Stinkbug invasion in Park Slope?

slopeduder · January 2010

About two weeks ago, I had a stinkbug in my apt. on 1st street. I killed it and didn't think much of it. But since then, I have killed at least 5 more over the past few days. I googled a bit about stinkbugs, only to read that an invasive species of stinkbug got released in PA back in '98 and has been spreading ever since. There was an article about it in NYT back in '07 here: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/28/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/28bugsnj.html

So have they finally showed up in Park Slope? Has anyone else seen these critters around or am I just having some bad luck? Anyone have any stinkbug stories?

carmen · January 2010

dont even tell me this, I can't combat more than mice and roaches...

xlizellx · January 2010

oh god -- they are so gross. I'm from PA and seriously -- blech!!

My problem is stink bugs is not one that translates to mice and roaches :: THEY DON'T MOVE! And they land EXACTLY where you don't want them.

-- on the head of a toothbrush
-- on the pump part of a hand soap
-- on a door knob
-- on the banister up the steps
-- on the handle of a blow dryer
-- on the mouth of a beer bottle.

YES. All have happened to me while visiting parents. And they don't move! They LET you touch them with your hands and then freak out! ugh!!

pastoralia · January 2010

Well, I'll be damned. I've seen a lot of those this fall and early winter. I never squished them I sprayed them with an insecticide. I even had one buzzing around a lightbulb just inches from my head. Never knew what they were, I just thought they were some weird beetle.

longtimesloper · January 2010

Wow, I wonder if this is what I found in my bathtub last night.........

bradedward · January 2010

LongTimeSloper wrote: Wow, I wonder if this is what I found in my bathtub last night.........

no that was me. Next time I'll be more discrete. Sorry.

marnor · January 2010

Subject: yup

i had them clinging to my window screens this fall, but it seems like they've since moved on. truth told, i didn't know that's what they were until i just looked it up. having moved here from georgia, any non-parasitic bug smaller than a hiking boot doesn't really phase me.

bluiz711 · January 2010

We had one in our apartment the other day. My husband squished it before I could stop him, but it didn't stink. I just assumed that they would smell since they are called stinkbugs...

eggcream · January 2010

We had one last week hanging out on a wall.

MOD · January 2010

Love this diagram!

stooplady · January 2010

I remember when I saw my first one while in Allentown, PA. in the late 90s (see article below, they were first sighted in this area) My folks would have to pick them up with a tissue, making sure NOT to squeeze or squash them in any way, and take them out side -- or flush them (great for saving H20...). They are light weight and sort of just fall and surprise the heck out of you.
I have never smelled one but have had to get rid of more than a few in my day. I visit Pennsylvania every month.
My aunt has a vacuum-type of clear tube which sucked them right in.
Everyone is in agreement that they do smell pretty bad.
http://www.nj.com/homegarden/garden/index.ssf/2009/10/stink_bugs.html

longtimesloper · January 2010

Found another one today, definitely the bugs listed here, ick!

lizschillare · January 2010

I killed one of these last week! I had no idea, covered it with paper towels and hit it with a rubber mallet! very non- dramatically..

bklynpetunia · January 2010

We are midway through our seasonal stinkbug parade that's been going on every winter for the past few years. We name them Stinky #1,2 etc. I think we're up to Stinky #12 or so. The kids use a bug vacuum to suck them up and deposit them outside, where they can fend for themselves. All you can do is just get ride of them before they can create more Stinkys.

MOD · January 2010

Are they actually stinky?

longtimesloper · January 2010

I was so tempted last night to smash the one in my kitchen to find out, but was afraid it would truly be stinky and stink up the kitchen. So, i don't know! I didn't even know until the other day that these things existed, have never seen them before!

stooplady · January 2010

Here's a Lesson Plan on Stink Bugs (Includes how to capture and HOW TO RELEASE THE SMELL... :compress: 8-[

Here's a site which is, more or less, PRO Stink bug (it is a lesson plans on Stink Bug/Shield Bug Information)

http://insected.arizona.edu/stinkinfo.htm

OR an OPPOSING VIEW
http://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/stinkbug-info.htm

Does a Stinkbug Really Stink?

A stinkbug gives off a very bad smell if it is bothered. The smell comes from a stinky liquid that flows from two glands on the bug’s thorax. Once released, the odor remains on whatever the stink bug touches. To most predators, a stinkbug tastes as bad as it smells. Many birds spit out stinkbugs right after biting into them. However, other birds don’t seem to mind a stinkbug’s taste.
What Do Stinkbugs Feed On?

Most kinds of stinkbugs suck the juices of plants. Some kinds suck the body fluids of insects. Others feed on both plants and insects. Plant-sucking stinkbugs feed on the juices of young fruits and seeds. Some also suck the sap from plants as well as the nectar from flowers. Green stinkbugs often suck on crops like soybeans, rice, and tomatoes.

Some stinkbugs can greatly damage a farmer’s crops. But others can be helpful to farmers. The helpful stinkbugs kill other insects that do more harm to plants than they do themselves. Such insects include certain types of beetles and caterpillars and even some other stinkbugs.

Take your pick.

flo · February 2010

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/bugs_raise_big_stink_in_klyn_FptL1MKTb5sv500UEPRRpM

am guessing this post generated the news item..

slopeduder · February 2010

Wow that article is truly awful. This thread is far more informative. Anyways I haven't seen anymore since the one i killed 2 weeks ago thank goodness.

longtimesloper · February 2010

Same here, have not seen any in about 2 weeks or so. I haven't read the Post article yet, is it good?

slopeduder · February 2010

I spoke too soon. Another one showed up tonight. Probably hiding from the snow.

turtle95 · February 2010

Aaaakkk! I saw one on my wall last night...it was right at eye level just staring at me. I immediately thought "Stinkbug Invasion". Thankfully, I had read this thread so I carefully knocked it off the wall, wrapped it in a tissue and flushed it without squashing it. Stinkbug stench avoided, thanks to Brooklynian.

stooplady · February 2010

As far as I know...they don't come in groups, they tend to be here or there.

dlyon35 · March 2010

damn it all to hell! I just looked up in my kitchen and there is one on my ceiling. I can't reach it and since it isn't within the reach of La Terrorista (aka Stella Puss), I don't know what to do with it. I guess I could try to knock it down. Is it going to fly at me or fall on my head? Why the hell did I need to look up? This little shit had better not have brought friends with him

stooplady · March 2010

Subject: Stink Bug

Hi, They won't hurt you however, don't let your kitty get at it because if he/she squeezes it, well that is when the stink is released. The smell will stick on surfaces.
Best thing to do is get a mop or broom, wrap a cloth around it and gently knock it to the floor. I don't think they fly. Make sure you push it forward so it doesn't fall behind everything. Sometimes they will just fall.
Anyway, pick it up with a paper towel or napkin and take it outside. Don't squish it. I don't recommend flushing it down the toilet.

elementhealing · March 2010

thanks, Stoop Lady. Right now it's still in the same place I found it. On the ceiling over the sink, which has dishes soaking in it. I want to see if I can do the dishes first, but I keep thinking it's going to fall on my head, and I will scream like a little girlie man....but I don't want it to fall into the soapy water full of dishes either if I start trying to knock it down. What I would really like is to go back in time to before I knew it was there and just remain ignorant :-(

lnelson · March 2010

Subject: Re: Stink Bug

StoopLady wrote: I don't recommend flushing it down the toilet.

Why not flush it? Are there potential adverse effects?

jim vaccaro · March 2010

Mamacita wrote: Are they actually stinky?

Try not to squish them..

shimshom · March 2010

will one of you experts kindly come over and get this damn thing off of my ceiling?

these stinkbugs have a very "happy fun ball" sound to them.

Do not squish stinky stinkbug
Do not flush stinky stinkbug
Do not anger stinky stinkbug
Do not mock stinky stinkbug

stooplady · March 2010

Yes, they stink, and the smell sticks on the surface of where you squish them. SEE PRIOR POSTS WITH WEBSITEs.

Flushing just isn't environmentally friendly. A waste of H2O. Also, if you miss the bowel you have to start the process all over again. Since you can't squeeze the thing it might not be a good idea.

They won't hurt you but when they drop off the ceiling they sometimes scare you. It isn't the same as a fly or a gnat, ants or even cockroaches. It just doesn't register.

Anyway, see the pros/cons in one of my earlier posts.

Its OK to be a girlie-man and it is OK to be a manish-girl.

rescue2 · March 2010

Well, stinkbug is outside in the yard. I liberated him with a mop - one of those flat head mops that you use with a cloth. I kind of coaxed him on it "here, buggy buggy" and then when he was on the ground, I gently picked him up with paper towel, while yelling "EW EW EW EW EW", opened up the back door, and threw the whole thing, including paper towel into my back yard. He was last seen legs up. I'll see if he's still there tomorrow.

My new business venture will include:

- stinkbug removal
- scanning and email services

Stinkbug invasion in Park Slope?

Comments

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories