Stink Bugs...

April Ethereal · #1 02-18-2011, 06:08 PM

I live in west virginia , and needless to say there is a full blown all out epidemic of Stink Bugs. I was wondering if anyone else on here has problems with them. Im always paranoid they will crawl into my gear. lol They cant get through the cabs I have because of the tight cloth grills, but my head, and ampeg b2re, has plenty of large openings on the back that they could easily pass through. [fan,vents,ect.] So I was just wondering if anyone here shares my paranoia or has any stories! =]

Thanks, Jacob

diehard70 · #2 02-18-2011, 06:16 PM

PITA fer shur. Never heard of a problem getting into someones gear, though.

April Ethereal · #3 02-18-2011, 06:22 PM

yep they definitely are a pita, lol but I always see them land on my electronics and cab setup, [Rather its true or not Ive heard they are attracted to heat and specific electric signals] so I kill them and come back only to find more and more...Its never ending lol

diehard70 · #4 02-18-2011, 06:48 PM

Makes sense that they'd be attracted to the heat. Had a problem w/ ants years ago (not in my gear, though). got in through the sliding glass patio doors. I put some "skin-so-soft" (Avon used to sell it, I think) where they would get in. You'd think I put up an electric fence or something. They would be on the deck but wouldn't cross the line of that stuff.

MEKer · #5 02-19-2011, 07:25 AM

You gotta appreciate a good stink every now and then.

pasta4lnch · #6 02-19-2011, 07:30 AM

I never heard of them before (I live in NYC, we have an epidemic of another bug - the roach

) but one of my clients was recently telling me stink bugs are becoming a problem at/near his place in Flemmington NJ.

From what they tell me, I'll deal w/ the occasional roach

bummer!

**lowendfriend** · #7 02-19-2011, 07:40 AM

They get chased in by the cold. They do not bite people but they act like skunks and squirt that gross "vegetable smell" when challenged.

The way to get rid of em one by one is to ease 'em into a paper cup and flush em down the toilet...

I find when they inevitably die and dry out they don't stink any more so getting into gear only matters if alive and threatened.

jmain · #8 02-19-2011, 07:48 AM

We noticed them first here last year. Lots of them this past summer and I've seen one here and there this winter. Search for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug and you'll get more info. They're an invasive Asian species that has no real predators here to keep their numbers in check. They're becoming a real nuisance, especially to farmers and gardeners.

Like Low was saying, they won't bite but will emit an order when threatened. You can gently grab them with your hand (may or may not give you a little stink) and flush them. I usually throw bugs out the door, but I've taken to flushing some of them if the door is locked.

dave64o · #9 02-19-2011, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

I never heard of them before (I live in NYC, we have an epidemic of another bug - the roach

) but one of my clients was recently telling me stink bugs are becoming a problem at/near his place in Flemmington NJ.

From what they tell me, I'll deal w/ the occasional roach

bummer!

I'm just south of Flemington and, yes, the stink bugs have been pretty bad in this area for the past few years.

I've never seen them do anything that could be considered aggressive, so there doesn't seem to be any real reason to be afraid of them (irrational phobic fears are another story, can't help you there). But they also seem pretty stupid and are therefore pretty easy to catch. I've always been able to pick up with a couple of tissues without crushing them and I've never had one even try to escape or even show any sign that it thinks I'm a threat. One scooped up they get flushed as quickly as possible to minimize the risk of them stinking up the place.

From what I've read about them, they look to get out of the cold in the fall and find places in your house to nestle in for the winter. You'll see them when they start to get hungry and/or think it's time to get back to being a stink bug. I'll find a couple a week all winter long but I'm also sure the occasional spiders we get in here take care of far more than we'll ever see.

Richland123 · #10 02-19-2011, 10:48 AM

Just found a stink bug in my bedroom on the window. So as not to disturb it from releasing stink, I scooped it into a plastic cup and threw it out the window. I had some last year and know there will be more this year. As long as you don't smash them, there is less chance they will stink.

jmain · #11 02-19-2011, 11:39 AM

You can usually grab them (or use a cup if you prefer) and they won't really do the stink thing. Usually have to smash them for that.

The recent infestation is an imported species from Asia.

I grew up in the country and you would find them in the garden or in greens. I've brought some home in greens from the farmers' market. They've been around forever, but these are invasive and that's why they are thriving and so abundant.