Are New Jersey Stink Bugs…Bugging You?

They don’t bite, they don’t sting, and they don’t eat away at your structure.  They don’t spread disease, they don’t burrow into your skin and suck your blood, they don’t infest your pets bedding, and they are not microscopic so spotting them is quite easy.  You won’t find them in the sand, they don’t appear to cause allergies, asthma, or pulmonary disease, and they won’t eat your furs, grains, nuts, or cereals.  They don’t have pinchers, they are not hairy, they don’t have long legs, they don’t have spots, and they don’t live under rocks or in the mulch.  Have you guessed what particular pest I am describing yet?  Despite the things it does not do or have…the dreaded Marmorated Stink Bug is bugging the daylights out of the folks in New Jersey!

New Jersey stink bug populations are expected to reach record numbers this year say NJ pest control professionals.  Although stink bugs won’t hurt you physically, they are an invasive and smelly species that must be eradicated!

Since their 1998 accidental arrival in Pennsylvania from Asia, these stinky pests have destroyed many crops.  Reports are the some farmers have resorted to lighting their entire fields on fire to destroy their stink bug infestation.  There have been reports of up to a 70% loss of some types of crops in the United States thus far.  Tomatoes, corn, peaches, apples, grapes, pears, and peppers are only some of the foods that stink bugs will consume and destroy.  Left to their own devices, they will also destroy backyard gardens as well.

Not native to the United States, there are not many known predators for this prehistoric looking creature.  The following bugs do find the stink bug to be a tasty treat…

• Assassin Bug
• Big-eyed Bug
• Ground Bettle
• Hoeverfly
• Lacewing
• Ladybug
• Parasitoid Wasp
• Praying Mantis
• Spider

To keep your New Jersey stink bug population under control, sign up for Allison Pest Control’s Home Pest Protection Plan.