Stinkbug Control

Does the color of my house affect whether stinkbugs come in?

Yes, the color of your house can potentially influence whether stinkbugs are attracted to it, though it is not the primary reason. Stinkbugs are more attracted to lighter colored houses such as white, light yellow, and light blue. Darker colors like black or dark brown tend to be less attractive to them.

However, stinkbugs are mainly drawn to warmth, light, and shelter as well as other insects. As temperatures drop, they seek warmth, so houses with south-facing walls or that reflect more heat are more likely to attract them. To prevent stinkbugs from entering, sealing cracks and gaps, using screens on windows, and reducing outdoor lighting can be more effective than focusing solely on color.

What does stinkbugs look like like?

Stinkbugs have a distinctive appearance:

1. **Shape**: They are shield-shaped, with a fat, flat body that narrows slightly toward the head. Their overall shape is often compared to a shield.

2. **Size**: They range in size, but most adult stinkbugs are about ½ to ¾ of an inch long.

3. **Color**: The most common stinkbug species in the U.S., the brown marmorated stink bug, is mottled brown or gray. Some species may also be green, such as the green stink bug, but the brown variety is the most widespread.

4. **Legs and Antennae**: They have six legs and long, straight antennae, often with white or light-colored bands.

5. **Wings**: Stinkbugs have wings that fold flat over their back, giving their bodies that shield-like appearance. When resting, their wings overlap, forming an “X” pattern and their backs.

6. **Eyes**: They have small, round eyes on either side of their head.

How can you control stink bugs from entering your house?

Hiring a professional pest control company is the best way to control a stink bug problem. Smart Solutions wildlife removal offers a variety of pest control and wildlife removal services. They’ve been in business for over 17 years and use cutting edge industry leading techniques, materials, and equipment in order to gain control over a stink bug infestation. They meticulously treat areas of entry like the attic, crawlspace, gaps in siding, eaves, areas of the roof and foundation.

They have specialized equipment that can reach up to 50 foot tall and every pest control technician carries ladders on their trucks to access insect and animal entry points. their technicians are highly trained and insect biology and wildlife biology. They handle a variety of insect control including, but not limited to spiders, ants, cockroaches, earwigs, springtails, millipedes, silverfish, centipedes, termites, ants, pill bugs, crickets, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, carpenter bees, bedbugs, mosquitoes and a whole lot more. You can check out their website at smartsolutionspestcontrol.com/pest-control/

Controlling stinkbugs from entering your house involves a combination of methods. Here are some effective ways that a Smart Solutions Wildlife Removal suggests:

 1. **Seal Entry Points**

   – **Inspect and seal cracks**: Use caulk, weather stripping or roofing materials  to seal any gaps around windows, doors, siding, chimneys, utility pipes, roofline ends, ridge vents, roof returns, exhaust vents, etc…

   – **Repair or replace screens**: Make sure window and door screens are free of holes and tightly fitted.

   – **Install door sweeps**: These can help prevent stinkbugs from entering  under doors.

2. **Reduce Attraction**

   – **Turn off outdoor lights**: Stinkbugs are attracted to lights, especially in the fall and winter. Use yellow “bug lights” or motion-activated lighting to minimize attraction.

3. **Use Natural Repellents**

   – **Essential oils**: Stinkbugs dislike the smell of certain essential oils, such as clove, mint, and garlic. You can mix these oils with water and spray them around entry points. essential oils are typically temporary and if problems persist hiring a professional exterminator is recommended

   – **Insecticide dusts**: These natural powders can be administered in void spaces like attics and unfinished crawlspaces. Examples of insecticidal dusts Diamotaceous earth, boric acid and pyrethroid dusts. They areharmless to humans and pets but is effective in killing stinkbugs as they crawl over it.

4. **Create Physical Barriers**

   – **Install mesh over vents**: Use fine mesh to cover attic vents, chimneys, or other openings.

   – **Use insect screens**: Ensure that all windows, doors, and vents are properly screened.

5. **Trap and Remove**

   – **Use a stinkbug trap**: You can buy or create DIY light traps that attract stinkbugs at night and trap them.

   – **Vacuum**: When you find stinkbugs indoors, using a vacuum with a disposable bag is an effective way to remove them without squashing them (which releases their odor). Dispose of the bag immediately.

6. **Insecticide (As a Last Resort)**

   – **Apply insecticide outside**: If stinkbug infestations are severe, a professional pest control service can apply targeted insecticides around the exterior of your home. This should be done before they try to enter in late summer or early fall. it can also be performed year-round in order to form a protective perimeter around the home

   – **Indoor insect sprays**: Indoor insecticides are generally less effective against stinkbugs and can pose unnecessary risks to pets or children. they can be used in controlled amounts with cracking crevice treatments in order to keep people safe and to get the bug juice where the bugs are.