lol:

My wife is mulling over a few other options that may not be as extreme. I'll let her read your post this evening. I'll keep you posted.

Kari · Postby **Kari** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 7:09 am

We have them in Indiana too. If you can get to a place that still has pesticides out (Lowe's, Home Depot, maybe Kmart and WalMart), there is a product from Ortho that I swear by- Ortho Bug B Gone Max. I sprayed the door frames, the window sills, the inside edges of closed windows, and anything else in the house I had ever seen a stink bug or ladybug on. The stink bugs stay out, period, and the ladybugs die in the closed windows so I can open the window and sweep them out.

http://www.orthohomedefense.com/smg/cat ... at10040001

I've been using this stuff for 2 1/2 years, and it's worth every penny, I tell you!

Shammy Davis · Postby **Shammy Davis** » Fri Oct 29, 2010 6:06 am

Kari: Thanks. I'll get some today. Temps were in the mid-30's last night so I'm hoping many will die off.

My wife left her work coat outside on the carport. I went out to get it and when I picked it up some s/bugs dropped out. I shook it and hundreds dropped out. I wish I'd taken a picture of it. It was unbelievable.