Gradually, the winter season is coming to a close. The weather pattern is still unpredictable; cycles of warm and cold will taunt us for a while longer. The days have become longer, and the sun is stronger warming things in its path, even though it can still get quite chilly. One unforeseen consequence of this solar heating is it causes some insects to start coming out of hibernation, especially the brown marmorated stinkbug, or BMSB. You may have been alarmed by the site of this triangular-shield shaped bug crawling around your home.
Accidently introduced in the late 1990’s the BMSB is originally from Asia. It has become a nuisance pest because it has no natural enemies in the states, and it has a very wide variety of host plants on which it can live. A homeowner often can see large gatherings of them around the landscape, especially in the fall. More than likely then, they are looking for a place to hibernate. Stink bugs have the unique ability to give off a scent, alerting other BMSB’s that there is a suitable site for the winter. So, you will see large groups of them before the cold sets in. You may notice them on occasion in your home as their slumber is coming to an end. It is important to know, though, there is no cause for alarm, if you see them.
Unlike carpenter ants or termites, the BMSB, does not do any structural damage to the home. They do not sting or bite either. The only defense they have is their offensive odor. In addition,, the stink bug does not reproduce indoors, nor does it eat this time of year. Basically, your home is a rest stop for this pest. In the fall they often enter through holes in screens, exhaust fans, and especially window air conditioners. It is important to check those areas to prevent an infestation.
This time of year, controlling the BMSB is on the mind of anyone who has seen this pest in their home. The use of pesticides indoors is not effective in controlling stink bugs. The use of aerosol-type foggers, "bug bombs," or other insecticides may kill stink bugs but will not prevent more from entering a structure. These materials are also not labeled for this purpose and therefore not legally allowed. Their use may also create a hazard to people using the structure. Plus, leaving large numbers of dead BMSB’s in hard to reach places like attics may attract other pests such as carpet beetles and mice. Manually ridding your home of these bugs is the best way to manage them. You can use a shop vac to gather them, but that may cause your vacuum to smell like the stink bug for a while.
Stink bugs are nothing more than a unwelcome guest in your home this time of year. Using more than manual control on them will do much more damage than good. For more information on the BMSB, contact the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County at 570-963-6842 or email: LackawannaMG@psu.edu. We can send you a free publication on the stink bug.
Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State e Extension
Lackawanna County
Showing posts with label stinkbug. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stinkbug. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Pantry Pests
Recently, two insects have been grabbing the headlines as their presence has been noticed: bedbugs and stinkbugs, and deservedly so. However, they have lots of company. With the nicer weather coming to a close, you will be spending more time indoors. You may start to see “flyers and crawlers” all sorts of other insects in your house. The most common are grouped together and called pantry pests.
Two important steps should be taken to manage them. First, don’t panic. What you see may not be as serious of a threat as bedbugs. Plus they are not always associated with unsanitary conditions. Most of these insects have hitched a ride in packaging material, boxes, and containers. Secondly, in order to solve the problem, the insect must be identified correctly. Please do not spray an insecticide as a first response. They are poisonous, and anything sprayed indiscriminately can contaminate food, containers, preparation surfaces, and pet areas. There may be safer ways to control pantry pests.
The most common insect pantry pest in Pennsylvania is the Indian meal moth. It prefers such foods as chocolate, dried fruits, bird feed, and dry dog food. A common flour, pasta and cereal pest is the saw-toothed grain beetle. Various other species of beetles are also common pantry pests and infest a wide variety of food items. Cigarette beetles and drugstore beetles are occasional pests, but they prefer dried plant materials such as herbs and spices. You may also come across carpet beetles, which feed on lint, hair, leather, and animal products. Larder beetles live on other dead insects, corn meal, and dry pet food.
The key to successful control is to find the source of infestation. Unless this is found, you will continue to see the insects. Finding insects in one area of the home does not mean the infestation is in that area. Many cereal pests can fly; therefore, you may see them in places distant from their breeding site. Pantry or stored product insects can feed on anything edible: cereals, various grains, crackers, spices, macaroni, dried fruit, chocolate, candy, nuts, dried peas or beans. Don't overlook pet foods such as bird seed, fish food, dog food and cat food.
Once you locate and eliminate all infested foods, the number of pests should decrease rapidly. Those you see will be adult beetles or moths looking for another food source in which to deposit their eggs. Store all pantry items in air-tight, hard plastic containers, jars, etc. Be sure to check cake mixes and other unopened items because they might also be infested. Thoroughly vacuum and wash cupboards, pantry shelves, floors, etc. to remove any spilled food stuffs. Insecticide sprays are of little value in controlling pantry pests when infested materials are removed and cracks and crevices are cleaned.
We have two publications to help manage pantry pests, ‘Identifying Common Household Pests’ and ‘Cereal and Pantry Pests’. Contact the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County at 570-963-6842 or LackawannaMG@psu.edu for a copy.
Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County
Two important steps should be taken to manage them. First, don’t panic. What you see may not be as serious of a threat as bedbugs. Plus they are not always associated with unsanitary conditions. Most of these insects have hitched a ride in packaging material, boxes, and containers. Secondly, in order to solve the problem, the insect must be identified correctly. Please do not spray an insecticide as a first response. They are poisonous, and anything sprayed indiscriminately can contaminate food, containers, preparation surfaces, and pet areas. There may be safer ways to control pantry pests.
The most common insect pantry pest in Pennsylvania is the Indian meal moth. It prefers such foods as chocolate, dried fruits, bird feed, and dry dog food. A common flour, pasta and cereal pest is the saw-toothed grain beetle. Various other species of beetles are also common pantry pests and infest a wide variety of food items. Cigarette beetles and drugstore beetles are occasional pests, but they prefer dried plant materials such as herbs and spices. You may also come across carpet beetles, which feed on lint, hair, leather, and animal products. Larder beetles live on other dead insects, corn meal, and dry pet food.
The key to successful control is to find the source of infestation. Unless this is found, you will continue to see the insects. Finding insects in one area of the home does not mean the infestation is in that area. Many cereal pests can fly; therefore, you may see them in places distant from their breeding site. Pantry or stored product insects can feed on anything edible: cereals, various grains, crackers, spices, macaroni, dried fruit, chocolate, candy, nuts, dried peas or beans. Don't overlook pet foods such as bird seed, fish food, dog food and cat food.
Once you locate and eliminate all infested foods, the number of pests should decrease rapidly. Those you see will be adult beetles or moths looking for another food source in which to deposit their eggs. Store all pantry items in air-tight, hard plastic containers, jars, etc. Be sure to check cake mixes and other unopened items because they might also be infested. Thoroughly vacuum and wash cupboards, pantry shelves, floors, etc. to remove any spilled food stuffs. Insecticide sprays are of little value in controlling pantry pests when infested materials are removed and cracks and crevices are cleaned.
We have two publications to help manage pantry pests, ‘Identifying Common Household Pests’ and ‘Cereal and Pantry Pests’. Contact the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County at 570-963-6842 or LackawannaMG@psu.edu for a copy.
Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County
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