Stinky, Stinky

Have any of you been having problems with those nasty "stink bugs"?  I'm quite sure that these bugs have a fancy latin name, or whatever, but around these parts we commonly refer to them as plain old stink bugs.

And they are taking over.

Apparently I am not the only person who hears them buzzing around inside their home.   I killed THIRTY of them inside my home the other night.  Vom.

There are so many websites dedicated to how to deter and get rid of them.  However, the general consensus is that they cannot be completely deterred.  You must go around your home and using a gel caulk, seal every window, fireplace, door, etc. 

WHAT?? 

That sounds like a pain in the a$$.

Many of my friends have run to the store to purchase Borax to make a liquid mixture.  Apparently spraying this mixture on stink bugs will kill them immediately.  My friends wonder if perhaps spraying this concoction around the windows (both inside and out) will help to deter them?  The results are inconclusive at this point.

I grew up in Florida.  There were bugs everywhere.  We had our home sprayed by a bug man every month.  I still have someone spray my house every month, even though I live in VA.  Old habits die hard :)  BUT...one thing we did have in Florida that I don't have is eucalyptus.  Bushes outside the house.  Clippings in the house.  Wreaths.  Eucalyptus everywhere.  And then it clicked.  I needed eucalyptus. 

I called Daisy.  She has a huge eucalyptus plant growing in her back yard.  I asked her for 20 sprigs of eucalyptus.  I placed one sprig in every single window of my home.  Between the main window and the storm window.  I threw a sprig into the fireplace.  I hung some over the doors.  And I waited. 

I'm still waiting. 

I'm hesitant to say the problem is solved...but....

If you are having a similar problem, find some eucalyptus ASAP!   I'm not sure how often I will need to switch out the eucalyptus sprigs.  Or if eucalyptus oil would work?  All I do know is that for the moment fresh eucalyptus sprigs are keeping those monsters out of my house :)

T