Stink bugs as an invasive species.
What is an invasive species?
Pest species are labeled invasive when they cause ecological and/or economical harm in an environment that is not native to the pest.
Key factors to labeling stink bugs as invasive:
-Accidentally introduced to the U.S. around 1998 from East Asia (China, Japan, and Korea).
-They are a serious pest of fruits, vegetables, and other crops. Stinkbugs have also become a nuisance to homes; they’re attracted to the outside of houses on warm fall days in search of protected, overwintering sites and can enter houses in large numbers.
-Human health can be affected by the Stinkbugs’ defensive chemicals or odor; the defense chemical has the potential to produce allergic reactions like rhinitis and conjunctivitis. If the insects are crushed or smashed against exposed skin, they can cause dermatitis at the point of contact.
Prevention and Treatment for Stinkbugs:
-The best way to manage a stinkbug invasion is to be proactive. Once stinkbugs are in your home, they’re much harder to get rid of. Most people end up vacuuming them in masses; the smell of the bugs may remain in your vacuum for a long period of time.
Since Stinkbugs are generally a fall pest, Triangle Home Services, Inc. would recommend having an assessment done on your home just before fall to find any cracks or crevices that would welcome stinkbugs. Once you establish vulnerable entry points, you can have them sealed. Treatment can be provided for the exterior of your home after sealing of the entry points.
Just remember, friends, stink bugs don’t have to stink so bad. Give Triangle a call in late summer to be proactive in stinkbug prevention!
SOURCE:
EDDMapS. 2017. Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System. The University of Georgia – Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. Available online; last accessed 30 November 2017.
