Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs in Lexington, KY

As the warm, summer weather draws to a close, it is time to start worrying about the various insects and pests that will try to enter your home for protection from the winter weather. Stinkbugs tend to be one of the most common pests to enter homes across central Kentucky during the fall months. Currently, we are only treating for Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs, as they are the only species that have been commonly reported in Kentucky.

Stinkbugs are relatively new to the United States, and even newer to Kentucky. Originating in Asia, the first stinkbug appeared in 1998 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. These pesky creatures enter your home through cracks in windows, doors, and screens in search of warm places to hibernate, such as attics and chimneys. Once a stinkbug locates a suitable hibernation location, they release a pheromone that attracts other stinkbugs. This can quickly lead to hundreds of stinkbugs living within your home!

Luckily, although stinkbugs are a pest, they are relatively harmless to humans. They do not bite or sting. Instead their main defense is to release a foul odor when they are startled, threatened or squished. The main predator of stinkbugs is the parasitic wasp that lays eggs inside of stinkbug eggs. The parasitic wasp egg drains all of the nutrients from the stinkbug egg and prevents the stinkbug from hatching. Birds have also started eating stinkbugs.

There are many different species of stinkbugs that live in the United States. Each species has unique characteristics, color patterns, and dietary preferences. Some common color patterns include brown, black, red, orange or camouflaged. The specific species of stinkbugs that occupy Kentucky are as follows:

• Brown Marmorated Stinkbug – The brown marmorated stinkbug feasts on corn, soybeans and other common plants.
  
• Green Stinkbug – The green stinkbug feeds on household plants, corn, soybean, cotton, cherry trees and orange trees.
  
• Harlequin Stinkbug – The harlequin stinkbug eats cauliflower, cabbage, turnips and plants.
  
• Red-shouldered Stinkbug – The red-shouldered stinkbug is an herbivore that feeds on weedy plants.
  
• Rice Stinkbug – The rice stinkbug feeds on rice and grasses.
  
• Rough Stinkbug – The rough stinkbug feeds mostly on trees.
  
• Spined Soldier Stinkbug – The spined shoulder stinkbug is a predatory bug that feeds on other insects.
  
• Two-spotted Stinkbug – The two-spotted stinkbug is also a predatory species that feeds on smaller insects.

Unfortunately, most over-the-counter and home remedy stinkbug removers are not effective at getting rid of stinkbugs in your Lexington Kentucky home. Over-the-counter pesticides and home remedies are not strong enough to penetrate through the hard outer shell of stinkbugs. Additionally, bug bombs or foggers do not work well because stinkbugs tend to hide in tiny cracks and crevices that are not usually penetrated by the bombs and foggers. Killing stinkbugs by hand is also a bad idea because they release a foul odor and can leave an oil stain when squished. The best way to get rid of stinkbugs in Lexington, Kentucky is to call a Lexington pest control company, such as IPM Pest & Termite. Our professional team has the right tools and experience to get stinkbugs out of your home for good! Contact us today to see how we can help you keep stinkbugs out of your Lexington, Kentucky home!