How To Get Rid of Stink Bugs in Middleboro

We’ve reached the time of year when we can expect visitors of the six-legged variety to invade our Massachusetts homes.

Fall is prime time for overwintering insects, who are attempting to find a warm place to-- you guessed it-- survive the winter, and our cozy quarters are the perfect getaway. Recently, Middleboro residents have been bombarded by one such intruder: the stink bug. Homeowners report dozens to hundreds of stink bugs posting up on the outside of their houses, and more still are battling close encounters of the interior kind. Here’s what you should know about how to get rid of stink bugs in Middleboro.

What Exactly Is A Stink Bug?

There are two common types of stink bug in Massachusetts: the brown marmorated stink bug, and the western conifer seed bug. The two are related and look quite similar, being brownish-gray in color with shield-shaped bodies and long antennae. For all their similarities, it is relatively simple to distinguish between the two: the brown marmorated stink bug has a shorter, wider body than that of the conifer seed bug, and the conifer seed bug has distinct leaf-shaped segments on its hind legs.

Both are considered “stink bugs” because of the pungent odor they emit when handled, threatened, or squished.

Brown marmorated stink bug

Western conifer seed  bug

What Are They Doing?

While these insects spend a good portion of the year happily feeding on crops and trees, finding shelter for the winter takes priority when the weather starts to cool. They will typically overwinter beneath bark or in leaf litter and other protected outdoor spots, but they’re not opposed to spending the colder months inside your home.

You’ll usually see stink bugs in late summer and early fall, when they are trying to get inside, and again in spring when the weather turns favorable and they prefer to be outdoors. When October days in Middleboro begin in the lower 40s, but reach the 80s by afternoon, stink bugs can’t seem to decide if they want to be in or out.

Should I Be Concerned?

When any type of insect descends upon our home, we wonder what sort of repercussions we’ll face. Fortunately, neither the brown marmorated stink bug nor the western conifer seed bug are known to do any damage inside. They mostly hunker down in attics, wall voids, and other comfy areas and simply wait for winter to pass, although they may make a guest appearance on an unseasonably warm day.

How To Get Rid of Stink Bugs in Middleboro

Even if stink bugs don’t do much but, well, stink sometimes, most of us still don’t want to share our homes with them. Unfortunately, once they are indoors, there’s not much to be done aside from vacuuming or flushing the ones you see, so prevention is your best defense. Here are some tips for keeping stink bugs out:

• Seal cracks and crevices around your foundation and openings around pipes or utility lines

• Make sure doors and windows close securely

• Repair or replace torn or damaged screens

• Install door sweeps

• Keep outdoor lighting to a minimum in the evenings

• Trim branches and shrubbery back from your home

• If your window AC is still in, fill any gaps around the edges

Battling overwintering insects of any kind can really stink, especially when you feel you’ve done everything in your power to take back your home. If you’re at a loss with any pest, any time of year, the experts at Burgess Pest are here to put a stop to what’s bugging you.