You’ve likely seen some odd bugs in your lifetime. Some people don’t like insects and freak out, but others just brush them nonchalantly away and go about their day.
However, experts warn people to watch out for a specific brown bug. They’re found in house cracks, flowerbeds, and grass. While they appear harmless at first, this insect is destructive, so you should be prepared.
Stay alert! If you notice this bug anywhere on your property, you should follow specific steps. What is it, what does it do, and what does it look like? Continue reading to find out!
Tiny Brown Bug
Insects aren’t often easy to spot, especially if you’re in a wooded area or nearby some flowers. They blend well in their surroundings, and this bug is small and brown. However, that’s exactly what you need to be watching for!
Body Like a Shield
Experts warn people to be aware of their surroundings outside. This tiny brown bug might be in your yard. Its body appears to be a medieval shield, and it has six legs. When it’s fully grown, it’s just about 0.7 inches in length and quite unique.
Small but Not Harmless
Though the brown bugs are tiny, they could wreak havoc if you don’t see them. Therefore, people have to be vigilant wherever they are. These bugs have wings but might walk up to the home and slip inside unnoticed.
Find a Way into the Home
Their wings can help them get into homes through walls, cracks, and curtains. They can fly, though they often don’t. Therefore, you must watch for them in your yard and be aware that they could invade.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
You should be aware of what insects fly around your yard. This is true, especially for Halyomorpha halys. Commonly, it’s called the brown marmorated stink bug. This horrible name fits the bug that wants to infest your gardens and homes.
Found in the US in 1998 – Accidentally
The stink bug was actually found in Korea, China, Japan, and Asia originally. However, it was first spotted in 1998 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Scientists think it was brought over by someone traveling and became a big pain for the Eastern United States.
Max Barclay Explains the Bug’s Travel
Max Barclay is an expert who backtracked the bug’s origins. He thinks he knows how it got through multiple countries to end up in the US. He works on the Coleoptera collection at the National History Museum and believes the bug arrived in the United Kingdom first.
Predictions of Another Arrival for 2014
In 2014, Max Barclay claimed to feel that the brown marmorated stink bug was moving east to Britain, and he was right. The bug was spotted initially in 2020 in the gardens of the Natural History Museum.
Pallets, Shipping Crates, and Packages
When the prediction came true, it was sad because the stink bugs didn’t leave. They establish homes quickly. Often, they move inside for the winter, and they can come to you in shipping crates, pallets, or packaging materials.
Warm Weather Is King
The insects don’t fare well in cold climates. Therefore, they move to shipping crates for the winter (diapause). However, when the cold weather ends, the bet is off. They actually thrive in warm weather and enjoy it.
Climate Change for the Invasion
Overall, the earth is getting warmer each year if climate change is real. If that’s the case, humanity could have another stink bug invasion, but this one is major. Research has predicted that the bugs may be in Switzerland during the 2010s, according to the International Biometeorology Journal.
Hitching a Ride
The research ended up being correct. That journal claimed that there was a high stink bug population and tons of crop damage in Switzerland, starting in 2017. This also made the temperatures increase in the area.
Bad News for the Swiss
Dr. Haye works with the Center for Agriculture and claims that strong evidence shows the species is modifying primarily from climate change. Though it’s a non-native species, it’s sure to increase populations, and the warm weather promotes it.
High Altitudes Not Safe
In the paper, Dr. Haye predicted where the bugs might infest, claiming that they could head south and be in the Alps foothills. Then, he believed that the higher latitudes could become a better choice because the climate was likely to change more.
Thousands of Bugs
The paper even suggested that it was a matter of time before the stink bug population got way out of hand. That’s why it’s crucial to watch out for the stink bugs in your yard and home. That way, you don’t have an infestation of thousands of bugs.
Pennsylvania to North Carolina
These stink bugs didn’t get into the United States until 1998. They moved swiftly from Pennsylvania to New Jersey and then into Virginia in just six years. They’ve even been found recently in North Carolina!
44 States and 25 Years
Unfortunately, these stink bugs haven’t been nice enough to stay on the eastern coastline. They have already infested 44 states out of 50. The scary part is it only took 25 years to get that far.
Cilantro and Almonds
These stink bugs release a special odor. Some people feel that it smells like almonds, and others think it’s more like cilantro. If you smell either of those in the garden and don’t grow them, that indicates a big issue.
Can’t Get Rid of Them
There isn’t a way to get rid of the invasive species, though people might be able to contain the issue. Barclay says that they establish their homes quickly. Usually, you just see a couple, and then they’re all over.
Contain This Pest
There isn’t a long-term solution to eradicate the stink bugs. However, you can do certain things to help contain them. If you notice these shield-shaped bugs around your home, these tricks and tips can help!
Remove Obstructions and Weeds
The first thing to do when you notice those tiny brown bugs is get the weeds out of your garden. Stink bugs prefer to hide inside them because of the camouflage. Therefore, you might also need to remove your lawn ornaments.
A Homemade Repellent
If you can’t get rid of these bugs by removing the weeds, you can try a homemade repellent. It’s best to use some kaolin clay solution, a few drops of dish soap, and a couple of gallons of water. Mix it all together, add it to a spray bottle, and spray everything you can.
Not Harmful to Plants
Stink bugs aren’t likely to eat crops or leaves that have the repellent sprayed on them. Plus, they don’t lay their eggs in those areas. Overall, the mixture is harmless to crops and plants. However, you should rinse anything from the garden before consuming it.
Trap Plants
The stink bug prefers yellow flowers, such as sunflowers. You can make a trap plant using yellow flora. However, it’s not like the Venus Flytrap. Instead, you’re guiding these invasive bugs away from the garden.
Keep It Away from Others
The trap can’t work if the yellow flowers are planted in the garden. Therefore, you need to keep them in other sections of your yard, away from the crops and flowers. These bugs congregate there, allowing you to spray and kill them.
Dispose of Your Trap Plant
Once the stink bugs are surrounding your trap plant, there are a couple of options. You may do nothing, allowing the other animals and birds to kill them for you. However, this takes a while and isn’t efficient.
Dig Up the Plant and Put It into Plastic
Another option here is to let numerous bugs surround the trap plant. Dig up that flower, put it inside a trash bag, and wait. You should close your bag tightly, leaving it in the sun to kill the bugs with heat.
They Love Veggies and Fruit
The smell from these bugs is pungent, but it’s the last thing to worry about. These annoying insects go for the garden treats first. They like to eat veggies and fruits, killing off whole crops if the problem isn’t taken care of properly.
Ruining $40 Million Apples
Farmers in 2010 lost roughly $40 million in apples because they didn’t catch their stink bug infestation in time. The pests left brown stains on whatever they ate but never made it to the core. Plus, they could destroy wine supplies by eating grapes.
House Sealants
You want to protect your home, and the defense tactics are different. It’s best to seal the openings with the right sealant. That way, those stink bugs can’t get inside and infest the house.
Use the Vacuum
Sometimes, a sealant isn’t enough, and the bugs get into the house. When that happens, you can suck them up with your vacuum cleaner. Once you’ve collected them, toss the bag so that the odor doesn’t go through the home.
Turn off the Lights
Stink bugs like the light, so try to turn off the outdoor lighting whenever possible. If you’re home in the evening, lower your blinds and turn off the porch lights, so no light is outside.
Reduce Moisture
Moisture build-up around your home is also a good way to prevent stink bug infestations. They must have a water source, so you should be checking the pipes for leaks and getting rid of clogged drains to reduce the risk of stagnant water.
Eliminate the Food Source
Stink bugs have to eat and aren’t particular about their food. Make sure the food is in airtight containers. You can also keep your lid on the trash can, disposing of it outside in a sealed receptacle. Clean the floors frequently and wipe down countertops, too.
Check Your Belongings
When you get items from boxes, inspect them. That includes store grocery bags, your holiday decorations in the attic, and things you buy that come in a crate or box, such as from online shopping excursions.
Don’t Smash Them
People are often tempted to kill the bug as fast as possible. You might grab a shoe or paper towel. However, if they’re disturbed or crushed, they release a foul-smelling odor. Therefore, it’s wise to shoo them out or vacuum them up.
Landscaping
Keep your branches and shrubs trimmed well. Those who use firewood should ensure that it’s stored 20 feet or more from the home and raised to be 5 inches off the ground. That way, the bugs don’t want to harbor in those areas.
Use Inside Traps
If stink bugs get into your house, make a trap for the inside like you did outside. Fill your spray bottle with 2 cups of water, 1/2 cup of dish soap, and 1 cup of vinegar. Spray any bugs directly so that they die without putting out their smell.
Watch out for the Insect
Whether you use homemade repellents, trap flowers, weed your garden, or vacuum, you need to eradicate the stink bugs as best as you can. Watch out for this annoying pest to make sure that they don’t get inside your house!
