Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs, first discovered in the U.S. in 1985, have plagued Indiana for years. The invasive insects are named for the horrific scent they give off when threatened or squashed. They often sneak into people's homes in the Fall and Winter looking for a place to lay eggs and hibernate, flooding indoors and creating the potential for an awful smelling surrounding.
They sneak into structures through the tiniest of holes and narrow openings in doors and windows. Once inside, they tend to congregate around bookcases, under furniture, in cracks of baseboards, around the trim of windows and doors, and in attics. The insects are attracted to light and often fly toward light bulbs as soon as you flip the switch. Once the weather warms up, they wake up and make their way outside, where they begin their assault. In some cases, they will wake up due to high heat in the home.
The USDA says Stink Bugs alone put 21 billion dollars’ worth of crops at risk each year. The insects stab slender probes into unripe fruit, doing damage to the entire plant. Scientists say the wounds from the stylets makes trees more prone to getting a infections. In 2010, apple growers in the Mid-Atlantic lost $37 million once Stink Bugs raided the area. These bugs will also eat leaves, chewing holes about an eighth of an inch wide, serving as entryways for diseases to strike the plants.
What's worse, they are extremely resistant to pesticides. Without help from an expert, people find themselves with infestations that only continue blooming. Some people try to vacuum them up only to find the smell lingers inside the machine and is incredibly difficult to remedy. The bugs are excellent at hiding and come in massive groups, so it's hard to be sure you've tackled the problem entirely. In West Virginia, a swarm of over one million bugs was documented.
Getting rid of stink bugs quickly, in a way that ensures they don't come back, and with a method that doesn't leave a stink bomb of the whole house is simply beyond most people's talents. The problem has gotten so out of hand that the U.S. Department of Agriculture created an entire action plan to learn more about the pests. The Stop Stink Bug Project is dedicated to finding out how many are roaming the country and how to minimize their impact on gardens and farms.
At Bug Off Pest Pros, we have a good understanding of how to reduce those impacts. We are the most reliable pest control in all of Muncie. With over a decade of experience driving off insects and animals in Delaware County, our technicians know the place like the back of their hands. We keep a close eye on new advancements in pest control, so we're always ahead of the game and can get rid of your pest problems as quickly and efficiently as possible. We're so confident in the consistency and reliability of our treatments that we offer a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. At the first whiff of a Stink Bug, call us for a free estimate.