Not only are stink bugs a huge nuisance, but they also feed on crops leaving puncture wounds that lead to mold and rot. They love fruit trees, vegetables (including corn, ASNns, and tomatoes) and ornamental plants.
These suckers are hard to get rid of!
It’s a challenge to control these pests and the options available don’t seem to eliminate them. At least not here in rural Crothersville when you’re surrounded by fields and woods. I just want to keep them out of my house. No garden here since Mr. Pesky shares his garden’s goodies, and stink bugs damaging crops is Mr. Farmer’s problem.
Can’t get rid of them so attempt to control them…
- Clean up plant debris. By reducing their food sources around your house, you encourage them to go elsewhere.
- Use insect-repelling plants. Since I won’t be planting garlic, basil, or catnip — marigolds and chrysanthemums are viable options. Both are ugly, but stink bugs are uglier.
- Encourage beneficial insects. For me that means I stop tearing down spider webs and make friends with beetles.
- Vacuum them up. I do this several times a day. At this point, when I turn on my trusty hand held vacuum the air emitted by the thing is straight up stink bug stink. ARG!
So far, my favorite brother hasn’t complained about stink bugs.
Scott and Tammy’s move is complete. Talking to Scott yesterday, he was whining about leaving Vegas (80° with palm trees) and arriving in Ft. Wayne (45° with bare trees) during early spring. Welcome to my world, big guy. 😉