Stink Bugs in Chicagoland and Northern Illinois

Brown Stink Bug

Why am I finding so many Stink Bugs in my house? When is the best time to treat Stink Bugs?

The brown marmorated stink bug is a relatively new pest for the Chicago area.  It has been a serious crop pest in many Eastern states for a number of years.  In the Chicago area it is mostly a nuisance pest, showing up in homes in fall.

If stink bugs get inside a house, they usually spend the winter inside the walls or in quiet places like the attic or crawl space. They may become active on warm, sunny days, but they often stay hidden until spring.

In spring, these stink bugs become active. They begin to seek a way outside, but they often come out into the living space of the home. The size of the bugs and their unpleasant smell can be a nuisance.

The stink bug earned its name from its tendency to release an odor when disturbed or when crushed. Adult stink bugs can reach almost 2 cm in length. They are nearly as wide as they are long. Their legs extend from the sides, so this makes the adult bugs appear even larger. The brown marmorated stink bug is a brownish stink bug. It has lighter bands on the antennae and darker bands on the wings.

Description

The adult is about 1/2 inch long.  Like many stink bugs, BMSB is a flat insect with a shield-shaped body.  There are some markings that will separate this stink bug from others (see photo below).  The antennae are marked by light and dark alternating bands.  The legs are also banded, but the bands are not as distinct as those on the antennae.  The edges of the abdomen have very distinct dark and light bands, but this feature can be seen on other species of stink bug as well.  The insect’s “shoulders” are somewhat rounded, while other stink bugs have sharply pointed “shoulders”.  The overall appearance of the body is a marbled color, with a row of creamy dots behind the head and on the edge of the scutellum (the triangle on the back of the insect).

How to get rid of stink bugs?

Our treatment plan for stink bugs is simple and safe.

The best time of year to treat stink bugs is in the fall when they start to move on to structure treating the exterior of the home or business at this time will reduce the amount of bugs that get in to overwinter. We use a safe and effective spray on the outside perimeter of your home, focusing on areas where we know stink bugs enter the home.

There is no cure or silver bullet to get rid or completely eliminate stink bugs. The best defense is to make sure vents and windows are well screened and caulking cracks and crevices outside along with proper exterior extermination will be successful on reducing these pests.

Contact Us for a Free and Quick Estimate for your home or business pest control needs. We will respond by end of business day, typically within 2 hours.





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