Stink bugs are pests that are larger than regular pests and are generally easy to spot. They are agricultural pests that are a severe problem to farms, gardens, and orchards. However, it is also prevalent for stink bugs to be found in residential areas, parks, and even residential landscapes. They can be found throughout the country and are very common in the US.
Stink bugs reproduce throughout the year in warm climates. However, in areas experiencing winter, the adult stink bug hides under boards, stones, weeds, and ground covers, with the adults becoming active in springtime. Thus, stink bugs are most active and visible during warm climates and tend to hide in cold temperatures. They come out of their hiding when in search of warmth.
On Plants
When feeding, stink bugs feed on available plants, Leaves, and stems of weeds, wild plants, and grass—a common characteristic when feeding is that the adult stink bug deposits its eggs on leaves' backs. After hatching the left eggs on the leaves, the immature stick bugs mostly migrate to the surrounding fields. The nymphs depend on fruits, nuts, seeds, and also ornamental plants.
In Cracks and Holes
During winter, adult stink bugs often seek out hiding places. Hence, in suburbs and cities, the bugs' hiding places are on the sides of the houses. Houses with cracks or holes tend to accommodate the bugs, where they stay in crawl places and quiet places such as the attic. However, on warm sunny days, they become active but seldom come out until its spring.
The way stink bugs feed on developing fruits causes the fruit to develop a scar at the site where they are feeding. With the growth of the fruit, there is a cat face-like scar that emerges, which causes people to name the insects as the cat-face insect. Their feeding habit involves piercing the plant's skin to extract the juices. Due to its toxic saliva, cells are killed at feeding sites.
The hiding places for stink bugs depend on the area as much as it does on climate. Hiding places in the fields and farms are often different from hiding places in suburbs and cities. While in the houses, when they become warm enough, they come out into the living spaces of their house, where their presence and foul spells are very unpleasant. On the exterior sides of the houses, be on the lookout on vents, eaves, window, and door frames that are most exposed to the sun
The ultimate prevention for dealing with stink bugs in homes is making sure that there is no opening around the house for the insects to find their way in. This sealing any gaps, cracks that could be around the windows and doors using caulk can be effective. As for crawls and vents and attics, using a screen to cover is another resourceful way of keeping the bugs at bay. With weather-stripping, exterior gaps of the door can be used to seal
