Bridget Reed Morawski
WASHINGTON (WMAL) — This years’ crop of stinkbugs will be lighter than usual, according to local entomologists.
Dr. Michael Raupp, an entomologist with the University of Maryland, found that relatively few stinkbugs last summer transitioned through the winter, which precipitates a less-than-normal stinkbug crop for this upcoming season.
Entomologists predict a weak population this year how many stinkbugs from the previous summer likely survived the winter. Researchers watch this overwintering population, as a marker for how larger the next generation of stinkbugs will be.
At-home stinkbug prevention should begin in the fall, and by spring there isn’t much you can do if you didn’t take precautions already.
But if you did manage to collect some stinkbugs last fall, there isn’t much you can do now – at-home stinkbug prevention should begin in the fall. By spring, homeowners have really no choice but to face the horde.
“The deal here is they’re already in [your home], so we can’t do anything at this stage of the game to keep them out,” said Raupp. “They’re already in.” The University of Maryland researcher advises homeowners to thoroughly chaulk any openings in the house during the fall, effectively blocking any gateways inside.
If they did get inside your home, don’t worry. Once things warm up, they won’t be there for long.
“They’re going to try to find a way out of your home, back out into the natural world,” said Raupp. “They’ll begin to start to collect on windows and long door jams and the interior of walls as they plan their escape to the natural world.”
The best way to dispose of stinkbugs is to either vacuum them up or to trap them in soapy water. If you have a heart for the critters, no harm will come to you if you let them live.
“If you want to preserve these guys, you can simply take them outdoors and let them go in the garden,” said Raupp.”Theyll thank you very much as the season begins to warm up and they begin to feed on your vegetables.”
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