Invasive insect could raise a stink

AUSTIN (KXAN) - As the weather turns colder, more insects head indoors. This year, there's a new pest you should look out for.

The Texas AgriLife Extension Office is asking for anyone who finds a type of stinkbug to give them a call.

“The bugs that we’re talking about, the brown marmorated stinkbug, is a serious pest in certain parts of the country,” said Wizzie Brown, extension program specialist. “We’re concerned now because a lot of the people from infested areas which would be a lot of the northeast come to Texas to overwinter.

"So, we’re thinking that they might bring some of these with them.”

The threat isn’t to public health but rather Texas plant-life from your garden to Texas’ top crops. Of course, there’s also that issue with a stinkbug’s smell. The goal is to catch them before they become a big problem.

“Since they are an invasive species that came here from Asia, we’re not really dealing with nature and natural predators that control these,” said Brown. “The pesticides we have don’t work that great on them so we’re trying to avoid that problem by having people report them and take care of problems before they get out of hand.”

So far, there's only been one reported case in Texas. That was last November in Corpus Christi.

You’re looking for a medium sized insect about a half inch to three-quarters of an inch in size. They’re shield shaped and brown with black mottling on their backs. They also sport white and black triangles around the outer edge of their bodies.

"The more eyes we have on this situation the better off we'll be," said Brown.

Efraen Garcia with Bulwark Exterminating is busy this time of year trying to keep the usual Texas pests out of peoples’ homes. He’s added the stinkbug to his list.

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) recommends the following home prevention tips:

• Seal and caulk cracks around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, behind chimneys and underneath the wood fascia and other openings.
• Repair or replace damaged screens on windows or doors.
• Keep outdoor lighting to a minimum as stink bugs are attracted to lights.
• If stink bugs have already entered a home, use a vacuum cleaner for their removal and dispose of the bag immediately to prevent odor from permeating the area.
• If an infestation develops, a licensed pest professional should be contacted to evaluate and assess the severity problem.