Here's another reason -- besides energy conservation -- to seal all the air leaks in a home: Stink bugs.
They are a dull brown. Their wings make a buzzing sound when they fly. They have nasty little feet and it's MOST unpleasant to encounter them on, say, the bathroom drinking glass in the middle of the night. They are gross.
And, unfortunately, they had as banner weekend last weekend. In my house, anyway, they emerged by the dozens.
An Asian species, the insects -- called brown marmorated stink bug, or Halyomorpha halys -- were first found in this country in Allentown in 1998. By now, they're in 29 counties in Pennsylvania, including all of southeastern Pennsylvania. And in lots of Jersey, too. They're yet another example of the complications that come with global travel and our shrinking world.
Apparently, they don't actually hurt anything or anyone, although they could well become a pest species because they like apples. Maybe that's why I have so many. I have a big apple tree in my yard. And I have an older house that, I now suspect more than ever, has a few more leaks than I thought.
Since the warm weekend, literally hundreds of them must have emerged in my home. The question is what to do about them. Pesticides are out, as far as I'm concerned. And I'm NOT squishing them with my bare hands, thanks. So I settled on two sheets of TP per insect. I prowled the curtains and windows, where they seem to congregate. But with that many bugs, you can imagine I used a lot of TP. And it took a bit of time. My latest technique, which is both easier and, in a devilish way, quite satisfying, is to use the vacuum cleaner. They make a wonderful sharp "thunk" as they get sucked down the tube.
Last night, I dispatched 80 to the inner recesses of the vacuum cleaner bag. Probably won't be as many tonight since the weather turned cool again. But when it re-warms, look out stink bugs!
Here's a Penn State site on the bugs, and here's a Rutgers site.
If pesticides "are out" as far as you're concerned, then get used to living with them.— Tartan69- Pesticides don't work at all on stink bugs. They are impervious to it.— GJK3161
- I am down to one sheet of TP but it's still using a lot of resources. I put them in the toilet but try not to flush every time. They can swim for HOURS!!! I thought i was coping well till I found one one my TOOTHBRUSH-now it is WAR!— natedog
- they deserve only death.— writerstephen
- They taste good on tacos.— steverawthar
- Be careful with the vacum cleaner approach. I can attest that they are willing and able to live in there for days!— freebistat
- do they actually stink? i've never seen one that stunk. i just know they make a very satisfying pop when you squeeze them between your finger and thumb.— WC-Jonesy
- pesticides do work on stink bugs. spray your window frames and they will be discouraged from coming in. But some will die. And those already inside will die if you spray them. Surrender to the chemicals, or enjoy your bugs.— geordigirl
- From the chrysanthemum plant plant--pyrethrin. Used in around soffits, etc. Degrades quickly when exposed to air. Took care of problem in fall. Worked. http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/pyrethri.htm— Yodude2
- Got these little darlings in my attic. They provide endless amusement for my cats when they get down into my living room. Go crunch when I step on them, but some colored fluid squirts out of them. I call them the "armored bugs". Yes, they do have a smell.— Jen D
- They sound like a lot of fun. I can't wait until we have those little darlings a little farther north where we are. anger management techniques— ShaunDay
- You can knock them into a cup of water with a couple drops of liquid soap. They die almost instantly, just like Japanese beetles. I have filled up a cup with them and then flushed them...easy!— eagleye
- Beware the vacuum approach! Stink bugs really DO stink, but only when squashed or when threatened -- it's a defense mechanism (like skunks). They have an unpleasant metallic odor that really lingers. I've vacuumed them in the past but they "sprayed" on the way in so my vacuum smelled horribly while I was using it, until I changed the bag. Now I used the TP-in-the-toilet approach. Just be sure to pick them up gingerly! Ugh.— smbello
- Ah that doesn't sound too pleasant heh... With global warming, I expect to see them soon in the northern part of the country, as well as other southern bugs... sigh angie - rain boots— angelawalschee
- I deal with stink bugs often with my pest control business. Pesticides do work, the trick is spraying in the late summer and/or early fall on the outside of your home with a good residual pesticide.... Before they get inside. Oh and that smell is more of a beacon for them and will only bring more. (don't smash them, flush them!)— bugman28
GreenSpace - her column about how to reduce your carbon footprint in everyday life - appears every other Monday in Health & Science.
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