The Poughkeepsie Journal is reporting experts are saying 2019 could be a bumper year for stink bugs. According to the National Pest Management Association, the influx this fall is likely due to some expected extreme fluctuations in temperature and precipitation. “With most of the country still drying out from a hot, soggy summer, extreme late-season winter conditions predicted will have rodents and cockroaches fleeing indoors in record numbers,” said Jim Fredericks, chief entomologist for the NPMA. And, Cornell University entomologist Peter J. Jentsch, the resident Hudson Valley stink bug expert, said recent dry conditions have kept natural stink bug predators at bay. The stink bug has a five-sided, shield-shaped body and secretes a foul-smelling substance when squashed, frightened or disturbed. They are also a serious pest, and they feed on many different plants, including fruits, vegetables, ornamentals and legumes. They also feed on weeds and tree leaves, and are relatively immune to insecticides. An invasive species from Asia, stink bugs are active in March and April and very active in September and October when they are trying to gain access to shelter. Once inside, they head toward the attic and may settle in stacks of newspapers or piles of clothes. To keep them outside, residents are advised to seal and caulk all cracks; repair any broken screens; and to remove wall and window air conditioners. Weather stripping around doors and windows may help, as well. Read the full story in the Poughkeepsie Journal.