​Call Us: (914) 831-7100
Free Estimate: (800) 375-4444
Proudly servicing all of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, NYC, Westchester & Rockland Counties!
24 Hour Emergency Response Team - Licensed - Insured - We Remove Violations
Stink Bugs
What is a Stink Bug?
Stink bugs are typically three-quarters of an inches with brown, gray or dark green in color. They are usually large, oval or shield shaped insects. They have alternating light bands on the antennae and dark bands on the thin outer edge of the abdomen. Adult stink bugs can fly fairly well. They can keep their wings folded over their backs when they land as their long legs extend from the sides of their body. The stink glands are located on the underside of the thorax, between the first and second pair of legs.
How Did I Get Stink Bugs?
Stink bugs are agricultural pests. This means they enjoy living in orchards, farms and gardens. In residential areas stink bugs can be found in parks and landscapes. During the warmer climates stink bugs reproduce throughout the whole year, however, during the winter they tend to hide under stones, ground cover and weeds. Typically, if a stink bug finds a crack or hole in the home they will move inside and spend the winter inside the walls or in quiet places such as the attic or crawl space. When spring arrives the stink bugs become active and seek a way outside but often times they will come out into the living space of the home where you may find them. When stink bugs find a suitable location during the winter they release an aggregation pheromone that attracts other stink bugs to the site.
Inspection & Treatment
Stink bugs are pretty large for an insect therefore they are easy to spot when found. These insects in particular are more noticeable in the late summer through fall as they try to find a warm place to spend the cold winters. The following are areas stink bugs typically hide:
​
-
Outdoors: Window and door frames, vents, eaves and walls with the most sun exposure.
-
Indoors: Inspect any crack and crevice you may have in your home - stink bugs like to squeeze themselves in there! False ceilings, folds in drapes, hollow curtain rods and other places that go undisturbed such as attics or basements.
​
Foul odor and spotting dead stink bugs near entry points such as doors, window frames, utility pipes and chimney are also signs of stink bugs in your home.
​
Treatment for these unwanted pests are important to avoid them from coming inside the home. It is recommended to start treating early August and continue through November. While there are many stink bug traps and insecticides available to purchase, these will only help capture them and not help prevent them from entering your home. Here at Pest2Kill Exterminating we offer a custom plan to help create a barrier around your home. Our technicians will also help you identify and address stink bug entry points.
​
​
Close Up Stink Bugs
Prevention
Prevention is key when avoiding stink bugs in your home. There are a number of different ways to prevent them from entering. Here are some helpful tips to avoid them:​
​
-
To properly avoid stink bugs from coming in to your home it is important to thoroughly inspect the outside of your home for easy access points. This can be areas around siding and utility pipes, behind chimneys and other openings. Sealing these cracks and holes with silicone or silicone-latex caulk can help avoid these bugs from coming in.
-
Stink bugs can enter through the smallest holes, this means if your screens on windows or doors are damaged it is important to replace them.
-
If your home happens to have areas of moisture build up it is very important to eliminate this. Check your pipes and drains for any leaks or clogging.
-
Removing any access of food will also help. This means storing food in airtight containers and removal of garbage regularly. Wiping down counters and sweeping floors to eliminate crumbs and residue from spills.
-
By properly ventilating basements, attics, garage and crawl spaces will help eliminate harborage points. We recommend using a dehumidifier in these areas as well.
​
​
Call Pest2Kill Exterminating today to set up a custom plan just for you and help eliminate your stink bug problem!