Are Stink Bugs Actually Good?

Any time bugs are found in a house most of us jump to the conclusion that it is a bad thing to have them there, especially if they are found with many of their kind. But, is this always the case? Stink bugs are one example that might challenge this thought. There are in fact, good and bad stink bugs.

Before delving into the good and bad stink bugs, it is important to know what stink bugs look like so that you can tell whether or not you are looking at stink bugs in your home. They are in the shape of a shield. They have a five segmented antennae and a triangular area between the front wings.

Now that you know what these little guys look like, let’s look at the good and the bad. There are, indeed, some stink bugs that could be considered good. The good stink bugs are the predators. They are usually, but not always, brown or grey in color. They tend to feed on leaf beetle larvae, caterpillars, and other various slow moving insects. Sometimes, they eat plants, but they do not cause any damage to plants like the bad stink bugs, which are called plant feeders. The bad stink bugs are able to damage the plants because they suck out all the juices from the stems, seeds and fruits. The bad stink bugs are usually, but not always, green in color.

Keeping stink bugs around, even for the purpose of getting rid of other insects, thanks to the good stink bugs, is probably not the best idea. The reason is that you can’t always tell the good ones from the bad ones.

So, what do you do about stink bugs? The first thing to do is to make sure that you seal all of your doors and windows tightly. If stink bugs have already decided to get warm and cozy inside your home, getting rid of them is the next step. Not sure what to do? It’s simple. Call in the professionals. Sure, you could grab the first pest control product you see at your local hardware store, but the simple reality is that not only are solutions like that wholly unproven, they’re also a rather dangerous choice. The best idea is to contact Slug-A-Bug, the premier Brevard County pest control service. With a proven way to eliminate stink bugs and keep them off your property and out of your home, it’s the only way to treat the problem right now.