The Halyomopha halys, or the brown marmorated stink bug, is one of the most pervasive and pernicious pests in Maryland. Innocuous looking, the stink bug is a relatively large bug, between 12 to 17 mm long, and round-ish. They eat fruits and vegetables and are a serious agricultural threat, but the reason they are considered a nuisance by most homeowners is not because they are a threat to crops, but because they infest homes.
Sting bugs are drawn into homes in the late summer and early fall. You may see them outside of the home, where they swarm the sunny sides of homes. They come into homes through cracks and small openings, seeking a place to shelter over the winter. Generally, they are not a nuisance during the winter; in fact, you might not even be aware of them being in your home. However, when spring comes the bugs begin to move around, emerging into living spaces as they seek a way out of the house. They are large enough to be frightening, but the real reason they are a nuisance is their horrible stench.
As with most pests, the best form of stink bug control is prevention. You want to seal any possible entryways, to keep them from entering the home at the end of summer or in early fall. Seal any cracks with caulk, use screens to protect vents, use weather stripping around doors and windows, and make sure that all windows have screens that are in good condition.
Once stink bugs have gotten into the home, they can be difficult to kill because they neither feed nor reproduce in the winter. A professional pest control company like Viking Pest can focus on prevention and treatment methods, including exterior application of chemical products and interior stink bug traps.
