News

Ask Matt ... about stink bugs

Stink bug. [NCSU photo]

By Matt Matteson, Published: March 31, 2017

Q. Why do I see so many stink bugs at my house?

For the record, your insect is called the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. Just in case you hear it at a cocktail party, the word “marmorated” means marbled or veined. Anyway, these little critters have been a nuisance since they found their way across the Pacific 20 years ago and made a home in Pennsylvania. Now they’re in 41 states and the numbers have been increasing every year. Why? They have no natural predators largely because they can release a foul odor.
Steve Pettis of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service says that stink bugs show up in early spring and they seek warm places, thus finding their way into our homes. What to do? “Catch them and set them free,” says Pettis. If they keep getting in, you probably have a crack somewhere.
The proliferation of the stink bug is unwelcomed news for our fruit growers. Researchers at NCSU’s research facility in Mills River are beginning to see damage to our apples crop beginning in late summer. According to Pettis, the insect stabs the fruit with its sharp mouth parts. This creates large dead spots on the apple which ruins the fruit. Both federal (USDA) and State (NCSU) scientists are working hard on the problem trying to design a program to stop the infestation.

Q. Why do trucks salt our roads when there is no chance of freezing and almost no chance of precipitation?

Roger Ayers, NCDOT maintenance engineer, explained DOT’s two scenarios in their road salting policy — before a snow and after a snow. In the event of a pending snow or ice event, DOT alerts their private contractor who has five trucks that service a three-county area. Each truck has a spray bar affixed to a tank filled with a brine solution. Trucks are filled at DOT’s Mountain Road maintenance yard. The brine mix is 11.5% salt and can be applied to roads 48 hours in advance. DOT’s contractors did apply brine before the Jan. 28-29 snowfall and the northern part of Henderson County did in fact get snow.
After a snowfall, DOT uses its own trucks to spread rock salt on the highways. First priority is the interstate highway, then the primary roads, followed by subdivision roads on the state road system and lastly unpaved roads. Highway maintenance crews sometimes apply a mix of salt and sand if needed on steep roads to provide added traction. The mix also works best for black ice.
Salt lowers the freezing temperature of water. It’s a relatively cheap commodity but it is corrosive. AAA recommends that you wash your car, the undercarriage, suspension, brakes and all after a snowstorm.

Send questions to askmattm@gmail.com.