15 October 2023 , 21:31
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Invasive stink bugs are wreaking havoc across US states.
The unwelcome guests have become an unfortunate sight in the autumn season when leaves are changing and temperatures are dropping. Called the brown marmorated stink bug, the pest has been found in many homes in states across the US before winter sets in.
The critter was first found in Pennsylvania and by 2021 it had been seen every state apart from Alaska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. A study has even suggested their invasion could get worse,
The invasive species has severely impacted states on the east and west coasts, but areas of the Midwest. Central states between Montana and North Dakota and further south have “no evidence of established populations,” the US Department of Agriculture said.
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The stink bugs are particularly found in the autumn (NurPhoto via Getty Images)The bugs are more annoying in autumn and on warm days multiple insects try come through doors and windows. If you are unlucky to have stood on one the bug gives off an unpleasant smell which can cause allergic reactions. The bugs, however, will not cause damage to your home. University of Wisconsin-Madison says many insect killers have not been updated to tackle the brown stink bug. Pest controllers can provide relief for those who are bothered by them in exterior locations.
Other things that can be done be done to prevent the bugs entering your home include making making sure openings in and around your home are sealed-off.
To prevent the bugs entering your home owners should seal off openings in around their home (Universal Images Group via Getty Images)More pleasant smelling smells can be put on window sills to deter the bugs, Other products such as clove, lemongrass, and spearmint also help keep the bugs away. Experts recommend removing them them with a vacuum which can result in it giving off a bad smell over a period of time They can also be squashed flushed down the toilet or put in a container with soapy water according to insect controllers.
Experts advise against using insecticide inside as a dead bug may attract other insects which feed on the stink bugs. The pests eat as much as they can in autumn and live off stored energy during winter months. They can do without food until spring and will not reproduce.
But the winter months and the cold will not see them die, Thomas P. Kuhar, associate professor in the Department of Entomology at Virginia Tech found the stink bugs could endure temperatures below -4 degrees F.
Stink bugs will not die in the winter, say experts (NurPhoto via Getty Images)The Mirror told in 2021 how a 'stink bug' which gives off a sickening smell could be invading homes and ruining fruit crops within ten years. The smelly bug is native to East Asia, but one has been recently found in the Royal Horticultural Society's garden in Surrey.
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It is brown in colour and has a speckled pattern on its back, was first discovered in the UK last August at a nature reserve in Essex.
The stink bug has also been spotted in London, Suffolk and Hampshire, which has led scientists to believe it is spreading.