CIRCLEVILLE – The Polar Vortex was the coldest the midwest has seen in two decades, breaking some daily records across the country and some all time records in some states. These temperatures effected this invasive species that have come to find Ohio home.
According to a press release from Pestworld.org they estimate that 95% of the stink bug population that didn’t seek refuge in homes may have been killed off based on a Virginia Tech experiment that was performed.”
While most insects will be equipped to survive a short period of very cold weather, like the recent polar vortex, it’s likely some will die from this extreme weather event,” said Dr. Brittany Campbell, entomologist with the NPMA.
The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, an invasive species from Asia is surprisingly new to the area. It invaded the United States in 1998 and was found in Ohio in 2007. The illegal immigration was from produce cargo, and imports and now the little bugs have slowly been working their way across the United States.
This spear-shaped insect feeds on food crops and ornamental flowers, found on soybeans and corn the stink bugs stay away until the fall season. When farmers start harvesting crops, these bugs start invading homes though cracks and crevices looking for a warm place to live for the winter.
If you happen to find any of these bugs in your home heres a great little home cocktail I tested that works great to kill them.
