Not every pest that shows up in June is a structural threat or a health risk. Some are simply annoying — insects that startle you, produce an unpleasant smell, buzz loudly at your windows, or show up in large enough numbers to make outdoor time miserable. Here’s a look at three of the most common nuisance pests in Sussex County and Morris County in June, and what you can actually do about them.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs
The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is an invasive species from Asia first detected in Allentown, Pennsylvania in the late 1990s and now well established across New Jersey. Adults are shield-shaped, roughly 3/4 of an inch long, with a mottled brown pattern and banded antennae. They earned their name honestly: when disturbed or crushed, they release a pungent odor often described as cilantro or burning rubber.
In June, stink bugs that overwintered inside your walls or attic are fully active, and new adults from the current season’s egg hatch are beginning to appear. They are herbivores that feed on fruit, vegetables, and ornamental plants — agricultural producers in New Jersey’s fruit-growing regions deal with serious crop damage. For homeowners, the primary nuisance is their tendency to aggregate indoors in fall and to be found indoors throughout winter and spring as they search for an exit. In summer, they’re mostly outdoor pests feeding on garden plants.
Stink bug control is primarily about exclusion — sealing the gaps in your home’s exterior that allow them to enter in fall. Caulk gaps around windows, doors, utility penetrations, and anywhere siding meets trim. A professional perimeter treatment in early fall, before they begin seeking overwintering sites, can significantly reduce how many end up inside your home.
Boxelder Bugs
Boxelder bugs (Boisea trivittata) are slender, black insects with distinctive red-orange markings along their wings and thorax — easy to identify once you’ve seen them. They feed primarily on the seeds of boxelder trees (a common maple relative), as well as maple and ash. Like stink bugs, boxelder bugs are nuisance invaders rather than structural pests — they don’t sting, bite, or cause damage to wood. They do, however, aggregate in large numbers on the sunny sides of buildings in fall and spring, and they find their way indoors through the same gaps and cracks as stink bugs.
In June, boxelder bug populations are increasing as new adults develop from the spring’s eggs. If you have boxelder or maple trees on or near your property, expect elevated activity. Control focuses on exclusion and, where populations are very high around building exteriors, targeted perimeter treatments.
June Beetles (May Beetles / June Bugs)
June beetles — also called May beetles or June bugs — are the large, clumsy brown beetles that crash into porch lights and window screens on warm June nights. They are scarab beetles in the genus Phyllophaga, and there are dozens of species in the northeastern United States. Adults emerge from the soil in late May and June, where they spent the previous one to three years underground as grubs feeding on grass roots.
Adult June beetles are attracted to light and are harmless to humans, though their size and erratic flight make them startling. The larval stage — white C-shaped grubs in the soil — is the phase that can cause damage, weakening lawn turf by feeding on roots. Patches of lawn that pull up easily like a loose carpet in summer or fall may indicate a grub infestation. Skunks, moles, and raccoons digging up the yard in June and July are also a common sign, as they’re hunting grubs.
Reducing outdoor lighting near entry doors (or switching to yellow bug-light bulbs) minimizes adult June beetle attraction. Grub control products applied to the lawn in June and July, when grubs are young and closer to the surface, are most effective for managing larval populations.
When Nuisance Becomes an Infestation
Most nuisance pest problems are manageable with a combination of exclusion, habitat modification, and targeted treatment. But when any of these insects are appearing inside your home in large numbers — or when populations on your property are high enough to affect your quality of life — it’s worth calling in a professional. Bustabug serves all of Sussex County and Morris County and can assess whether what you’re dealing with calls for treatment, exclusion work, or both.
Dealing with a pest problem in Sussex or Morris County this June? Call Bustabug Pest Control at (973) 721-9197 for a free in-person consultation. We’ve got your six.