For the past few years, an unwanted visitor has been invading the Northeast United States at an alarming rate. They have spread from New York, to New Jersey and Pennsylvania. They have even now been spotted in Maryland and Northern Virginia. They are finding their way into homes all over the place. The menace I speak of is of course stink bugs. And once they manage to weasel their way into your home, getting rid of stink bugs can be a real chore.
Stink bugs can harm crops, flowers, and other vegetation, but for the most part they are harmless to people. They can bite the skin, but it rarely leaves a mark or breaks the skin causing bleeding.
The real damage they are causing is by their ability to rapidly multiply and the awful stink they leave when crushed. If you find stink bugs in your home, do not squash them. The smell is bad, but it also attracts other stink bugs. Your best bet is to use a chemical method to kill them or to sweep them up in a shop-vac and dispose of them outdoors.
If they are left unchecked, you will quickly find them everywhere. They get into kitchen drawers and cabinets, into your bathroom, storage boxes, dressers, closets, and anywhere else they can find.
The best defense against stink bugs is to not let them find their way into your home. Make sure all your screens are secure and do not have any rips or tears. Keep your outdoor lights off when not in use. The light can attract stink bugs. Make sure your doors seal tightly and the same with your windows. If there are cracks, these little pests can and will find their way into your house.
If all else fails, call a professional, licensed exterminator to help rid the stink bugs from your home.