Stink Bug battle

[TG10894]

About 3 weeks ago we went camping around Asheville, NC. Some folks told us to watch out for stink bugs, and told stories of being infested several weeks after leaving the area. I had never heard of stink bugs "moving in", but watched for them anyway. Only saw one or two UNTIL TODAY. I was doing some maint. and opened the access cover over the water pump and found about 10 in the carpet fold. Those are gone now, but what can I do to get rid of stink bugs in my trailer? Is this common, or somehow unique to NC mountains.

[spade117]

Almost countrywide nowadays. They are definitely a nuisance. We got home yesterday after a long weekend and there were 100's of them all over my house. Started landing all over the camper after I parked it as well.

Noticed about a dozen or so inside before we left last week. I usually just grab them with paper towel to dispose of them. Wife prefers to release them outdoors.

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by spade117

Wife prefers to release them outdoors.

I always release them outdoors, mashed in a paper towel into the trash.

[Laredo Tugger]

We just finished a 3500 mile 3 week trip (supposed to be 4 but "Michael" changed that) from the Gulf Coast to Maine and back. Saw these bugs in almost every campground in between.
Seemed like we parked and notice went out that a new trailer had arrived and they started showing up. I just kept an aggressive removal campaign going until they dissipated.
As for a cure? I read that there is a small mosquito that feeds on the larvae of these beetles and a plan was being implemented for widespread release of these mosquitoes. Guess it didn't happen this year? Until then? Maybe little mosquito stickers all over your camper.
RMc

[travelin texans]

[QUOTE=Laredo Tugger;310945]We just finished a 3500 mile 3 week trip (supposed to be 4 but "Michael" changed that) from the Gulf Coast to Maine and back. Saw these bugs in almost every campground in between.
Seemed like we parked and notice went out that a new trailer had arrived and they started showing up. I just kept an aggressive removal campaign going until they dissipated.
As for a cure? I read that there is a small mosquito that feeds on the larvae of these beetles and a plan was being implemented for widespread release of these mosquitoes. Guess it didn't happen this year? Until then? Maybe little mosquito stickers all over your camper.
RMc[/QUOT

Then they'll release bats to control the mosquitoes, then whatever it takes to control the bats, then.........
They imported fire ants to control bowl wevels in cotton, now there's no control for those nasty little mothers, they'll kill a newborn calf if born near a mound, have all but wiped out the quail, pheasant, horned toads & any other critter that nest/hatches on the ground.
They imported Russian Thistle (tumbleweeds) for cattle feed, cows won't eat that crap, it's good for absolutely nothing, now the SW is covered in it.
These Poindexter types need to quit messing with Mother Nature.

[DocP]

I've got them here in the Cleveland area at home, and have gotten rid of 4 of them today inside the camper. This is an annual occurrence.

[JRTJH]

We are currently in Georgetown, KY. We spent the last week in Dayton, Ohio, at the FamCamp on Wright Patterson AFB. There was a tree next to the trailer and we noticed several stinkbugs on and in the trailer. Didn't really think much of it until we pulled into this campground today. I've killed at least 100. Seems they're crawling out of everywhere, from the awning supports to the refrigerator vent. I don't have any idea how to get rid of them or prevent them from "growing fond of the trailer"... Seems to me that they're attracted to light colors, since they are all over the trailer but not the truck.

I do know they don't like a fly swatter

[spade117]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

since they are all over the trailer but not the truck.

Yeah, it is weird that I never find any in the vehicles, but anywhere else, they are there.

[cavediver]

The good part is that they are slow and easy to catch.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by cavediver

The good part is that they are slow and easy to catch.

But, but... If you catch em with your fingers and then pick your nose..... YECHT LOL

[ken56]

They are a nuisance but harmless really. Yeah, they have an odor too but just throw them into some water, like the toilet, they will just drown. Any crack or crevice will accommodate them. Check inside your smoke detectors and behind curtains or anything hanging on the wall. You will be finding them in the spring too. The good thing is they don't breed, they just go dormant over the cold months.

[Mikendebbie]

I have never seen one of these but I think they look similar to stink bugs...but these things can give you Chagas' disease from a bite...read an article about them recently and I think they have spread to several states. Kissing bugs, stink bugs...I don't mess with either one.

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by ken56

. The good thing is they don't breed, they just go dormant over the cold months.

They have to have bred some time, they don't just magically appear from thin air.

[sourdough]

How do they sort of "just swell up" and get filled with "stinky juice"? I always like the satisfying "crunch" when you pop one but that's not the solution for an infestation….maybe a "bug bomb" to eradicate the little buggers?

[notanlines]

What rum-dumb came up with the "a plan was being implemented for widespread release of these mosquitoes" plan to eradicate stinkbugs? I don't care for either, but mosquitoes are a considerably larger problem than stink bugs.

[flybouy]

See

Originally Posted by notanlines

What rum-dumb came up with the "a plan was being implemented for widespread release of these mosquitoes" plan to eradicate stinkbugs? I don't care for either, but mosquitoes are a considerably larger problem than stink bugs.

Mosquitos only eat people and not crops.

[Meyers-Gaw]

From experience--Those annoying little critters also will burrow into your laundry. When you notice a few in the TT you will want to shake out each piece before putting in washing machine. The washing kills them but leaves a yucky stain on the fabric where they were hiding. They are sturdy enough to fall out of the washer nearly intact.

We came home from an infestation area last week, South Bend, Indiana. The Morning we got home, I opened up to start cleaning and with the sun warming the side of the TT The hitchhikers, marched out of the door frame in formation. There were 14 of them. I was not fast enough to kill all. I expect there are some in the power cord storage, too.

[cdotson]

It's the time of year for them to invade campers. We had an infestation last year at a nearby state park the first day it was cool enough to not need the A/C my daughter turned it off as we left for a few hours. Upon returning in the early evening there were nearly 1,000 of the things in our 18' camper.

They seemed to mostly come in around the A/C perimeter. I think the vibration of it running and the cooler air discourages them.

We've found that there are certain smells/odors that repel them. We've kept dryer sheets in our camper as we've heard about them repelling mice (never had a mouse problem) and we crammed the dryer sheets around the gaps of the air conditioner. This kept more from entering even after we pulled the trailer home. I've head that they also don't like Peppermint Oil. The smell of their fallen brethren seems to actually be a repellent to other stink bugs in addition to humans.

With the trailer home removing the remaining bugs was easy with the use of a shop vac. Just try to keep the vacuum exhaust separate from the air you're breathing.

[LuvsPalmTrees]

Okay - allergic to wasps, I hope they figure something else out. This is the first year that I think we have a large population of the Stink Bug. I read an article about them (on the Orkin Website) breeding during the winter, in homes or warm places. I am usually a catch and release kinda girl but these things get the wet paper towel removal method.

[Tireman9]

They do seem to prefer warm weather and finding places to keep out of the cold. It's mid October in Ohio. Where is the first snow?
I know the climate isn't getting warmer than in last few hundred years because my Congressman says so, so that isn't it.