Community Corner
A Stinky Situation
Find ways to combat the growing stink bug problem that is moving across our area
Even if you weren’t touched by any of the top stories of 2010, you undoubtedly were affected by one newsmaker that hit home in your own backyard: the stink bug.
This disgusting little pest made the news in 2010 when stink bug populations reached record highs in the United States’ mid-Atlantic and Eastern regions. Areas in these regions endured approximately twice as many stink bug generations as usual.
Pennsylvania, which sits in the mid-Atlantic region, has an unfortunate claim to fame in the sink bug story. The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug was first collected in the United States in Allentown, Pa., in 1998, and is believed to have hitched a ride there from one of its native territories in China, Japan, Korea or Taiwan several years earlier.
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Since the bug’s American debut in the 90s, steady populations have been seen in at least 37 Pennsylvania counties and as few as 24 other states. What was once mostly a nuisance now poses threats to homes and farms alike, as many fear stink bug populations may soon reach pandemic proportions.
When asked what he expects regarding this year’s stink bug populations, Mike Allridge, etymologist at , said, “There are two different schools of thought about that. Some experts say the populations surged last year and others say we should expect a bigger wave this year. So, it all depends on who you want to believe.”
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Allridge went on to explain that many farms, such as those in Adams County, suffered as much as 40 percent crop loss due to stink bug devastation last year. He noted that, if the population rises again, that could mean more than 40 percent losses in some areas for 2011.
Allridge reports that Trax Farms did not suffer losses anywhere near that amount last year, and had only minimal losses attributable to stink bugs.
There are several pesticides labeled for killing stink bugs, which farmers use to maintain their crops. According to Allridge, such pesticides will kill a stink bug on contact but will not have any residual effects and will not deter or kill future instances of the vermin.
Most experts agree that, unless you are a farmer or an exterminator, you should stray away from pesticide use. If you don’t know what you’re doing, the chemicals can harm you, your children and your pets. Laypersons especially should not attempt to use pesticides inside their homes.
A mix of one part water and one part Dawn liquid soap has the same effect on stink bugs as pesticide—and, it’s a much safer alternative. It will kill a stink bug on contact but will not harm the humans and animals in your home or community.
Another safe alternative is to suck those buggies up with a vacuum or dust buster, though some vacuums will crush the bug in the process and create a long-lingering stench that will actually attract more stink bugs.
Using a wet/dry shopvac with some soapy water already in it will help solve part of the problem, since the dead bug particles will go into the water rather than coat the chamber.
No matter how you decide to kill those nasty critters, you’ll want to get rid of their carcasses. If not, they’ll attract other pests, such as carpet beetles.
Workers at Trax Farms have heard their fair share of stink bug horror stories from customers and coworkers over the past year, including tales of the bugs hiding in attic and basement storage boxes; behind paintings on walls, pictures on mantles and books on shelves; behind headboards and underneath beds; and, in the coats of long-haired pets.
So, when cleaning your home, leave no stone unturned!
For more information on the history and impact of the stink bug, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture website.
This story originally appeared on Peters Patch