The Bugs are Coming

There have been numerous news reports over the last few weeks talking about bugs.  Specifically, two different bugs; bed bugs and stink bugs.

Both types of bugs are more of an irritant than an actual threat to health and safety but as irritants go, they are big ones.  Bed bugs had seemed to go away for a number of years due to insecticides such as DDT but because of the negative effects of DDT on the environment, it was banned and now the bed bugs have returned.

Stink bugs are a relatively new phenomenon in the United States but have quickly jumped to near the top of the irritant list.  Stink bugs get their name from the scent they release when threatened.  They also release the scent when killed.

With the weather turning colder, the bed bugs and stink bugs are getting into homes.  How do they get in?  Just through even the smallest crevices around windows or attics or through garages.  Garages attached to the home have all sorts of crevices that allow bugs to pass through, making it more imperative than ever to keep the garage door in good repair.  A garage door that is sagging or with the door track a little off plumb should be repaired as soon as it can as once bugs learn a path into the home, they follow it and it is difficult to stop.

The news articles also talk about the specialized nature of the pest control efforts needed to eradicate the bugs if they’ve gotten into the home.  Bed bugs are not susceptible to the standard pest control efforts and just the sheer numbers of bed bugs and stink bugs means the cost of eradication goes up.

So making the home as air tight as possible, blocking the bugs from entering is one of if not the most effect means of combating them.  It’s a good idea to have at least an annual inspection of the home both inside and out to determine if there are any small holes that will allow the bugs to enter.  The annual inspection should probably include a review of the premises by the local pesticide company (reputable of course) but it is the vigilance of the homeowner that is the best defense against bugs of all types.  Keeping the home clean and in good repair, weather proofing the windows and attic and garage door are just good places to start.