Forum Discussion

Obewan's avatar
Obewan
Explorer
Oct 06, 2014

Odd questions

Leaving Ohio to return to Florida in a couple days. While here in Ohio, we've been inundated with stink bugs. Stink bugs are everywhere! At one point, they pretty much covered the outside of the camper. I saw in a news article that an RV was responsible for spreading these critters to another state (can't remember which one). Is there something that I should do to prevent dragging these things home with me?

17 Replies

  • I just looked them up. I'm glad we don't have them in my area yet. But, it looks like they are coming. I just got over the Chinese Lady Beetle thing. They were bad for about 7-8 years but, they were eating the soybean aphid. That was destroying the crops so there was a aggressive campaign to kill the soybean aphid and the beetles went away too.
  • I agree, it's nice that you want to help stop the spread of stink bugs.
    But, it would be just about impossible to wash all of them off your RV.
    They're not just on the outside surfaces. They will be on the chassis and underneath the RV.
    And, I'm sure there a few hiding inside.
  • I agree with the idea of the car wash. At least you'll have made a reasonable effort to do your part.

    It is a stinky problem to have, that's for sure. ;)
  • I wouldn't worry about it. You're a tiny fish in a huge sea of insect carriers that are already on the road. Buy maybe some of the people who are in FL now can carry some these dang love bugs back with them.
  • Well they are on the move. They were accidentally released in Pennsylvania some 15+ years ago. They are now in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia

    Sightings have also been reported in the following states however this is not to imply that there are reproducing populations in those states:

    Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin

    Your attempt to help prevent the spread is admirable and the car wash idea is probably a good one but preventing a hitch hiker may be impossible.
  • Maybe go to a self serve car wash and pressure wash the rig all over/under once you get on the road for home?

    We do that with the boat to avoid spreading water weeds/pests...
  • Even the news reported how bad the stink bug outbreak is this year. Not much you can do to prevent hitchikers. I do not think they burrow into things though. They just hang on. Get your speed up to 55 mph and perhaps they will give up and let go in the wind.