PASabreFan Posted January 28, 2018 Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 I unwittingly brought a brown marmorated stink bug home from Raleigh at Christmastime. It was secreted in some old songbooks my niece had that I thought could sell on eBay (indeed the music sheet for Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water can go for 10-15 bucks, but I digress). Being the bleeding heart that I am, I took a likin' to it and put it on a shelf on the steps to my basement and forgot about it. This morning it was back, exploring my kitchen. After googling and initially reading something disturbing about human health, I put it in a plastic tub for safe keeping. Alas, although they are agricultural pests and can become a nuisance in homes, they don't bite, damage houses or spread disease. I have a lone bug that seemingly would have no way of mating. A map of their spread — which started in the late 90s when they were accidentally introduced to the Mid-Atlantic states from Asia — shows no data about these bugs' existence in northern PA. https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/brown-marmorated-stink-bug Anywho... should I squash the thing? Would I be justified? Is all life precious? If I don't, could I visit a plague on crops around here? Should economic concerns be weighed in a life and death decision such as this? All creatures, great and small Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted January 28, 2018 Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 Aren't there any horrifying experiments that you could perform on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darksabre Posted January 28, 2018 Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 I like stink bugs. They're harmless. When I find them in the house I tend to get them onto a stick or a pencil or something and I carry them back outside. We do the same thing with spiders. For the most part a spider around the house isn't much of a problem and maybe they'll eat other bugs that show up. We had a yellow sac spider hanging around this week who didn't seem super interested in us. As long as they aren't biting me in my sleep I tend to leave them alone. Just give your bath towel a shake first... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabres Fan in NS Posted January 28, 2018 Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 I think you should take it back to Carolina on your next pillaging and release it back in it's native land. Which means no evil experiments, or killing fields. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASabreFan Posted January 28, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 I like stink bugs. They're harmless. When I find them in the house I tend to get them onto a stick or a pencil or something and I carry them back outside. We do the same thing with spiders. For the most part a spider around the house isn't much of a problem and maybe they'll eat other bugs that show up. We had a yellow sac spider hanging around this week who didn't seem super interested in us. As long as they aren't biting me in my sleep I tend to leave them alone. Just give your bath towel a shake first... Yeah, I've never understood the squashing of bugs. The releasing of bugs in the winter raises another moral question: aren't you in effect killing them? I think you should take it back to Carolina on your next pillaging and release it back in it's native land. Which means no evil experiments, or killing fields. I had the very thought and I would have expected nothing less from you. I even thought of driving it back today. Then my medication kicked in. Too bad we can't portmanteau pillage and pilgrimage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North Buffalo Posted January 28, 2018 Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 they are all over western ma and westchester cty ny in the fall. nuisance but harmless usually die on my window sills. Not sure abt crop damage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darksabre Posted January 28, 2018 Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 Yeah, I've never understood the squashing of bugs. The releasing of bugs in the winter raises another moral question: aren't you in effect killing them? Possibly. Although I bet they got into your house somehow anyway, so if they're determined to be inside I bet they'll find a way. Our spider friend appears to have ventured back outside on his own this weekend due to the warm sun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASabreFan Posted January 28, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 Possibly. Although I bet they got into your house somehow anyway, so if they're determined to be inside I bet they'll find a way. Our spider friend appears to have ventured back outside on his own this weekend due to the warm sun. YOU DON'T LISTEN TO ME ANY MORE!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunomatic Posted January 28, 2018 Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 Put it in a tiny little basket tied to a helium baloon . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASabreFan Posted January 28, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 Put it in a tiny little basket tied to a helium baloon . That's one way of looking at it. The poor thing already got a ride from North Carolina to PA. Give it a really good send off now? They only live six to eight months anyway. Sorry NS. Here's something for me to consider. I've now spent more time concerned about the life of a stinkbug than I have the people in Syria, starving kids in Africa... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huckleberry Posted January 28, 2018 Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 Aren't there any horrifying experiments that you could perform on it? I just give it to my husky, whenever he sees a spider, he picks it apart limb by limb and keeps playing with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottysabres Posted January 28, 2018 Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 Interesting question actually. What to do with something not native to the area. Lets explore your options.... You could: Deport it Kill it Let it live out its days in your house/a container Set it free in the ecosystem Give it to a domestic pet as a toy or snack In all of these options, it doesn't end well for the bug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
That Aud Smell Posted January 28, 2018 Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 Is this a species of stink bug that hasn’t infiltrated our region? Our home in the Great Lakes region is fairly lousy with stink bugs in late summer and beyond. I’m instinctively averse to bugs. I flush those stink bugs that I find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASabreFan Posted January 28, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 Interesting question actually. What to do with something not native to the area. Lets explore your options.... You could: Deport it Kill it Let it live out its days in your house/a container Set it free in the ecosystem Give it to a domestic pet as a toy or snack In all of these options, it doesn't end well for the bug. Does it end well for any of us? I put the plastic tub outside in my front flower bed and so far it hasn't crept out. There's just something about this little guy. If he doesn't head into the mulch before dark, imma adopt him. Or her. Is this a species of stink bug that hasn’t infiltrated our region? Our home in the Great Lakes region is fairly lousy with stink bugs in late summer and beyond. I’m instinctively averse to bugs. I flush those stink bugs that I find. I think this bug is almost everywhere in the U.S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josie Posted January 28, 2018 Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 Yeah, just let it wander. Those suckers are everywhere. I think you should take it back to Carolina on your next pillaging and release it back in it's native land. Which means no evil experiments, or killing fields. I went home to Ohio once this summer, parked on the street down from my old house. Went to leave and found a spider bro had built a gorgeous web on my driver's side mirror/window. Didn't see him in it, went back to NY. Next morning- beautiful web, spider bro chillin' out. He was clearly living in my mirror and enjoying the benefits of tooling around town at 30-40- not fast enough to ruin his web, but enough to get him lots of bug snacks. But every time I'd drive over 50 mph, rain, or if I rolled my window too low, his marvelous silken creation would be destroyed. Next day, back again. Went back to Ohio a couple more times, parked in the same spot, figured he'd depart. Nope. He was my daily companion until winter really set in. I wonder where it is now- probably too cold to survive in my car. Possibly. Although I bet they got into your house somehow anyway, so if they're determined to be inside I bet they'll find a way. Our spider friend appears to have ventured back outside on his own this weekend due to the warm sun. I named it Sam. The cat loves to point out Sam's adventures to me. Just hoping the cat doesn't try to consume Sam. ... I like bugs. I have a soft spot for all living things, especially the many legged variety. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assquatch Posted January 28, 2018 Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 I'd've mated with it already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North Buffalo Posted January 28, 2018 Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 (edited) My cats use to bring in cicadas and tap them to make them buzz till they died then get another and do it all over again... Im done with bugs in the house... Except lady bugs and preying mantases they are cool. Edited January 28, 2018 by Kottbullar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
That Aud Smell Posted January 28, 2018 Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 I think this bug is almost everywhere in the U.S. (I thought you remarked that it would have no capacity to mate/reproduce thereabouts.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASabreFan Posted January 28, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 (I thought you remarked that it would have no capacity to mate/reproduce thereabouts.) Uh, yeah. I may be commenting a little above my usual area of expertise here. I think what I meant was that there'd be no chance in the immediate area in and outside my house. I mean, where is a North Carolina stinkbug going to get some action around here? Anyway, Milan the Marmorated Stinkbug is gone. I hope to see him again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsb Posted January 28, 2018 Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 Put your boots on and squash that bug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubkev Posted January 28, 2018 Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 Kleenex ---> toilet ---> flush. Problem solved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rakish Posted January 28, 2018 Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 Put your boots on and squash that bug. Any guess on why it's called a stink bug? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogre Posted January 28, 2018 Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 Any guess on why it's called a stink bug?Two of them went one direction and he went the other? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stinky finger Posted January 29, 2018 Report Share Posted January 29, 2018 I'd flush it with a stinkbug of my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASabreFan Posted January 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2018 Kleenex ---> toilet ---> flush. Problem solved. New problem: the return and revenge of the stinkbug. I'd flush it with a stinkbug of my own. You've also been warned! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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