The constant exchange of goods around the world has meant that some species typical of specific regions are spreading worldwide
A little over two years ago, traditional bedbugs started to make the news for becoming a pest in Paris that threatened to spread to the rest of Europe in the middle of the holiday season.
These annoying parasitic insects that feed on blood specialize in attacking humans, so they tend to proliferate in densely populated environments such as cities, which led many citizens to hire fumigation and elimination services to get rid of them.
However, they should not be confused with another type of bedbug that has become very common in the West in recent years and is known as the brown marmorated stink bug or brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys). What are the differences and how can they harm us?
What is the brown marmorated stink bug
These insects are native to Asia and in just a few years they have spread widely in Europe and North America through international travelers and especially through the exchange of infected goods.
With oval bodies and a “marbled” appearance, they measure around 12-17 millimeters and seek protection from temperature variations and take refuge in our homes in two key periods: in autumn and in spring, although it is common to see them in summer when it is hot.
Unlike the common bedbug that can bite people and animals, this species is not dangerous to us, although it is annoying and harmful to plants, as it attacks crops by feeding on the sap and causing damage in gardens and orchards.
They also produce an unpleasant odor when they feel threatened by secreting a chemical used to repel their predators that can permeate the interior of houses emitting a bad odor that we don’t know where it comes from.
How can I stop them from entering my house? To limit their presence, you can take some simple precautions, such as making sure that windows, doors and exterior walls do not have passages through which they can enter. It is also possible to install mosquito nets and reduce outdoor lights at night, as they are attracted to light.
How can I get rid of them? If these brown insects have already become a plague in your home, you can try different remedies to get rid of them:
- Essential oil of mint or lavender: a simple diffuser with a few drops or a spray near the entry points may be enough to repel them.
- White vinegar: when mixed with water and sprayed near windows and doors, it creates an olfactory barrier that they don’t like.
- Vacuum frequently: an effective method to capture them without direct contact and without damaging them, as long as the bag is immediately emptied outside to prevent them from returning.
- If none of this works, we can resort to a commercial chemical insecticide or a professional one.
As we can see, unlike the traditional bedbug, this variety is not directly harmful to people, although if we have a small vegetable garden at home or plants on terraces and in gardens they can easily become infected and be damaged in a short period of time.
