Study: Cold weather may have killed 95% of stink bugs left outside

6wjactv ^ | Feb. 18, 2019 | Travis Gary

[bgill]

The cold isn’t all bad. According to a release from the National Pest Management Association, the polar vortex may have killed up to 95 percent of the stink bugs that were left out to brave the elements. The release cites a Virginia Tech research experiment. However, the study refers only to the bugs that couldn’t find shelter to stay warm for the winter. Bugs that may have made it inside your home before the cold are likely still warm and cozy.

[namvolunteer]

Far few stink bugs the last 3-5 years. They started around 12 years ago.
I ringed our house with Diatemaceous Earth and in our vegetable garden.

[WHATNEXT?]

That is exciting to hear. Grackles eat stink bugs!! I don’t have those...so, does anybody know if Stellar Jays, Gray Jays, Robins, Flickers, etc. will eat those suckers?

[Robert DeLong]

Exactly, so they must be bachelors that are leaving the stink bugs outside. Of course in the case of most bachelors, the stink bugs may prefer the outside. 8>)

[Carriage Hill]

Sounds reasonable to me.

[kosciusko51]

My parents had a cat that did the same thing with the 17-year cicadas. Latched her claws into the body, and ate the heads.

[Carriage Hill]

Ticks can burrow into the soil and re-emerge up to 16yrs later. The really effective chemicals we used on lawns and fields -- Malathion Concentrate and Chem-Tox Dursban Plus Concentrate -- were EPA-banned, 10-15yrs ago. It'd take -10° to -50° to kill ticks, but won't kill eggs, if already laid.

[SgtHooper]

A stink bug tastes just like it smells! Yes, I know! Post church brunch with friends. Had the main course, following up with fruit. Beautiful raspberries which I love!! Spoonful. Crunch! GAAAAAH!! Yes, I survived. Mouthwash. Licker. Whatever. I am now hesitant about fruit from a buffet for some reason, unless the fruit is from a can.

[EdnaMode]

Yay!

[Bob434]

i know it- they are tough to eradicate- we went to a sportsman’s dinner once and the3y had soem biologists who were talking about the mice in the area they were studying, and they said there is no way they study the mice without full protective suits on due to hunta-virus, and i assume lyme disease, and other threats- it was a sobering statement- as a sportsman myself, I loved being in woods, camping, etc- scary stuff!

[Songcraft]

I think this somehow ties in to the missing RBG.   (It reminds me of that old song, "Ain't No Stink Bugs When She's Gone".)