“Finally, turn the power of smell against
Dryer Sheets Dryer sheet odor offends stink bugs, so rubbing dryer sheets on window screens or at home entry points can be a great way to keep bugs at bay.
Dryer Sheets. Dryer sheet odor offends stink bugs, so rubbing dryer sheets on window screens or at home entry points can be a great way to keep bugs at bay.
Other university studies demonstrate the effectiveness of dryer sheets to repel certain insects, including mites, food-infesting beetles, German cockroaches and weevils. These studies, however, do not show any significant impact as a mosquito repellent.
Garlic is a deterrence to stink bugs. Many essential oils have also been shown to repel stink bugs. According to a 2013 study published in the Journal of Applied Entomology, pure clove oil, lemongrass oil, spearmint oil, and ylang-ylang are some of the best essential oils to ward off stink bugs.
The list of native natural enemies that attack brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) includes other species of insects, spiders, and even some birds and mammals. For instance, birds to a certain extent, feed on BMSB adults[1], and small mammals such as rats may feed on BMSB eggs[2].
Try a Natural Stink Bug Killer
If you prefer non-chemical solutions, mix equal parts hot water, dish soap, and white vinegar in a spray bottle. This solution kills stink bugs on contact and makes it harder for them to escape.
Layer Dryer Sheets Around Your Space
If you're looking for a way to keep mosquitoes away but don't want to smell like a freshly washed load of laundry yourself, you can tuck dryer sheets into the cushions of your patio furniture, under tablecloths and plants, or use them as coasters.
Dryer sheets can be an inexpensive, safe and humane way to keep squirrels away from your plants. Rodents have a strong sense of smell, so the more fragrant variety you can find the better!
Most dryer sheets contain the ingredient linalool, which can be found in plants like lavender, basil, and coriander, all of which naturally repel common garden pests. Similar studies found that this ingredient is also useful for repelling bugs like mites, weevils, beetles, and German cockroaches.
Both nymphs and adults feed on plants and fruit. Stink bug adults will continue to feed and reproduce during summer. Depending upon the species and where they live, the pests may create more than one generation per year (up to 400 eggs during their lifetime). Adult stink bugs tend to live between 6 – 8 months.
Yes, that's right. Those sweaty running shoes or boots can smell like a fresh morning breeze. Just tuck a dryer sheet into each shoe overnight to absorb odors. Are you invited on an impromptu camping trip and forgot your insect repellent?
Stink bugs lay their barrel-shaped eggs in clusters of 5–50 eggs on the undersides of leaves of many different types of plants from June to August. They can be a variety of shapes, colours, and sizes—but their total cluster size is almost always smaller than a dime.
Stink bugs may seem pretty tough, but plain old soapy water is their kryptonite. The soap penetrates their hard outer shield, allowing them to take damage much easier. When using the flushing down the toilet method, prepare the water by adding some soap to it first. Then collect the stink bugs and throw them in.
Try these methods –which have been used successfully by homeowners and entomologists –to keep Stink Bugs at bay: Rub screens with dryer sheets –the more pungent the better. Some homeowners have found this can reduce Stink Bugs entering a home by up to 80%.
This is perhaps one area where dryer sheets do live up to the hype: in a study conducted by Kansas State University, researchers discovered that dryer sheets could repel fungus gnats. They placed dryer sheets in pots containing fungus gnats and found fewer gnats in those pots compared to control pots.
Do Dryer Sheets Really Work? Despite popular belief, dryer sheets aren't an effective long-term solution for deterring mice. While some strong smells can repel mice for some time, these creatures will always come back for food or a cozy place to sleep.
Studies have shown that the scent of dryer sheets is not strong enough to deter mosquitoes for a long period of time, and they may even attract other insects.
Dryer sheets, especially scented ones, have gotten a bad rap as of late. But these very same fragrance-laden fabric softeners are an excellent ant deterrent (among many other hack-type uses for dryer sheets, if you need to finish off a pack).
Dryer Sheets: Mostly False
While some studies suggest that dryer sheets have some anti-pest uses in repelling fungus gnats, there's no evidence that they're effective against cockroaches. So where did this rumor originate? Linalool is an alcohol derived from plants, and it gives dryer sheets their distinctive scent.
Plants like lavender, garlic, and catnip are among some of the best options for keeping stink bugs away from your home. Plant these nearby and most insects will avoid paying you a visit.
To kill stink bugs using essential oils, mix up to 1/4 teaspoon of rosemary, thyme, or tea tree oil in a 16oz. sprayer with a few drops of dish soap. Wearing gloves and face protection, spray as many live adults directly as you can find. Check around SW facing doors, windows, tree trunks, and undersides of leaves.
If you're concerned about stink bugs getting into your house, you can take steps to prevent them from getting inside in the first place: In late summer, seal up any cracks around the house where stink bugs can enter. Pay close attention to doors, windows, and other potential entry points. Check for broken screens, too.