Stink Bugs
What is small and brown with eight sticky legs and just wants to find a warm, safe place to live in for the winter?
If you guessed a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, you are correct. The stink bug is shield- shaped, and usually shades of brown.
In Virginia this year the number of stink bugs has increased, “coming back this year in alarming numbers,” NBC29 news Tom Costello said. They are infesting our homes more and more. Stinkbugs were first introduced to the US ten years ago when they came from Asia, most likely through cargo. Stinkbugs are hitting mostly the east coast and neighboring states. The “mid- Atlantic states are having the most trouble,” National Pest Management Association manager Missy Henrinksen said on NBC29 news.
This year’s hot summer this year seems to be favorable for the pests, which is one of the main reasons why we are seeing so many. Pest specialists on NBC29 news said that next year’s summer will be worse than this one, because of the global warming temperature raises.
The shield- shaped insects are not a major threat. They don’t bite, harm or sting people in any way, but they are more of an invasive nuisance. “They do not transmit any disease. They are not harmful to any of us in our homes,” Henrinksen said. However, these bugs are a major threat for our agriculture. Stink bugs live off of fruit and vegetable juices. “Mid- Atlantic farmers are just getting crushed this year on their fruit gardens,” Henrinksen said. Farmers are planning on raising their prices to make up for their losses this year and next.
These bugs crawl into homes through small cracks and openings. They come in for the winter, and will go back out when spring comes around. Once entered into homes, they are likely to live for a few months in places like basements and attics.
Squishing the bugs is not a wise choice because they do leave an unpleasant odor. Instead brush them out of your homes so they become a part of the food chain. In the meantime, experts say
If you guessed a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, you are correct. The stink bug is shield- shaped, and usually shades of brown.
In Virginia this year the number of stink bugs has increased, “coming back this year in alarming numbers,” NBC29 news Tom Costello said. They are infesting our homes more and more. Stinkbugs were first introduced to the US ten years ago when they came from Asia, most likely through cargo. Stinkbugs are hitting mostly the east coast and neighboring states. The “mid- Atlantic states are having the most trouble,” National Pest Management Association manager Missy Henrinksen said on NBC29 news.
This year’s hot summer this year seems to be favorable for the pests, which is one of the main reasons why we are seeing so many. Pest specialists on NBC29 news said that next year’s summer will be worse than this one, because of the global warming temperature raises.
The shield- shaped insects are not a major threat. They don’t bite, harm or sting people in any way, but they are more of an invasive nuisance. “They do not transmit any disease. They are not harmful to any of us in our homes,” Henrinksen said. However, these bugs are a major threat for our agriculture. Stink bugs live off of fruit and vegetable juices. “Mid- Atlantic farmers are just getting crushed this year on their fruit gardens,” Henrinksen said. Farmers are planning on raising their prices to make up for their losses this year and next.
These bugs crawl into homes through small cracks and openings. They come in for the winter, and will go back out when spring comes around. Once entered into homes, they are likely to live for a few months in places like basements and attics.
Squishing the bugs is not a wise choice because they do leave an unpleasant odor. Instead brush them out of your homes so they become a part of the food chain. In the meantime, experts say