How Unsealed Window Screens and Entry Doors Draw Stinkbugs into North Andover Homes

What Draws Stink Bugs into North Andover, MA Homes?

Stink bugs in North Andover have a common sequence of entering homes as the weather cools. This natural occurrence helps them to find a place to overwinter away from the harsh temperatures that typically occur during Massachusetts’ winters. The good news is that there are ways for residents to get prepared in order to reduce access to indoor living spaces. Stink bugs will commonly find staging areas around homes before seeking out points of entry. You might begin to notice them hiding within storm window frames, within the gaps in sliding doors, or nestled between the gaps around doorways. This allows them to find the right entry point that they can access due to their flat body.

The brown marmorated stink bug is the most common species found within North Andover homes. It is characterized by its shield shaped body, murky brown body, and black and white stripes on its legs and antennae. Their tiny bodies allow them to squeeze through a hole the size of ⅛ of an inch, which makes window frames, small doorway gaps, and worn mesh screens the perfect point of entry. 

Common Points of Stink Bug entry at Your North Andover Home

Window screens are one of the more common points of entry around North Andover homes. Stink bugs will use these areas to stage during warm sunlight, and then exploit small gaps that allow them to enter into homes. Mesh screens typically leave a small enough gap so that they can actually fit within their designated window frame. Unfortunately, this gap allows stink bugs to transition from the outside of your home into the exterior as they rest within the gaps and eventually broach the inside areas of the mesh screen. This can lead to frustration as residents open windows for fresh air and simultaneously create easier access for stink bugs to enter. Additional areas include places where mesh screening has become worn and torn, along with areas where mesh frames have become bent out of place. It can be helpful to seal these areas with weatherstripping and diatomaceous earth to repel stink bug activity.

Doorways are another common point of entry in North Andover, as many doors have gaps in order to properly fit their frame. The top and sides of doorways allow stink bugs to enter in, while worn door sweeps can create larger gaps and open areas for easy entry into indoor living areas. Sliding doors are commonly known to come out of alignment with time and use throughout their lifespan. This misalignment creates small points of entry that would typically go overlooked by North Andover residents. Stink bugs will settle and stage into the frames as they seek full access to your indoor living spaces. 

Once stink bugs are inside, the problem becomes significantly harder to manage as you now have to address points of entry and an established indoor presence. In order to get ahead of this, it’s essential to seal the areas around windows, garage doors, and even HVAC vents. Weatherstripping, caulking, and replacing mesh screens can significantly help to reduce stink bug entry overall, while store bought products can be used to address the ones that do breach past these sealing methods.

Professional Stinkbug Control Services in North Andover

Mosquito Squad Plus is proud to offer comprehensive stinkbug and pest control services to North Andover residents. Our team will conduct a property assessment to learn more about the layout, pest activity, and take note of areas of high risk. With this information, we can help to tailor your pest control plan to your specific home and needs. 

For home defense in North Andover, we offer our Home Shield package. This pest control plan is designed to create a perimeter around the exterior of your home through barrier treatments and exclusion methods. Our team will use barrier treatments to target and seal points of entry, with emphasis on doorways, windows, external utility lines, and other common points of pest entry. Additionally, we will continue to monitor the effectiveness of these methods in order to make adjustments as needed throughout the duration of your plan.

For Reliable Stinkbug, Pest Control in North Andover, MA Near You

Looking for reliable pest control for your North Andover home? Call Mosquito Squad Plus of North Shore at (978) 597-7168 or contact us online for a free quote.