3 Signs You Need Stink Bug Control

So, itโ€™s late summer in beautiful Knoxville, TN and you are just trying to enjoy the bounty from you vegetable garden before fall hits. You walk up only to discover that your garden is being ransacked by little shield shaped insects: stink bugs. You panic. What can you do to save your beautiful garden? Not only are stink bugs a pest to vegetable garden, but they can also be house pests (or as we like to call them: unwelcome houseguests!). Johnson Pest Control can get rid of these stink bugs in Knoxville, Tennessee. Before we do, let us tell you the three signs that you need stink bug control.
Stink bug crawling on a blade of grass - keep pests away from your home with Johnson Pest Control in TN

  1. Stink Bugs Cause Damage to Plants & Vegetables

Like we mentioned earlier, stink bugs are a fan of vegetable gardens. They can be real pests! When the stink bug feeds, it pierces the skin of the fruit or vegetable in order to feed. Once it detaches, the skin will heal over but there will usually be a scar that can be seen. Some say the scar on the fruit or vegetable looks like a cat face. So keep an eye out for scarred tomatoes that have cats face scars on them! To save your vegetable garden, call Johnson Pest Control.

stink bug control in knoxville, tn pest control services

  1. Sunny Side Up – Stink Bugs in Knoxville, TN

Stink bugs like to sun themselves to keep warm. You might notice that some sunny areas outside or around your home are prone to stink bugs posting up so they can tan. Be weary of this and try to seal your home against them. Stink bugs are active on sunny days.
stink bug crawling on a leaf - keep pests away from your home with Johnson Pest Control in TN

  1. Stink Bug Invasion in Knoxville, TN

The most likely sign of a stink bug invasion will be just that: a large number of stink bugs in or around your home. They are easier to get rid of if they are outside. However, itโ€™s about to get colder and the stink bugs are thinking about one thing: winter. Once the stink bugs make their way into your home, they can be extremely difficult to get rid of. They will winterize themselves so that they donโ€™t feed or move.

Donโ€™t let stink bugs invade your home. If you need stink bug control in Knoxville, TN, give Johnson Pest Control a call. We can save your home from any infestation of bugs from harmless (but still annoying) pests like stink bugs to wood-destroying insects to stinging insects. Johnson Pest control can save the day and take steps to make sure that another infestation does not happen. You donโ€™t think of pest control companies until you have to and when you think pest control, you should think Johnson Pest Control in Knoxville, TN.

Stink Bug Control

Stink bug crawling on a blade of grass - keep pests away from your home with Johnson Pest Control in TN

As the summer heat fades, the second part of stink bug season comes around. Although harmless to humans, these nasty critters find themselves all around our walls, attics, and just about everywhere else too. Johnson Pest Control has been around long enough to know how to handle these smelly invaders. Keep your home protected from these pests with a few simple tips and tricks.

About the Stink Bug

The brown marmorated stink bug is actually not native to the Americas, but rather Asian countries like Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. They were first sighted in the United Stated around the mid 1990โ€™s. Since the first sighting, they have made their way to over 30 different states.

They eat nearly everything they can get their mouths on, making them serious pests. Fruits, vegetables, weeds, tree leaves and more all find a place in their diet. March, April and September are the months where they are most a problem, as it is when they emerge from their winter sleep, and once again begin preparing for it.

Once they have established themselves in your home, they are very difficult to deal with. They are resistant to nearly all insecticides. The best way to keep your home safe is by prevention, which is why September is critical. By protecting your home as they try to find a warm home for the winter, you can keep your house free from them for months to come.

How to Keep Them at Bay

To best rid this pest, you must think like a bug. Seal all cracks around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, behind chimneys and underneath the wood fascia and other openings with high-quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk. Remove wall and window air conditioners; installing weather stripping around doors and windows may help. Repair broken screens and windows to keep the seal on your house tight.

Examine your house for any small areas or any openings to the outside. They are tenacious, but with a sharp eye, your house can be successfully protected.

Getting Rid of Them

Stink bugs are unfortunately, pretty resilient. A mixture of water and soap (about 2%) can off these bugs. The best way to remove them is by trap and kill stations. Stink bugs will walk straight into pheromone lures, making them effective ways to remove them in masse.

Knoxville, TN, is home to plenty of these putrid pests, but Johnson Pest Control is on the job. By following these tips, you can keep your house stink bug-free this fall, which will help bring a stink bug-free spring next year. If these critters get to be too much, give us a call. Our experts can help you clear your house, barn or garage of any stink bug infestations.