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Brown Marmorated Stink Bug On The Move
DR. RIC BESSIN
LEXINGTON, KY.
Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) numbers were higher in much of the Eastern half of the state this summer than other areas. With the start of fall, they have been gathering on the sides of buildings in the afternoons on sunny days, but that is a precursor to their moving into structures. Despite their near ¾” body size, they can squeeze through narrow cracks around doors and windows, in siding, and in ventilation openings around roofs. They are searching for protected places to pass the winter (Figure 1). Once inside buildings they will remain active until mid-spring.
In addition to BMSB, we should expect several other insect invaders entering buildings, including boxelder bug, multicolor Asian lady beetle, cluster flies, and western conifer seed bug. But BMSB has the potential to gather in larger numbers in homes than these other pests. Besides just being a nuisance, BMSB releases a cilantro-like odor when disturbed and may feed on houseplants during the late winter months.
Prevention
With BMSB, as with other household invaders, the best strategy is prevention: keep them out of your home. Buildings that have large numbers gathering in the afternoon are more likely to be invaded.
• Seal and screen (1/6- inch mesh screen or finer; Figure 2) entry points to attics, around doors and windows, and to basements and crawl spaces to limit numbers that enter.
• Topping chimneys with screens or caps can also help.
Dr. Mike Potter, UK Entomologist, lists a number of additional steps that can be taken in How to Pest-Proof Your Home (EntFact-641).
Disposing of invaders
Indoors during winter, BMSB try to congregate in various places inside structures. This can be in chimneys, closets, window air conditioning units, attics, behind books on a shelf, etc.
The best way to remove them once they gain entry is with a vacuum. A knee-high stocking can be used in the suction tube of the vacuum to reduce the number of bags needed. Stink bugs can be disposed of by dropping them into soapy water. Various types of light-baited/funnel traps and soapy water traps can be used to remove them from dark areas in a home. ∆
DR. RIC BISSIN: Extension Entomologist, University of Kentucky
Figure 1. Brown marmorated stink bug is beginning to leave crops in search of
overwintering locations
Figure 2. A lab study at UK found 1/4 screen to be too wide to exclude brown marmorated stink bugs
Photos: Ric Bessin, UK
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