Stink bugs can invade your house and fill the atmosphere with a horrible odor. Are you wondering as to what these bugs eat and drink? If this is the question on your mind, you can refer to the following information for some answers.
As the day rolls over and a pleasant evening sets in, you look forward to the sweet fragrance of the night Jasmine flowers. Instead you need to pinch your nose to block the stinky odor spread by a stink bug. Until the 1990s, United States was free from the unpleasant odor of stink bugs. These bugs are from Asia and have a shape similar to a warriors shield. It is about 5 to 18 millimeters in length. It is capable of flight as adults have four wings. They even have a beak between their legs. As far as the colorings are concerned, they are usually green or brown in color and may even have some strange markings. Have you ever thought about the food habits of stink bugs? There must be something that attracts them to our house. And what is better than food? Let us find out.
Food Habits
Stink bugs can prove to be a real nuisance, especially when they release the horrible odor within your house. One tries to get rid of them the traditional way of getting rid of bugs: squishing them under your feet. However, this is a bad idea as it will make them release more of the terrible, terrible odor. And this dirty smell will attract more of these bugs to the house and fill the entire house with a nauseating smell. But, what do these nasty bugs feed on?
Stinky bugs are loathed by farmers as they destroy their crops. These bugs love to feed on a number of crops and destroy a farmers hard work. Some of the favorite edibles of the stink bug include:
- Leafy crops
- Cherries
- Peaches
- Berries
- Tomatoes
- Corn
- Peppers
- Soybeans
- Mustard
- Rice
- Cabbage
- Cotton
- Sunflowers
These bugs love drinking the juice of various fruits that can pierced by their beak.
Food Inside Our House
We discussed what do bugs eat and drink outside in the wild. But what is it that it eats in the house? The bugs invade our homes from the nearby gardens and farms. But, with the approach of autumn, they begin to look for warm places to hide. These bugs are attracted to bright lights. Thus, the attractive bright lights placed outside our houses, sends them an open invitation to visit. The bugs come flying through the windows, and into our house. They find heaven in the dark, warm places within the house. They have everything they need. They have access to the food in your kitchen like tomatoes, fruits in the fruit basket, onions hung to dry, a rubbish bin with goodies inside, etc. They are well protected and receive all the warmth required to spend a winter. And, it is a good place to catch a mate and reproduce.
Do They Consume Blood?
No, stink bugs do not feed on human blood or the blood of any mammal. These bugs do have the ability to give you a sharp bite with their beaks though. It won’t cause any trouble, just a bit of discomfort. These pests are totally into eating crops like vegetables and more of fruits. Some may hunt down caterpillars, insect larvae and even other stinky bug eggs or larvae for food.
Getting Rid of Stink Bugs
The thoracic glands of these bugs secrete the odor. The awful odor helps the bug protect itself from predators. Believe me, no insect can stand attacking these bugs, until and unless they pinch their noses with a pin. Many times, these bugs are hard to spot. Sometimes, we may squish them under our foot unknowingly. The brave ones who actually are able to hold the bugs between their finger and thumb, may also cause these nasty insects to release their odor.
So, do you want to get rid of stink bugs? Well, all you need to do is make sure you close all the windows and doors of the house, the minute you are greeted by dusk. You can even apply a sticky glue tape or board on the window sills. This will help trap some of the bugs trying to get in. Those who manage to get in, capture them in a vacuum cleaner. I shall warn you, vacuuming may make things worse. Quickly tie the vacuum bag and throw it out in a far away bin. Do not attempt to catch one with your bare hands. It may pierce through your skin with the help of its beak. Use insecticides in and around your garden to get rid of the stink bugs. Make sure you clean your garden of all the plant debris as these bugs might try to make their home in the garden waste.
They are nasty insects that spread a nauseating smell that causes you to cover your noses. Act fast and prevent them from entering your house in the evening. If even one manages to get in, make sure you have a room freshener at hand.