Stink bugs can be an annoying or even destructive pest, not to mention a constant assault on your nostrils. When the weather cools down, stink bugs start looking for places to hide. It’s important to make sure that your home isn’t one of them. As Scottsdale pest control professionals, here are some of the most effective tips for keeping stink bugs out of your home before they become an infestation.
Avoid Certain Plants:
Stink bugs are drawn to a number of ornamental and garden plants. Oak and locust trees are common winter hideouts, and they also feed on fruits and vegetables such as apples, peaches, and peppers. Finally, stink bugs are attracted to the color yellow, so think twice before planting yellow flowers if you live in an area where stink bugs are commonplace.
Seal Any Cracks:
The number one way stink bugs get into your house is through cracks and gaps in the home’s exterior. Seal cracks around windows with a high-quality synthetic caulk, repair or replace any torn window screens, and install weather stripping on any doors that lead outside. If you have an attic or basement, look for vents or utility pipes that could lead stink bugs inside. In many cases, a simple mesh screen can be added to keep them out.
De-Clutter Your Yard:
Stink bugs like dark, dry places, so it’s important to get rid of any potential hiding places when the weather starts to warm up. Clear away boxes, boards, or pallets in the yard. Also move any firewood away from the home or into a shed. Trim grass and hedges around the perimeter of your home so that stink bugs will be encouraged to look elsewhere for food and shelter.
Turn Off Lights:
Stink bugs are attracted to light during the night. Keep porch lights off and the blinds drawn during the late summer and early fall. While it might be tempting to buy a bug zapper, the light might just end up attracting stink bugs. They may otherwise ignore your home.
Consider a Natural Repellent:
Many species of stink bug are highly resistant to commercially available pesticides. The fact that dead bugs release a smell means that driving them away is often better than killing them. Luckily, a natural repellent like cedar oil will make stink bugs think twice about invading your home. Cedar oil can be purchased in spray form, and it fights off a wide variety of common pests, from ants and stink bugs to roaches. While it may not be effective against a colony of stink bugs that has already settled in a home, it can be an excellent tool to prevent them from getting inside in the first place.
Call a Professional:
In instances of serious infestation, handling them on your own may be impossible. This occurs when stink bugs establish large colonies inside of wall voids, basements, or attics. In such cases, the best option is to contact a professional pest control company.  They will have access to the tools necessary to stop the stink bug problem at its source.
As a Scottsdale pest control company, we know stink bugs can be an annoying and sometimes even expensive problem in your home or business. For this reason, it’s crucial to take precautions before they start hibernating in late summer and early fall. By following the advice above, you can make your home a much less attractive target to these noxious nuisances.
If you’re in need of a Scottsdale pest control company don’t delay, call us today!