I have lived at Fletcher Creek for 14 years and built my house in 2005. This year there is a plague of cedar bugs like I have never seen before. They are going into my vinyl soffits as there are cedar fascia boards up there. I also have cedar trim and decks but the house is stucco and the roof is steel. I realize they are harmless to humans but what will they do to my house?  Is there ANYTHING that will keep these bugs away?

Everyone in the outlying areas is commenting and complaining about the dramatic increase in numbers of cedar (stink) bugs this year. So, if it’s any consolation, you are not alone. Here are a few interesting facts about cedar bugs that I copied from an Internet search. Once these insects find their way into your attic or wall and floor cavities, they become semi-dormant for the winter. Those that survive will move to the outdoors in early spring to reside in any nearby coniferous trees. The bugs feed on the developing seeds and early flowers of different species of conifers. Females lay rows of eggs (which hatch in about ten days) on tree needles. Young nymphs begin to feed on green cones and needles of pine and Douglas fir and pass through five stages until they reach adulthood by late August. The nymphs are orange and brown, becoming reddish brown as they develop. Adults feed on ripening conifer seeds until they seek their winter quarters. There is only one generation per year.

Unfortunately, cedar bugs are very difficult to completely exclude from the home. The best action is to attempt to seal all the openings in your exterior building envelope. When you start to look closely at your exterior, you’ll find dozens if not hundreds of small breaches in siding soffits fascia door and window trim etc. You should also check soffit and gable end vents for damaged screens and install non-combustible screening on your chimneys and fireplaces to mechanically block their points of entry. In other words, if you really are serious about eliminating entry points, you will have to seal every possible minor gap, breach and crack in your entire building envelope.

Unfortunately, even your best efforts will meet with limited success.  Preventing all these bugs from finding a way inside is virtually impossible. For instance, during a recent home inspection I saw cedar bugs between the double panes of a commercially made thermo-sealed window unit. Fortunately, cedar bugs are harmless, and they “play dead” when touched. Of course, when you handle them, they give off that distinctive cedar-like odour that transfers to your hands, and killing them just increases the odour they emit.  So, those bugs that do circumvent your sealing work can be easily disposed of by picking them up with a disposable tissue and putting them back outside.. As far as I know, there are no organic or chemical pesticides specifically designed for controlling these pests.