The United States has its fair share of non-native pests; red imported fire ants, American cockroaches, and Norway rats are only a small sampling of the invasive creatures that plague North America, and now the same can be said for brown marmorated stink bugs. While they aren’t the most recent pests to invade our country, they’re still fairly new; brown marmorated stink bugs arrived in Pennsylvania in 1998, only a little more than 20 years ago. They’ve been stinking up properties, destroying home gardens, and decimating crops ever since.
Much Ado About Stink Bugs In Fairfax
Truthfully, there are several different species of stink bugs in the United States, but the difference between those native species and the brown marmorated stink bugs is they have natural predators to keep their populations from spiraling out of control. Like those other species, this stink bug has a patented shield-like body shape and reaches about 5/8 of an inch in length. As far as distinctive features, the brown marmorated stink bug has a more mottled brownish-gray coloration over its body, with brown and white banding on its legs.
These Fairfax pests aren’t actually dangerous to have around your property; they don’t damage your home, they don’t bite, and they don’t carry diseases or contaminate food. This doesn’t mean they can’t cause significant problems on your property though, especially if you have a cherished home garden.
Brown marmorated stink bugs are responsible for the destruction of many different food sources all over the country, such as:
- Corn
- Lima beans
- Soybeans
- Peppers
- Tomatoes
- Asian pears
- Cherries
- Apples
- Apricots
- Nectarines
- Peaches
Tips & Tricks To Prevent A Stink Bug Infestation In Your Fairfax Home
Stink bugs don’t infest homes during the warmer months of the year, and in general, they much prefer to stay outside with all of their favorite foods. The problem is, they can’t survive in colder weather, so they find better-insulated hiding spots before they enter diapause, a stasis similar to hibernation. That’s where your Fairfax home comes in – they find cracks and entryways into the wall voids of your home so they can take a nice, long winter nap.
This wouldn’t be too much of a problem if the warm air in our homes didn’t wake them up periodically throughout the winter, causing them to exit their hiding spots and raise a stink when we find them. Luckily, there are several ways to discourage stink bugs from hiding inside our walls:
- Seal up any entry points around the exterior of your home; loose or damaged siding, cracked foundation, gaps around outdoor-leading wires and pipes, unsecured chimney cap, damaged shingles or roof trim.
- Replace any worn-down insulation around doors and windows.
- Make sure all window and door screens are secure and intact.
- Install door sweeps to all exterior doors.
- Reduce moisture in and around your home; repair leaky pipes, aerate your lawn’s soil and add dehumidifiers to moisture-retaining rooms.
Get Stink Bug Extermination Before It’s Too Late
Pests are notorious for getting into places they shouldn’t be, so no matter how many preventative measures you take, it still might not be enough. Not to worry though, our pest professionals at SPRK Pest Solutions are here to help! We care about the health and safety of you and your loved ones, which is why we make sure to provide effective and affordable eco-friendly pest control.
We always use the highest quality green pest control products available, and to ensure your satisfaction, every treatment is 100% guaranteed. If you still notice pests around your home after we’ve treated, we treat your home again at no additional cost. So get in contact with us for pest control in Fairfax, and let us lift that stink cloud off of your shoulders.
