Gardeners not only live with their beloved plants in the garden, but they also have to learn to deal with different kinds of pests. For them, it is just a way of life. How they cope spells the difference between life or death for the plants.
Among these many pests are the stink bugs. The stink bug was first introduced to the United States in the 1990s from some parts of Asia. It has over 200 species, but the most common here in the U.S. is the Brown Marmorated stink bug. They are called stink bugs because of the foul-smelling chemicals they emit. However, they only do so when threatened.
How to identify them
The Brown Marmorated stink bugs are large, oval-shaped insect and are 2 cm in length. Their coloring may be brown, black, to bright green. The chemicals they emit come from glands located at the thorax. Adult stink bugs are good fliers. They have wings that are folded when not flying.
Stink bugs as pests
Stink bugs are annoying gardeners with their odor, making their gardening experience quite not pleasurable.
Then the damage. They eat garden plants and crops. They prefer fleshy fruits but can eat just about any kinds of plants. Damage to crops is more on aesthetic, causing discoloration, but it could also lead to early decay and spoilage.
They also do economic damage to farmers, as crops that have signs of stink bug damage cannot be sold in the market any longer as the insides of the crops are already rotten.
Control
To prevent such damages to occur, it is important to prevent the stink bugs from ever appearing in our gardens. Here are some of the ways to control these pests:
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- Regularly trim grasses, weeds, and brambles. Stink bugs like to hide in tall grasses, especially during winter.
- Some farmers use beneficial creatures like wasps and birds to neutralize stink bugs. You can do the same thing.
- Use kaolin clay. Kaolin clay is a mineral that repels stink bugs by attaching itself to the bugs’ bodies to irritate them which causes them to flee. Kaolin clay is non – toxic. iT also coats the fruits with a fine film that keeps the pests from eating it.
- Install stink bug traps around your garden. Use sticky traps and tape. Be sure to check your traps once in a while to prevent overfilling these traps.
- Set up bug nets. Place it over your garden to prevent bugs from getting to your plants.
- Check for cracks in your home then seal it off. This will stop them from entering your house.
In conclusion, having a pest-free garden is achievable especially when you have the right information in your arsenal. However, if you want to get rid of stick bugs faster, it is best you consult your local pest control operator. The good news is, there are tons of professionals around you, and Lake Norman Professional Pest control operators are easy to get and hire.
