Bugs With Pungent Punch Invading Louisiana Homes – What to Do

They are doing it in Lafayette, Louisiana. They are doing it in Ruston, Louisiana. They might be too scared to do it in New Orleans, Louisiana though. What is it that "they are doing"? It's keeping the windows open. Here in Louisiana we only have about three weeks of the year where an open window is actually a good thing.

The rest of the year it's either too hot, too humid, or too buggy to have the windows open even a crack. But right now as we are enjoying our three weeks of springtime those open windows and doors could be allowing a pungent pest inside your home.

It's very seldom if ever that we count on our noses to locate pests. Okay, if you had a rat die in your garage then your nose will find that pretty quickly but when it comes to bugs most of them don't smell. However, there is a rather large influx of bugs that do provide a pungent calling card that is slipping silently into Louisiana homes and making their presence known with what has been described as an "unholy stench".

The good news about these "pests" is besides the stink they do much harm to the residences they infect. They are just a nuisance. The Stink Bug is more of an agricultural pest than it is a home pest. Still seeing any bug inside your home is not a good thing.

The bugs don't bite and even if your pet eats one it's not that big of a deal. They will make a meal out of your houseplants garden flowers or pretty much any plant you have growing. They are especially fond of corn and soybeans, hence the "agricultural pest" designation.

The bugs get their name because they emit a pungent odor when they are stepped on, crushed, or feel threatened. If you have stink bugs in your house you will know it. They are fairly easy to get rid of if you do find them inside. The folks at Virginia Tech posted this solution to the stink bug problem on their YouTube Channel. It's really easy to replicate with items you probably have in your house already.

Once you get rid of the stink bugs the best way to keep them out is to seal up any cracks in doors, windows, and the framing around them. Vacuum your home and sweep up any crumbs. Make sure that all food is in sealed containers. And finally, you can give your home a quick spritz of soapy water and vinegar. Some folks suggest you use garlic, spearmint oil, lemongrass oil, or peppermint oil in that spray bottle instead.

Good luck getting rid of them if you've got them. Just remember, stepping on them makes it worse. Good Luck.