Deimos Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 Compared to the previous two winters I seem to have very few shield bugs in the house this winter. Normally they are a bit of a nuisance but relatively few. I remember there were loads and loads around outside early Oct. Maybe my memory is fading and they are active in the house later in the winter but I thought in previous years they were through most of the winter.Anybody know of any reason for this or is it a “local thing”.Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcazar Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 [quote user="Deimos"]Compared to the previous two winters I seem to have very few shield bugs in the house this winter. Normally they are a bit of a nuisance but relatively few. I remember there were loads and loads around outside early Oct. Maybe my memory is fading and they are active in the house later in the winter but I thought in previous years they were through most of the winter. Anybody know of any reason for this or is it a “local thing”. Ian[/quote]We had to eject several over the half term week in February. The weather didn't seem to make any difference to their activity, either, they were equally as active at 0 degrees as they were at 8 degrees later in the week.They do smell odd when you pick them up, don't they?Alcazar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deimos Posted March 8, 2006 Author Share Posted March 8, 2006 [quote user="Alcazar"]They do smell odd when you pick them up, don't they?Alcazar[/quote]They do seem to leave a disgusting smell on one’s fingers after touching them (which is why I often go through all sorts of balancing movements with bits of paper, etc. to “eject” them).I still have a few around so they have not totally deserted me, just far fewer. In fact most of Feb none, just a few in the last couple of days (which made me notice their absence).Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suze01 Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 I don't 'eject' them from our house, I think they're quite cute. Do they cause any sort of damage where you wouldn't want them in the home? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoverfrog Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 they leave nasty stains on the new floorboards if you tread on them :)I usually hoover them up, as we had thousands of them in the attic we're (still) in the process of converting! Only 65 m2 yet I filled the Dyson several days running :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppy Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 I think they smell like marzipan when squashed. I always thought they were some type of woodworm beetle. Have I been wrong all these years?Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patf Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 Have you checked in the folds of curtains that have been left unclosedover winter? We found loads clustered together there last year. Also inthe frames of windows which haven't been opened for a while. I wonderif they are hibernating ? Pat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 Punaises. No, they are not some kind of woodworm beetle, but they do include a large number of insects, not all of which are shield bugs, many of them look nothing like shield bugs and some of them are aquatic. I think there are about 40 odd different "shield bugs" including the "gendarmes" mentioned on the Fungus thread. All are completely harmless to humans and buildings apart from the smell if you can count that as harmful.I can't say that I've noticed a decrease in numbers this winter of the types that come indoors, I've found them crawling around the house from time to time. A lot of people call shield beetles "stink bugs", I wonder why? Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millymollymandy Posted March 12, 2006 Share Posted March 12, 2006 I usually have them buzzing round my head when I'm sitting typing. They seem to like my office!I've never noticed a smell and they often crawl over my fingers. I think they are cute. However, one of my cats tried to eat one when he was young and went completely crazy, foaming at the mouth. They obviously don't taste very nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suninfrance Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 Compared to the previous two winters I seem to have very few shield bugs in the house this winter. Not in my house - driving me mad.I've never noticed a smell on them, but the kittens, after an initial investigation, won't go near them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deimos Posted April 3, 2006 Author Share Posted April 3, 2006 I only notice the smell when I touch them, then the smell is on your fingers. Its not like a smell when they are just around the place.A few have started “coming out” recently but nothing like the numbers in the house in previous years for me.Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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