Welcome back to the TermiGuard Tip edition on the weekly Soap Box, I’m Christina and I’m back again talking with Jim Allen, the owner of TermiGuard Services on a very hot issue right now.
Christina: So Jim, let’s jump right into it. We are talking about your south Jersey Stink Bug control program today. Since stink bug have been soaking all the spotlight lately, I’m sure our viewers have some questions.
What is a stink bug?
So, first, I want to start by asking you, what exactly is a stink bug? They look like kind of beetle. Is that what it is?
Jim: First of all Christina, thank you and thank everyone for listening and again this is definitely a very tough issue that we’d been receiving a lot of calls about. And I don’t know about you, but my family cannot stand these stink bugs.
Stink bugs are:
- Pentatomidae family – meaning, they have 5 sides.
- Their native land are in the far east like China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
- They are known to be agricultural pests.
- They are fed on plants, fruit and sometimes other insects.
- First found in Allentown, PA in 1998.
Christina: Jim, everyone wants to know this right now.
Why is that awful smell they gave up when they’re squeezed?
I’ve made a mistake of trying kill them once, not knowing what it is, of course. I can’t even describe that odor. How and why does that happen?
Jim: Well, its actually pretty neat Christina.
Why do stink bugs smell?
- Pentatomidae expels that stinky compound from special thoracic glands when they are threatened.
- It deters the predators and also warns the other stink bugs of danger.
- The scent also suppresses attacks from harmful microorganisms.
Christina: I’m not sure if any of our viewers had these issues. So, if you do, I urge you to comment on our Facebook page. But Jim, my dogs go nuts over these bugs. They pass on them which obviously make it stinks up my home. But how can I keep them from getting inside so the dog and cat would go after them?
Jim: Well, its actually almost impossible to prevent them from coming indoors. You would literally have to caulk and seal every crack and crevice on the exterior. And we all know that is a huge labor requirement and a huge time commitment. That would be very, very costly.
How do stink bugs get in?
Stink bugs come in through cracks and crevices on every structure, Chimneys, utility pipes, around the windows and doors, attic vents, doorknobs, and damaged screens
They’d find a way to make way into the warmth of your homes.
Christina: How do you recommend treating once they entered the home?
Jim: We treat by starting to spray on cracks and crevices on the exterior of the property and focus on the southwestern expose side of the home. Again, that’s where the sunlight is going be most prevalent.
And since sunlight tends to break down the pests products quickly, we use an adjuvant such as our Palmer Delivering System, which is PDS. That helps protect against the sun and rain exposure allowing it to be more effective for longer period of time.
PDS is also useful in preventing the run-off of the pest product into the environment. It also enhances the effect of our pest control that we use.
Another treatment option that we employ is UV fly traps and Pest Strips in the Attic. Stink bugs have the tendency to propagate and there’s a lot of areas for them to bind in the attic.
Christina: What would you exactly classify as an infestation?
Jim: Seeing a random stink bug may not cause alarm but if you are seeing of cup of here one day and a cup of there another day, you may want to start the treatment plan to keep them under control.
Another sign would be if you see several stink bugs, let’s say during that late winter and early spring after a very, very warm sun up.
How do you get rid of stink bugs?
Christina: And a chemical spray that you use, is that safe or would I have to leave during the treatment?
Jim: The pest products that we use have a caution reading by the EPA which means it’s the lowest allowable. And we use them responsibly and in accordance to the label approved by the EPA.
Our PDS adjuvant keeps the products where it is applied and allows no roll-off from the rain water affecting the environment.
Christina: And you know, we don’t have to leave the house when it’s done on the outside.
Jim: We don’t require you to leave the home because we try to keep most of those sprays to the exterior. When we have to use paste and gels, we use them on the interior.
Christina: So, there is really nothing that I can do to protect against infestation when the temperature starts to go down?
Jim: Again, Sealing any cracks and crevices that you come across and the best time to do that would be in September or October.
Christina: Well, fantastic Jim. Once again, you’ve educate as all on matters on that matter the most. And that is exactly what we are all about on the weekly Soap Box.
So, again, bringing you the TermiGuard Tip edition, I’m Christina. Thank you Jim for your advice.
Jim: Thank you Christina.
Christina: And until next time. Stay on that Soap Box that is brought to you by TermiGuard Services dedicated to providing you healthier living.
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