You smell them before you see them: stink bugs, generally harmless but by far the smelliest members of the insect world. Though they don’t bite or sting, stink bugs are nevertheless unwelcome in most homes and businesses, and for obvious reasons.
Many people confuse stink bugs with boxelder bugs, another bad-smelling insect that retreats indoors during winter. No matter which takes up residence in your home or business, the results are the same: an infestation with foul odor.
If you already have an infestation, it’s time to call for professional stink bug pest control. If you don’t have stink bugs yet, but you’re worried you might in the future, take these steps to ensure your property doesn’t become an insect hotel this winter:
- Minimize outdoor lighting. Most bugs are attracted to lights, but stink bugs and boxelders find them particularly tantalizing. Try switching to motion-activated outdoor lights if you absolutely must have external lights on at night.
- Eliminate sources of water. Stink bugs prefer to hunker down in places with ready sources of water–i.e., leaky taps, flooded drains, and around sinks and toilets. Ensure you’re keeping up with your plumbing maintenance routine.
- Make sure your property is airtight. Bugs can’t get into your building if there are no stink bug-sized doors. Assess the areas around windows, doors, and siding to ensure there are no gaps–and if there are, use caulk or sealant to block off points of entry.
