The Benefits of Year-Round Pest Control in Knoxville

The Benefits of Year-Round Pest Control in Knoxville

Some people think that they only need to deal with pests in the spring and summer. This is a misconception. There are plenty of pests that can survive and even thrive in the colder months, especially in areas that have relatively mild weather, like here in Knoxville. With constant, ongoing pest problems, investing in year-round pest control from Russell’s Pest Control for your Knoxville home is a wise decision. There are multiple benefits to having consistent protection 365 days a year.

Summer and Spring Pests

These two seasons are known for huge swells in pest populations. Particularly problematic pests common in these seasons are mosquitos. They are incredibly dangerous and can spread serious diseases like malaria, West Nile virus, and yellow fever.
 
Other troublesome pests are wasps. A single wasp near your home is probably nothing serious, but when they build nests on your property, they can start causing problems. Wasps are social insects that swarm when they are disturbed, delivering incredibly painful stings to whoever they pursue.
 
With year-round pest control, both of these pests are dealt with before they cause issues.

Winter and Fall Pests

Pests will still give you trouble even when the temperature drops. If you’re an arachnophobe, you’ll be disappointed to learn that this is when spiders become more abundant and may even start moving inside. While most spiders are harmless, some spiders – black widows and brown recluse – are highly venomous and can cause serious injury or even death in extreme cases.
 
Mice and rats looking for warmth and food can make their way into homes and start creating problems. Not only do they contaminate food, but they also dirty houses with their droppings, oily fur, and gross odor. Additionally, they can spread diseases with their excrement, by mere contact or through bites.
 
With year-round pest control, neither of these pests will bother you. Frequent inspections can spot any potential entry points for rodents and spiders while also noticing signs of any incoming or ongoing infestations. Our technicians can also remove spiderwebs frequently, which keeps spider populations down.

Year-Round Pests

Some pests aren’t tied to a season. They create problems regardless of the weather. Bed bugs are one of these pests, and they are not easy to get rid of. They’re incredibly tiny and can cling onto nearly anything, transporting them long distances to end up in your home. One they’re there, they can quickly multiply and start feeding on your family.
 
Like bed bugs, cockroaches are active year-round, and they multiply quickly as well. They spread dangerous diseases, like cholera and dysentery; contaminate your food; and dirty up your home. Not only that, they are incredibly resilient and resistant to most forms of DIY pest control.
 
Year-round pest control can help identify the signs of pest infestations involving these pests and outline/follow through with treatment plans to get rid of them.

Year-Round Pest Control Options

At Russell’s Pest Control, we offer four different year-round pest control options. Our regular Power plan covers over 30 common pests, has a pest-free guarantee, and quarterly inspections. These carry over to all other plans, including Power Gold, which provides additional termite protection with the Sentricon® System with Always Active™.
 
If you’re struggling with seasonal pests like mosquitos, our Power Plus plan is the best option. It provides all the benefits of the regular Power tier and also monthly service during active months for seasonal pests. If you’re looking for complete coverage, our Power Platinum plan offers all the benefits of every single tier combined.
 
Contact Russell’s Pest Control today to get started with a year-round pest control program to help keep you and your family safe from pests.

Why You Are Still Seeing Boxelder Bugs In Knoxville During The Winter

Why You Are Still Seeing Boxelder Bugs In Knoxville During The Winter

 

Winter in Tennessee is upon us, and the unsuspecting homeowner might assume that the cold weather means a reprieve from having to worry about pests invading their home. Well, think again. Winter can still provide warm enough days for insects and other pests to seek shelter from the cold weather. That means they inevitably will look for ways into your home, where warmth is assured and food sources more plentiful.

A Common Winter Pest: Boxelder Bugs

One winter-time insect that’s caused the residents of Knoxville grief for decades is the boxelder bug. These black, beetle-like creatures are flat and ovular, with reddish-brown patterns on their backs. They have six legs and long antennae that often splay out from the tops of their heads. The adults have flatter bodies and small, narrow heads and can grow up to a half-inch in size while the nymphs are smaller and lack the wings that adults have. They are often bright red or orange.

Boxelder Bug Behavior

Boxelder bugs find strength in numbers, congregating in large groups to share and conserve body heat. You may find them around your home on winter days, looking for a way indoors and biding their time until they’ve got the numbers to push through cracks or holes in window screens. Once inside, they will flock to places where they can take advantage of pockets of heat. Within walls, underneath rugs and furniture are common places to see clumps of them. They are also attracted to central heating systems.

The Problems With A Pest Infestation

While boxelder bugs aren’t harmful to humans and don’t bite or transmit diseases, they can cause some serious damage to property. Outdoors, they can chew through foliage in huge numbers, stripping trees and bushes that you pride yourself on in the spring and summer. While they are looking for a way indoors, boxelder bugs clump in the cracks of patios and porches, eroding or damaging the wood with their excrement. 
 
Indoors, boxelder bugs leave behind reddish-colored waste that is odorous and can cause damage to wooden walls and flooring, not to mention staining furniture or fabrics in the home. Since they’re looking for warmth, these bugs often make it into vents and electrical systems, which can gunk up the mechanics, not to mention help spread their foul odor around.

Prevention Tips For Tennessee Homeowners

There are some things you can do to prevent boxelder bugs from invading:

  • Seal up cracks in the walls, floors, and foundations of your home to protect against many pests.
  • Replace faulty or damaged window screens.
  • Keep trees, bushes, and other landscaping trimmed back away from your house. Trim fronds and limbs back to keep them away from windows and doors, since these are common areas for bugs to enter.

Professional Solutions

Once an infestation has broken out in the home, it’s often difficult to fully eradicate. Since these bugs are experts at hiding out in hard to reach nooks and crannies, the best option is to enlist the help of professionals.

At Russell’s Pest Control, we are experts at eliminating pests of all shapes and sizes and have been doing it since 1971. We know how to root out and eliminate boxelder bugs. Our residential services include inspection, eradication, and protection. We will help you every step of the way and do everything we can to help guard your home against future pests when we leave. Call us today before your pest problems get out of hand.

The Baby Beetle That Is Chewing On Your Knoxville Carpet

The Baby Beetle That Is Chewing On Your Knoxville Carpet

Too often, once a homeowner notices the signs of a pest infestation, it can already be too late. That’s certainly true of carpet beetles because once you see the flying adults, you almost certainly have their more dangerous larvae to worry about.

Identifying Carpet Beetles

There are two different life cycles of carpet beetle to watch out for:
 
Adults: Small, flat, and oval-shaped; these winged insects eat pollen and are attracted to light and heat sources. They have gray or brown, zig-zag patterns on their backs and typically only grow to a few millimeters in length. They fly in from outside and lay eggs immediately, hoping to find hidden spaces for their larvae to feed and develop into adults.
Larvae: Light or dark brown with worm-like bodies, these baby beetles are actually bigger than their parents. They have barb-like hairs and, as they feed and grow, develop distinct golden-colored hairs along their torsos.

How They Get In

Since the adults have wings, they can fly in from outside whenever a door or window is open. They can also crawl through holes in window screens or exterior walls to find spaces to lay their eggs. Often, carpet beetles get into a home carried in on already-infested items of clothing or other items brought inside. The adults, which typically live for only a few weeks, spawn dozens of larvae quickly so they can create a new wave of adults to start the process all over again.

Why They’re A Bother

Adult carpet beetles eat pollen and don’t generally bite humans, but they can be a nuisance by fluttering around light fixtures and lay eggs in furniture or under carpet fibers. It’s the larvae that can really cause some damage, though.
 
They’re the reason these pests got their name. They can chew through natural fibers and seek out animal fur trapped on furniture, fabrics, or clothing. As they feed, they leave behind holes in precious home goods, not to mention their waste can smell and cause stains. Homes with pets can be hit hard since the larvae gravitate to surfaces covered in hair and lingering animal smells. However, even human hair is delicious to these little chompers.

Preventing The Pests From Entering

You may be wondering what you can do to keep populations under control or prevent them from coming in in the first place. Here are some tips:

  • Clean regularly. Since the bugs are attracted to dusty, hairy surfaces, regular cleaning is a must. Frequent vacuuming can keep pet and human hair off of carpets and furniture, leaving larvae with too little food to thrive. 
  • Perform proper window and door maintenance. Holes in window screens or cracks near the hinges on doors provide easy access points for bugs to enter your home. Replace or fix these problems.

Don’t Let The Problem Get Out Of Hand

Since the first sign you see of these bugs typically means that the damage has already started, it’s better to turn to ways to eradicate the problem rather than bother with prevention tips.

The experts at Russell’s Pest Control can provide peace of mind knowing that pest infestations are a thing of the past. Our experts have decades of experience dealing with carpet beetles, and we’ll also work with homeowners to prevent future problems from arising. Call Russell’s Pest Control the moment you notice bugs in your home. We’ll get it sorted out in the quickest, cheapest way possible.

A Simple Guide To Fungus Gnats In Knoxville

A Simple Guide To Fungus Gnats In Knoxville

If you have recently started seeing mosquito-like bugs in your house and all your plants seem to be dying, you may be experiencing a fungus gnat infestation. Many people are unfamiliar with these pests, which is why we’ve put together this simple guide to fungus gnats in Knoxville.

What Fungus Gnats Look Like

Fungus gnats are very small, rarely growing to be more than 1/8th of an inch in length, although they can grow up to ½ of an inch. They have an appearance similar to mosquitoes with dark bodies and long, thin legs. 
 
Fungus gnat larvae are worm-like in appearance with translucent white, legless bodies and black heads. They sometimes leave slime trails behind that are similar to slug trails.

Where to Find Fungus Gnats in Your Knoxville Home

Fungus gnats are attracted to moist soil and are often found in or near mulch, house plants, compost, and other organic items. 
 
Outside of your house, you may find them in the landscaping around the perimeter of your house. They are attracted to light, so from this location, they may get inside through small openings around your windows or doors. 
 
They may also get inside your Knoxville home by being carried inside in the soil used for houseplants.
 
If they get inside, you’re likely to find fungus gnats in your houseplants. You may also find them feeding on ripe or decaying fruits and vegetables on your counters or in other organic matter in your home.

The Problems Fungus Gnats Cause

Fungus gnats are primarily considered nuisance pests. However, when they get into your home, they are not without their problems.

  • First, fungus gnats reproduce rapidly. Even if just a few get into your Knoxville home, they can quickly grow to out-of-control proportions.
  • Second, fungus gnats destroy house plants. Fungus gnat larvae live in the soil and feed on the roots of plants. Eventually, the root damage causes your houseplants to die.
  • Third, fungus gnats can contaminate food. When they feed on produce, they make it unfit to eat. Not only does this waste food and money, but if you are unaware of the contamination and end up eating the food, you could get sick. In this way, fungus gnats can be harmful to humans.
  • Finally, fungus gnats spread bacteria. They spend time in some locations that are not sanitary. While there, they can pick up bacteria on their bodies that they can then spread to other locations, including your food and countertops.

How to Prevent Fungus Gnats

The best way to prevent fungus gnats in and around your home is to limit the things they love.

  • Since they prefer moist soil, make sure you don’t overwater your gardens.
  • Make sure mulched areas around your house receive plenty of sunlight so they don’t harbor wet, shady areas.
  • Keep compost piles well away from your house.
  • Be careful, when bringing potted plants into your house, that there aren’t any fungus gnat larvae in the soil.
  • Ensure that windows and doors have no gaps or cracks around them.
  • Make sure all window and door screens are in good repair without holes or tears.

How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats

If you find fungus gnats in your home, you’ll want to take action quickly to prevent them from getting out of control. Russell’s Pest Control offers treatments that will get at the source of the problem, eliminating fungus gnats and helping you eliminate the things that are attracting them to your home.

How Bad Are the Wolf Spiders In Knoxville?

How Bad Are the Wolf Spiders In Knoxville?

When you hear ‘wolf spider.’ what comes to mind? For anyone who feels uneasy around spiders, the name can invoke some terrifying mental images of giant, hairy monsters intent on destruction. Myths abound about these arachnids, including one that insists that wolf spiders kill cats. How bad are wolf spiders really? Let’s discuss the facts.

What Do Wolf Spiders Look Like and What Are Their Habits?

It’s true that wolf spiders can be frightening to look at. They can grow quite large, with females reaching lengths up to an inch and a half. Their large bodies and thick legs are covered in brown hair and they usually have lighter colored markings. 
 
Despite their hairy appearance, wolf spiders don’t get their name from what they look like, but from the way they hunt. Unlike other spiders that primarily use webs to catch their food, wolf spiders chase their prey. They are fast runners and typically hunt at night, choosing to remain in more secluded areas during the day. They’ll often use webbing to cover the entrances to these areas.
 
You are most likely to see wolf spiders outdoors, but they do occasionally get inside Knoxville homes while on the hunt. If they get inside, they might return outdoors, but if they find a plentiful food source, they are likely to stay inside the home.
 
Although most reproductive spiders leave their egg sacs attached to their webs, wolf spiders attach their egg sacs to themselves. Even after the baby spiders are born, mother wolf spiders will walk around with them on their abdomens for up to two weeks.

Can a Wolf Spider Hurt You?

Many people are afraid of spiders, for a variety of reasons. In some cases, this fear is justified. For instance, brown recluse and black widow spiders rarely bite, but when they do, they cause serious medical issues with their venom. 
 
In other cases, these fears are unfounded. When it comes to wolf spiders, many people are afraid of them because of their size, creepy appearance, and name. The truth is, wolf spiders are relatively harmless. They can bite you, but they will only do so if provoked. Although a wolf spider bite might hurt and is mildly venomous, its venom is not strong enough to cause any long-term harm. Furthermore, a wolf spider bite won’t kill your cat.

How Can You Prevent Wolf Spiders From Getting Into Your Knoxville Home?

Despite their relative harmlessness, it’s likely that you would prefer not to have wolf spiders enter your home. You can prevent them with the following tips:

  • Look around the outside perimeter of your house. Seal all cracks and crevices that you find in your foundation walls and siding.
  • Repair any damage to windows and doors, including holes or tears in screens.
  • Fill all gaps around windows and doors.
  • Make sure you don’t have other pest problems in your home. A food source will attract wolf spiders to your Knoxville home.

What Should You Do if Wolf Spiders Get Into Your Knoxville Home?

If you find wolf spiders in your house, you may need professional help to get rid of them. Russell’s Pest Control can help eliminate these large pests from your home. If you have more questions or wish to schedule an appointment, contact us! We’re happy to help. 
 

Stop Boxelder Bugs From Staying In Your Knoxville Walls All Winter

Stop Boxelder Bugs From Staying In Your Knoxville Walls All Winter

With the sun setting a bit earlier every evening and the temperature getting ever cooler, winter is settling into Knoxville. If you’re like most people, you’re probably busy with holiday preparations. Unfortunately, while you deck the halls, it’s very possible that boxelder bugs are hiding in the walls. Here’s what you need to know to stop them.

What Boxelder Bugs Look Like

Boxelder bugs have long, flat, oval-shaped bodies and small heads. They are black with reddish-orange markings. Growing to about the length of a dime, boxelder bugs have six legs and two long antennae.

What Attracts Boxelder Bugs Homes

Boxelder bugs spend the hot summer months outdoors. When fall arrives and the temperatures start to get cooler, they make their way to south-facing walls and congregate together in the sun. Over time, they find their way inside Knoxville homes through small cracks and crevices. They then spend the coldest months of the year overwintering inside wall voids and other areas.

When Boxelder Bugs are Active in Your Knoxville Home

Although you often won’t see boxelder bugs in your Knoxville home in the winter, it doesn’t mean they’re not there. Typically they come out in early spring when the weather gets warm in order to return to their host trees outdoors. 
 
However, many people discover they have a boxelder bug problem in mid-winter. Within the warm confines of your walls, boxelder bugs can sometimes be tricked on an unseasonably warm day into thinking that it’s time to come out of hiding. If you suddenly start seeing boxelder bugs congregating near your windows in the middle of winter, it means that they think it’s spring. It also means that you are likely to have problems with these pests for months to come. If they can’t find their way outside, they’ll search your house for food and water.

What to Do if Boxelder Bugs Get in Your Knoxville Home

The first thing to do if you discover boxelder bugs in your home is to take a deep breath. The good news is that boxelder bugs are not dangerous. They can leave reddish stains on your furniture or curtains with their fecal matter and they give off an unpleasant odor when squashed, but they won’t hurt you. 
 
But you can’t simply leave it at that. No one wants to deal with pesky bugs all the time and if any of them end up dying in your wall voids, they could attract other pests, which will lead to bigger problems. 
 
There are some steps you can take to get rid of the bugs you see in your house and to prevent future infestations.

  • Vacuum up the boxelder bugs that you find in your house. This will help you avoid the smell of squashing them. Make sure to remove the vacuum bag from the vacuum and from your house when you’re done so that they don’t escape.
  • Seal up any openings you can find inside your house. Look for cracks or gaps in your walls and baseboards, window and door frames, etc.
  • Seal openings around the outside of your house, including cracks, gaps, crevices, and holes in your siding, foundation, windows, and doors.
  • Call the professionals at Russell’s Pest Control. We can eliminate your boxelder bug problem completely, while ensuring that the elimination process will not cause future pest problems.
     
    Don’t spend your winter battling boxelder bugs. Contact Russell’s Pest Control and let us take care of the problem for you.

What Are These Weird Looking Beetles In My Cereal?  

saw toothed grain beetle identification in Knoxville TN.

With fall arriving and colder weather with it, we don’t anticipate finding insects in our homes anymore, especially beetles in our cereal!  Summer is the season for insects, and many people believe that the chill of winter eliminates most insect problems. However, this simply isn’t true. Pantry pests, like the saw-toothed grain beetle, commonly invade homes in fall and winter.

What are saw-toothed grain beetles?

No one wants to find insects in their pantry items, but if you do find bugs in your cereal, understanding how to identify what pest infestation you’re dealing with is important. Saw-toothed grain beetles are small brown beetles with long flattened bodies that get narrower at the tip. These small insects are pantry pests and get their name from the six saw-like protrusions on either side of their thorax.

How do saw-toothed grain beetles invade?

Saw-toothed grain beetles are most often found in stored-food products such as cereal, pasta, flour, nuts, baking mix, bread, sugar, and a wide range of other dried goods. Most infestations begin in grocery stores or food-processing facilities. If you find saw-toothed grain beetles in your home, it’s almost always because you bought an infested food item at the store by mistake. While it is more common to encounter adult saw-toothed grain beetles in your home, it is actually the larva that does most of the damage. Saw-toothed grain beetles don’t bite or cause harm in any physical way. Instead, these insects cause problems by contaminating food items with their bodies, eggs, and larvae.

Pantry Pest Prevention Tips

There are many prevention tips you can try that will reduce your risk for an infestation, but prevention tips will never be as effective as professional pest control. To keep saw-toothed grain beetles and other pantry pests out of your home this fall, follow these helpful pantry pest prevention tips from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA):

  1. Inspect dried goods before purchasing. If a bag or box has small holes, it could mean that saw-toothed grain beetles have already gotten inside.
  2. Inspect the interior bagged food items themselves once you arrive home. If there are signs of larva or eggs inside, throw the infested product away.
  3. Store pasta, flour, and other dry foods in hard plastic or glass containers that can’t be chewed through.
  4. Only purchase items that show no sign of damage.
  5. Check expiration dates on baking ingredients before use.
  6. Keep kitchen counters, floors, and sinks clean because crumbs and spills quickly attract pests.
  7. Dispose of garbage regularly in sealed receptacles.
  8. Seal cracks or holes around the stovepipes and water pipes.
  9. Eliminate all moisture sites, including leaking pipes and clogged drains.

If an infestation has already occurred, you shouldn’t try to handle it alone. Pantry pest problems can get out of hand quickly if they aren’t dealt with right away. It is recommended to contact a pest professional if a pantry pest infestation is suspected.

Avoiding Fungus Gnats Infestations In Eastern Tennessee

Avoiding Fungus Gnats Infestations In Eastern Tennessee

Gnats belong to the same family as flies and are characterized by their small size and tendency to form large swarms. There are many species of gnats. Some feed on plants, others feed on insects, and some even feed on blood. Fungus gnats are one of the most common species of gnats to invade Tennessee homes and infest soil, potting mix, and other organic materials. These dark-colored insects have elongated legs, thin bodies, long antennae, and clouded gray wings. 

 

Problems Fungus Gnats Cause

Fungus gnats invade while searching for food sources. They are most attracted to damp soil, moisture, potted plants, and compost piles. Fungus gnats don’t bite, sting, or transmit harmful diseases, which is why they are considered nuisance pests instead of dangerous ones. These annoying insects infest soil and feed on decaying plants and fruits. Fungus gnats reproduce quickly, which means even a small infestation can become a large one in a short period of time. 

 

Fungus Gnat Prevention Tips

There are many ways that fungus gnats can invade. Some fungus gnats might enter your Tennessee home in the soil of potted plants, while others can find a way in through holes in your window screens and gaps around doorways. No matter how fungus gnats get inside, it’s important to understand prevention steps you can take to keep them out before they arrive. 

  • Reduce moisture in your lawn

  • Keep compost piles away from your home

  • Repair leaking pipes, faucets, and fixtures 

  • Remove piles of leaves or other decaying organic matter from your property

  • Replace torn window or door screens

  • Seal gaps around your foundation, windows, doors, and exterior walls

  • Avoid overwatering gardens and plants

  • Drain sources of standing water

 

Why You Need Professional Pest Control

Getting rid of a fungus gnat infestation isn’t easy, but with the help of the pest control professionals here at Russell’s Pest Control, you can trust that your Tennessee home will receive the care and attention it needs. Our team of licensed pest experts will figure out why you have gnats in the first place and implement a plan to get rid of them. We believe that every pest problem can be solved with quality products and pest-specific services, which is why we offer a wide range of programs to take care of all your pest problems, big or small. For more information about our fungus gnat control programs, or to request a free estimate, contact Russell’s Pest Control today.

Putting The Heat On Bed Bugs In Knoxville

Putting The Heat On Bed Bugs In Knoxville

Knoxville is home to pests of all shapes and sizes. Among those pests are bed bugs. These small, flat, blood-feeding insects are some of the most problematic pests around. Not only are bed bugs difficult to prevent, but they’re often difficult to identify as well. 

 

Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation

Bed bugs are elusive insects. As a type of hitchhiking pest, bed bugs travel from place to place by crawling onto clothing, bags, or belongings. However, this means that bed bugs can only invade your property if you or someone you know brings them inside. Once they’ve entered your Knoxville home, there are a few signs you can look for that indicate that your home is infested.

  • Rows or clusters of small red bite marks on your skin

  • Spots of excrement on bed covers

  • Bloodstains on bedclothes, sheets, or pillowcases

  • Molted bed bug skins

  • Tiny white eggs the size of a pinhead

  • A strong, unpleasant musty odor, which usually indicates a larger infestation

 

Problems Bed Bugs Cause

What harm could one tiny bed bug do, right? Unfortunately, a lot. A single female bed bug can lay up to 500 eggs in its lifetime. If even one or two bed bugs are brought into your Knoxville property, you could have a severe infestation in less than 4 months. Early detection of a bed bug infestation is the best way to avoid most of the problems these tiny pests cause. Some problems bed bugs cause include sleeplessness, restlessness, and recurring bite marks. Many infestations aren’t discovered until after they have had time to become severe. Prolonged bed bug infestations can lead to health conditions such as anemia. (This disease is when there aren’t enough healthy red blood cells being circulated to muscle and body tissues.) The best way to avoid these problems is with professional bed bug treatment services.

 

Why You Need Bed Bug Heat Treatments

Bed bugs are resilient insects that often become resistant to chemical treatment methods. Also, these tiny pests are able to survive without a blood meal for up to five months. The most effective and efficient way to eliminate a bed bug infestation is with heat treatment services from Russell’s Pest Control.

Our bed bug heat remediation services use industrial heaters that are effective against even the largest bed bug infestations. These heaters radiate heat into areas where bed bugs like to hide, such as inside mattresses, electrical outlets, furniture, walls, and box springs. The bed bug heat treatments here at Russell’s Pest Control are eco-friendly and ensure the full elimination of your bed bug problems. For more information about our bed bug heat remediation services, or to ask us about any other pest problem, reach out to Russell’s Pest Control today. 

Smelly Stink Bugs Invading Knoxville

Smelly Stink Bugs Invading Knoxville

Brown marmorated stink bugs are an invasive insect species native to Asia but were introduced to the United States in the state of Pennsylvania in 1998. Since that time, stink bugs have become a widespread problem across our continent, causing many problems for U.S. residents, including those in Knoxville. Brown marmorated stink bugs are brownish-gray in color and often described as “shield-shaped insects.” These invasive insects got their name from the putrid smell they release when crushed or threatened.     

 

Why do stink bugs invade?

Stink bugs are classified as an agricultural pest because of their tendency to destroy crops. Some of the plants stink bugs damage include fruit trees, ornamental plants, and gardens. Stink bugs aren’t threatening or dangerous to people, as they don’t bite or sting. Brown marmorated stink bugs are considered more of a nuisance pest. Stink bugs are a type of overwintering pest, which means they find warm, sheltered areas to become dormant during the colder months. Now that fall has arrived, stink bugs are actively searching for places to overwinter. They often try to invade Knoxville homes to hide in walls, attics, or crawlspaces. In winter, if the weather warms up, stink bugs overwintering in your home may be tricked into thinking spring has arrived and become active inside your home.

 

Stink Bug Prevention Tips

Stink bug infestations can be prevented with several basic pest prevention tips, as well as a few that are stink bug-specific. Keep stink bugs out of your Knoxville home by doing the following.

  • Cut thick brush and foliage away from your exterior walls

  • Remove clutter from your lawn

  • Reduce moisture on your property by repairing leaky faucets and dumping out items that have collected water

  • Replace torn window screens

  • Seal all possible entry points, including gaps in your foundation, holes made for utilities, and crevices around your exterior walls

  • Wipe your window sills and doorways with scented dryer sheets

  • Kill stink bugs found around the outside of your home to deter other stink bugs from invading

It’s important to remember that prevention tips are not 100% effective and you may still end up with an infestation. If you find stink bugs in your Knoxville home, it’s time to contact the professionals at Russell’s Pest Control. We understand how frustrating pest problems can be, which is why we are dedicated to keeping your property pest-free all year long. For assistance with your pest problem, give Russell’s Pest Control a call today.