Stink Bugs
Ever heard of a stink bug? Well, there are a number of varieties of stink bugs, but basically they are all smaller than a penny with a shield-like shape that helps to deter predators. Stink bugs have six legs, a pair of wings, and a piercing mouth part. These bugs are brightly colored (like green) or they have bold marks on them (like black or gold).
So how did stink bugs get their name? You guessed it! These buggers give off a stinky smell when they sense danger. Just know that sensing danger will not make a stink bug bite or sting. In fact, these bugs are not harmful to people or pets, but in quantities, they can be an agricultural nuisance because they use their piercing mouth part to suck and eat the liquids from leaves and fruit.
I have not come upon many home infestations of stink bugs because of the lack of drastic temperature changes over winter here. Stink bugs will look for shelter in winter when the temperature gets cold. In addition, while these bugs hibernate they do not eat nor do they reproduce. Even so, if you do find stink bugs indoors, beware, a stink bug will also give off its stinky smell if it’s squished.
Instead of squishing a stink bug, a better way of killing them in your home is to add a cup of vinegar and a half cup of dish soap to two cups of hot water in a spray bottle. Mix this concoction up in the spray bottle and spray the bugs directly. Spraying stink bugs with this mixture will kill the bugs in a short period of time. Some people just use a mixture of dish soap and water and say this mixture works just as well.
Please feel free to call our office if you have stink bug or other insect concerns.
Aloha to All!
