Invasion of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs!

Hello Gardeners, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow. We’ve had ninety degree temperatures in October, but during a brief cool spell in September, one of the worst imported pests, the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, started its annual intrusion into my upstairs. I awoke one morning to find these garden pests hanging out on my curtains and Edward had to suck them up with the vacuum, then empty the canister into a bag, seal it, and put it in the trash. If you disturb them by picking or sweeping them up, they give off an absolutely disgustingly smelly secretion. I found one that died on the bathmat and dozens of ants were happily digesting him, a reminder of another ongoing invasion due to the current drought. My circa 1880’s house is basically a welcoming driveway for insects but even new homes suffer when these creatures are seeking shelter.