Stink Bugs Are Back and You Can Help Track Them

While we are all looking forward to warmer temps, lots of sunshine, and opening the windows, there's something else in most of our homes that are just as excited as we are, stink bugs.  They're about to be back, and in a big way.

The warmer temps will draw these annoying little things out of every corner, crack, and crevice in your home. My mother-in-law thinks they're pretty, I can't even begin to deal with that. They freak me out and heaven forbid you should kill one, you instantly know why they are named what they are. Before you get too annoyed at this latest invasion, Cornell Cooperative Extension is asking you to be a Citizen Scientist.

Instead of 'disposing' of a stink bug, you could capture one and place it in a small plastic container and mail it to Cornell Hudson Valley Labs,  or you can use your phone to photograph and e-mail your sighting. Take the best close-up photo you can and email it to bmsbproject@cornell.edu. The image will let them identify what species it is and the embedded GPS location in the IPhone photo will allow them to map your specimen’s location.

If you have no intention of photographing or capturing these little buggers, you can get rid of them with a simple homemade trap. According to Cornell Cooperative Extension, simply fill a foil roasting pan with water and dish soap, then put a light over the pan to attract the bugs in a dark room. It works and it will save you money.