Living in Northern Virginia, you’ve almost definitely had an encounter with the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, a mottled-brown, shield-shaped bug with banded antennae, infamous for releasing a foul scent when squished or killed. Stink bugs will destroy farmer’s crop yields by feeding on their plants, and during the fall they will congregate in large numbers around your doors and windows, seeking a place inside to overwinter. Stink bugs are very resistant to many pesticides, making them a challenging pest to get rid of for an untrained homeowner. But these things weren’t in Northern Virginia, so where did they come from? And how can we control their populations?
Stink Bugs Are An Invasive Species
Stink bugs are not actually native to the United States at all, they are actually an invasive species. Stink bugs are native to eastern Asian countries like China, Japan, and Korea, and they were brought over to the United States during the 1990’s on shipping containers. They slowly established a population in Pennsylvania, and have been moving outwards across the continent since then. Stink bugs first brought their reign of terror to Virginia in the 2000’s, showing up in large numbers around homes in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, and Fredericksburg. Scientists are working on several different methods of biocontrol methods to deal with Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs, including introducing a tiny parasitoid wasp called the Samurai Wasp that is known to kill stink bugs. Stink bug control is so vital because they can devastate the crop yields of American farmers.
Stink Bug Crop Damage
Stink bugs are known to feed on and damage a wide variety of fruits and vegetable crops, including but not limited to: apples, figs, apricots, persimmons, peaches, citrus fruits, beans, corn, tomatoes, peppers, soybeans, and more. Stink bugs will also feed on and damage ornamental plants like flowers. The feeding marks on the outside of these crops doesn’t damage the entire fruit, but it does render them unmarketable as a fresh product. Stink bugs will leave scars on apples, spongy areas on tomatoes and peppers, and shrunken, deformed kernels of corn that have been drained of their juices. The devastation that stink bugs do to crop yields can lead to millions of dollars of damage for farmers, and if left unchecked, can lead to a disruption in the food supply chain.
Why Are Stink Bugs So Difficult To Get Rid Of?
Stink bugs can also do the same damage to any fruits, vegetables or flowers that you are growing in your garden, which can be frustrating for homeowners. As fall rolls around and the colder temperatures start to come in, stink bugs will begin congregating in large groups around your doors and windows, searching for any cracks and gaps they can use to get inside. An unfortunate issue with stink bugs is that many of the over-the-counter pesticides are ineffective against stink bugs, or pose a greater risk to plants than the bugs themselves do. Many people are also hesitant to kill stink bugs when they are spotted indoors, due to the scent they release when squished. Because of these factors, stink bugs are very difficult to control, but don’t worry, Summit Environmental Solutions is up to the challenge.
How To Control Stink Bugs
Once stink bugs have made their way inside your home, you will find them in large numbers near baseboards, bookshelves, and underneath beds and sofas. Stink bugs thankfully don’t bite or cause any structural damage, but they are still a nuisance pest and should be controlled. You can vacuum up stink bugs, but be warned that this will set off their scent glands and it doesn’t always kill them, so empty the bag outside, away from the house. Caulking and weatherstripping windows and doors can help prevent stink bugs from getting inside. The best way to control stink bug populations is to contact the pest control experts at Summit Environmental Solutions. Our team will carefully treat your property for stink bugs, eliminating the infestation, and we will provide you with exclusions, seal-outs, and quarterly or monthly preventative treatments to keep them from coming back.
Best Stink Bug Pest Control in Northern Virginia
If you need stink bug control and prevention in the Northern Virginia area, contact the experts at Summit Environmental Solutions. We offer FREE estimates, so one of our expert technicians can come out and inspect your property, before providing you with an estimate tailored to the exact needs and specifications of your property. Don’t let stink bugs infest your home or destroy your garden plants, contact the experts at Summit Environmental Solutions to get started today with a FREE estimate at 703-520-5868!
