They’re clustered up around door facings, crawling on the miniblinds, and hanging out on your ceiling fan blades… What are these obnoxious little brown bugs, and how can you get rid of them? And, EW! Why do they stink so badly?
It sounds like you’ve got a case of stink bugs. The good news is that these annoying insects pose no threat to humans. They don’t bite, aren’t venomous, and don’t carry any diseases as far as we know. But they do stink when you kill them (hence the name). And their constant buzzing around probably gets on your nerves. Plus, it’s just gross to find clusters of little brown bugs sitting all over various surfaces in your home.
This often begins to happen in the fall. When the weather cools off a bit, stink bugs start looking for a warm place to spend the winter. Unfortunately, they sometimes choose the insides of our homes. They gather in groups inside walls and attics, but you will often see them in warm spots such as a sunny window. Just know that there are many more hidden in cooler spots throughout the house.
How can you keep stink bugs out of your house? Right now is the perfect time to take preventive measures, before the weather really cools off.
- Seal up cracks around doors and windows with caulk
- Place screens over vents that lead to the outside
- Seal gaps under exterior doors with weather stripping
- Avoid leaving windows open, and repair holes in screens
Basically, if there’s a tiny entrance to your home, a stink bug will find it. But sealing as many as you can will lessen the odds that stink bugs choose your home as their winter residence. If you do notice a stink bug infestation,. call us for professional pest control services right away. It’s easier to address a problem as it’s just beginning, than to remedy it later when their numbers have grown.