Think the Stink Bug has Vanished? Think Again

Cooler weather, football and apple cider are synonymous with fall, but for homeowners, stink bugs have become another sign of the changing seasons.

Unusually cold and rainy weather may have kept some stink bugs away, but they’re still showing up in yards by the hundreds.

"I think we're in for a big season this year," says Mike Raupp, professor of entomology at the University of Maryland. "We expect this may be as bad - or as significant - as the year 2010, which was the breakout year for these stink bugs around here."

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) says we are likely to start seeing these smelly pests hanging on curtains, lampshades, screens and other objects inside homes in the coming months.

“The number of adult stink bugs increase during September and October which makes it critical to capture them now, before they migrate to overwintering sites,” says Dr. Qing-He Zhang, lead scientist and director of research at Sterling International Inc., developers of RESCUE!® Stink Bug Traps.  

“In the early fall, stink bug adults intensively feed on high energy foods such as fruits, seeds, leaves and even tree trunks to obtain the strength needed for hibernation,” says Dr. Zhang. “As food sources dry up and daylight hours wane, the bugs search for shelter to overwinter.”

According to Virginia Cooperative Extension entomologist Chris Bergh, “There seems to be a very tight window during which these bugs start moving from their feeding sites to overwintering sites.”

With no effective natural enemies, stink bugs have been discovered in 40 states to this point – most recently in Oregon and Utah.

“Homes are prime targets,” says Dr. Zhang. “If you’ve seen one, you can be sure there are hundreds more waiting to come inside. You need to stop them in their tracks and break the stink bug life cycle before they come indoors to hibernate.”

So, how can you stop these pesky bugs in their tracks? Scientists recommend the following tips for preventing and dealing with stink bugs:

1.                   Seal off entry points: Inspect the outside of your home for easy access points. Pay close attention to areas around siding and window air-conditioner utility pipes, behind chimneys and underneath the fascia or other openings. Use silicone caulk to seal any cracks and holes.

2.                   Replace and repair: Check for damaged window or door screens and for torn weather-stripping and loose mortar.

3.                   Trap them before they come indoors:  To catch the stink bugs in the fall before they move inside, hang a trap - like the RESCUE!®Stink Bug Trap - at eye level from a tree branch, stake or pole about 15-20 feet from the house.

4.                   Turn off the lights: Keep outdoor lighting to a minimum. During the evenings, turn off porch lights and pull down window blinds to prevent light from spilling outside.

5.                   Ventilate: Properly ventilate basements, attics, garages and crawl spaces to eliminate harborage points. Consider using a dehumidifier in these areas.

6.                   Think before squishing: When disturbed or crushed, stink bugs have a tendency to release a bad-smelling odor as a defense measure. Instead, pick them up with a tissue and flush them down the toilet. Do not throw them back outside. They will just turn around and come right back in. 

When stink bugs invade the indoors in colder weather, they really raise a stink. Just ask Raupp, “We're going to see large numbers of stink bugs collecting on the sides of people's homes and then trying to move indoors.”

The Great Stink Bug Awakening

Stink bugs have had a busy month.  The USDA named them the top invasive species in America and scientists predict that the pungent pests will reach record numbers in 2013. The time is at hand to fight stink bugs. 

Rod Schneidmiller, president of Sterling International, developer of the RESCUE!® Stink Bug Traps advises that early action is critical to break the stink bug life cycle. 

“Stink bugs live to eat and mate outdoors in spring and summer,” he says “It is important to start using your trap outdoors by April 1 in order to catch the emerging adults before they multiply. Over time, this will reduce their numbers so the amount that could potentially get in the house next fall drops dramatically.” 

To combat the stink bug invasion, Sterling International scientists developed the RESCUE!^® Stink Bug Trap to lure, capture and destroy these pests. It’s the only solution that works both indoors and outdoors, based on the stink bug life cycle and behavior in each environment:

Indoors: Two factors cause stink bugs to wake up from hibernation: when the stored food in their bodies is depleted, or when outdoor temperatures rise. The latter makes them think it’s spring, and if it isn’t yet, they will follow the heat sources to the warmer living areas of the house. The RESCUE! ^® Stink Bug Trap can be used with the Stink Bug Light attachment in the attic to catch stink bugs as they wake from their winter sleep.

Outdoors: Stink bugs eat, mate and lay eggs. They ONLY do these things outdoors. The RESCUE! ^® Stink Bug Trap is used outdoors with the pheromone attractants to catch both adult and juvenile stink bugs during spring, summer and early fall. Consistent use of the trap outdoors, starting in spring, is the best way to stay on top of the stink bug problem. 

Read more about how to stop stink bugs here. Visit www.rescue.com for a list of retailers near you and follow RESCUE!^® on Facebook.

Sterling International Celebrates Thirty Years

Congratulations to our client Sterling International, makers of RESCUE! Pest Control Products, on celebrating thirty years in business!

Thirty years ago, long before “green” was trendy, the founder and president of Sterling International, Rod Schneidmiller, was tinkering in his kitchen with an all natural solution to trap flies. He got it right - and RESCUE! ® Pest Control was born.

“I come from a long line of entrepreneurs in the landscaping and growing industry. All that we’ve accomplished is a reflection and continuation of our family heritage that has shaped my values and vision for this company,” says Schneidmiller.

According to Schneidmiller, the company hasn’t veered away from the original intent forged thirty years ago: to design, manufacture and market the safest and most effective pest control solutions available. He’s pleased the company’s founding mission of ‘making pest control smarter’ is shaping the future - today.

Looking ahead, Schneidmiller foresees that bio-pesticides will continue to grow in popularity as consumers realize the potential dangers that conventional pesticides pose to the environment. “Bio-pesticides are a growing trend and we’re definitely in a growth market.”

He points out that RESCUE!’ s approach uses a non-toxic mode of action to lure targeted insects into a scientifically designed trap that eliminates the need to use potentially harmful chemicals.

All RESCUE! ® traps are recognized around the world as reliable and environmentally safe insect control solutions that will not harm beneficial bugs, people, pets or plants.

To learn more about Sterling and their line of products, visit http://www.rescue.com or follow RESCUE! ® on Facebook.

-Stacey
Garden Media Group

Timing is Everything in the Fight Against Stink Bugs

Out of sight should not mean out of mind. The “great awakening” is upon us; stink bugs are ready to mate and multiply! Experts are warning us that now’s the critical time to catch those stink bugs before your gardens become their buffet.

Did you know that stink bugs have been called one of the most serious agricultural and ornamental pests ever seen in the United States?It is estimated that stink bugs do millions of dollars of damage to crops and gardens each year. Their favorites are fruit and berries, juicy tomatoes and veggies.

With nationwide record-setting warmer winter and mild spring temperatures, stink bugs are showing up earlier than many anticipated.

According to Dr. George Hamilton, chair of the Department of Entomology at Rutgers University, sting bugs in the Mid-Atlantic region are appearing from one to two weeks earlier than we normally see and are in the process of moving outdoors.

Hamilton says the brown marmorated stink bugs are a particular problem with the potential to wreak havoc on agriculture and home gardens at almost every growth stage.

With the early spring and plants coming out sooner and the possibility of warmer weather extending into fall, some scientists are wondering if there’s a potential for two generations of stink bugs showing up further north than they’ve seen before.

Dr. Qing-He Zhang, PhD, lead scientist and director of research at Sterling International, has developed a safe and effective solution for home gardeners to use outdoors. The RESCUE!® Stink Bug Trap, catches adult stink bugs and the ravenous younger generations that feed on gardens and fruit bearing shrubs and trees.

And they’re on the move hitching rides across the nation.

According to United States Dept of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ ARS) in Beltsville, MD, four more states - Missouri, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas - have reported sightings of invasive stink bugs, bringing the total to more than 37 states.

The RESCUE!® Stink Bug Trap lures, captures and destroys these destructive pests using patent-pending technology that slowly releases a pheromone that’s odorless to humans and formulated to lure stink bugs from up to 30 feet. The non-toxic delivery system is similar to what Sterling has successfully used in other RESCUE!® traps for pests.

For great tips on how to beat stink bugs, visit http://www.rescue.com and its new site, [http://www.stinkbugsmackdown.com or follow RESCUE! on Facebook.

-Stacey
Garden Media Group

Stamp out ugly, nasty stink bugs!

Stink Bugs. Those ugly, nasty, prehistoric-looking, shield shape insects that look like they should have a starring role in a SciFi movie of Stink Bug Zombies are creating havoc on crops and home landscapes and gardens.

They first appeared in Allentown, PA in 1998 (from Asia) and are reported in 33 states and spreading from coast-to-coast. Those of you in the "Red Zone" states: PA, DE, NJ, MD, VA and W.VA can look for the RESCUE! Stink Bug Traps in independent garden centers and major retail stores. To find a retailer near you, just click on RESCUE'S store finder:

To make matters worse, stink bugs are professional hitchhikers. So, it's only a matter of time before they come to an area near you. Eek!

Now, many of you may be saying to yourself: "Hey, I don't see any of these garden wreckers in my home - so where are they?"

They're in fields, yards and gardens, eating your plants and mating. The adult female lays eggs in masses generally on the underside of leaves, that hatch into nymphs. These baby eating machines don't have wings yet- and have only one focus: Eat plants.

And get this: Depending on the climate, warm spring and summer conditions can allow for up to two-three generations or more. The population can explode exponentially.

What is the food du jour these disgusting insects prefer? Um... everything from edible shrubs and trees to veggies and fruit. Got tomatoes? Stink Bugs love 'em. Peppers, apples, peaches, pears, plums, berries, corn.. you get the picture.

Don't have a veggie garden or fruit trees and berry bushes? 'Stinky' is opportunistic and will go for your foliage -and even your beloved roses.

So, how do we stop these disgusting invaders? Homemade traps are iffy and pesticides can be toxic to the environment, pets and kids!

This may sound corny... but I have to say it... finally, there's a new all-natural trap in town that's been been tested and trialed at the USDA's Beltsville, MD facility - and it works. Yay! It's called the RESCUE! Stink Bug Trap from Sterling International that's the first and only serious solution for this wretched infestation.

Gardeners will love it because it works and controls stink bugs in the most environmentally responsible, effective and low-maintenance way possible.

The trap works outdoors to catch the adult and ravenous young stink bugs, naturally. It uses a patent-pending technology that slowly releases a pheromone that's odorless to humans but powerful enough to lure stink bugs from up to 30 feet.

Tomorrow's blog will be on proper RESCUE! Stink Bug Trap placement for success and much more. Meanwhile, send us photos of your stink bug "invasion" and your gardens. Good luck!

~Lynne GMG

Stink bug photo credit: Wikipedia
photo of RESCUE! Stink Bug Trap: Sterling International