Stink bugs emerge from their winter slumber as spring temperatures rise. Eventually, females start laying their eggs on any plant that grows nearby. As well as plant liquids, larvae and adults of stink bugs may feed on neighboring fruits and vegetables such as tomato plants as well.
Pricks of a yellow or green color may be seen as visible damage. Plants and vegetables are easily damaged when there are too many stink bugs in the garden.
It’s not always easy to get rid of Stink Bugs, but there are a few natural remedies that can be tried before resorting to harsh chemicals. So how to get rid of Stink Bugs?
Keep the garden and the area around it clean and clear of trash
When trying to get rid of stink bugs, the first thing you should do is clear any weeds or overgrowth in the immediate area. Remove any old boards, logs, or other hiding places that may be lurking around.
Close or seal up all possible access points
To prevent stink bugs from entering your home, there are a number of things you may do. Doors and windows should be locked or covered with screens to keep out unwanted guests.
If you want to keep the bugs out of your home, you might try wiping dryer sheets on your window screens. Pulling the shades or blinds down at night may assist because they are drawn to light. Caulk any openings or cracks you find. The use of insect repellant near entryways may also help dissuade these pests.
Make use of natural pesticides in your garden
A kaolin clay (mineral clay) solution may also be an effective way of stink bug control because these pests feed and lay eggs on garden plants. Insects won’t be able to lay eggs or feed on plants since they won’t be able to connect. In addition, it is safe for plants, especially edible ones, and can be washed off with soap and water simply.
As a last resort, stinkbugs can be lured away by spraying pheremone spray in places outside of your home’s perimeter. This, of course, is simply a short-term fix. The use of cedar sprays in the home may be able to keep these creatures away.
Encourage helpful insects in your garden
In reality, stinkbugs face a wide range of natural adversaries. By attracting helpful organisms to the region, you can reduce their population. Stinkbugs’ most common adversaries include:
- Minute pirate bugs
- Praying mantis
- Ladybugs
- Parasitic flies
- Lacewings
- Spiders
- Toads
- Birds
Make use of traps in and around your home
In the same way that a decoy plant can be used to attract stinkbugs, traps can be utilized to lure the pests. These pests will be drawn to pheremone traps, which are readily available.
They can’t get out of the trap once they’ve entered it, and they’ll perish as a result.
Make sure to set traps in trees and shrubs in the early spring, when they are more likely to survive. Place the traps so that the plant’s top and bottom are in touch with the trap’s top and bottom. Once inside, there is no way for a stinkbug to flee the trap. Stakes every 20-30 feet (6-10 m.) around the edge of your garden can also be used to hang the traps.
People have also found that putting damp towels over lawn chairs or porch railings overnight helps get rid of the weeds. Stinkbugs have coated the towels overnight, so they can be disposed of in a pail of soapy water in the morning.
Sticky traps can be used in the house to catch pests (similar to those for roaches). Keep in mind that these will need to be replaced frequently if you want to get rid of stinkbugs.
How to Use Pesticides to Get Rid of Stink Bugs
Pesticides may be your only alternative for elimination when all other methods have failed. Due to their resistance to standard insecticides, eliminating stink bugs can be challenging. Poison can’t get in because of their sticky coating. However, there are a few options.
Instead of using conventional pesticides, start using organic ones. These are some examples:
- Neem oil
- Insecticidal soap
- Pyrethrin
- Rotenone
Homemade nicotine remedies have also been successful in the fight against stink bugs, according to some users. If you’ve got half a pack of smokes lying around, you can use them to dissolve them in some warm water. Using a spray bottle, combine the liquid with some detergent once it has been filtered. Insects can be killed by spraying the poison on them.
Sprays containing cypermethrin have been shown to be successful in the past, and the chemical degrades readily in soil and on plants. The use of powerful insecticides may be necessary to combat large infestations, according to the EPA.
