We’re starting to get reports that the brown marmorated stink bug is making its presence known in Howard County. The average migration trigger date for central Maryland is September 22. Stink bugs migrate to homes in the fall to overwinter. While they don’t do any damage or reproduce while in your home, they are a nuisance pest as they enter your living space during the winter and spring months.
FACTS ABOUT THE BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG
- It will feed on fruits, vegetables and soybean.
- When squashed they emit an odor that some say smells like cilantro.
- They tend to emerge from cracks under or behind baseboards, around windows and door trim, and around exhaust fans or lights in ceilings.
DID YOU KNOW
- They are considered an agricultural pest that originated from Asia.
- The brown marmorated stink bug first appeared in the United States in the middle 1990’s near Allentown, Pennsylvania.
- The are found across the US with the largest concentration of them located in the mid-atlantic region.
STINK BUG PREVENTION TIPS
- Caulk gaps and cracks around windows, doors and other exterior areas before November.
- Treatment with insecticide is possible in early fall.
Exterior treatment with a pyrethroid insecticide can be very effective. Timing is critical and application of the insecticide must be done in the early fall to have an impact. If you need service and wait until mid-October it may be too late.
Questions? Please call our office at 410-465-3709 to schedule treatment.
