My Hero!

[kath]

So I've been battling the brown marmortated stink bugs that cover our house and shed each day that the temps hit about 70 degrees by helping them jump into a plastic container of soapy water. By the time I make my way around the perimeter of one, catching all those I can reach, the other is loaded up again. 'Round and 'round I go until the container has so many bodies that the latest caught can climb the sides. Then I use container #2 and repeat until dusk.

I really don't know if this is a waste of time and energy or if it can have a significant impact on the number that overwinter in my attic and shed and live to lay the eggs that will produce the population that will attack my tomatoes next year- but it makes me crazy to see them and do nothing.Some days I've coaxed thousands to join the "pool party", others only hundreds, but it seems more dependent on weather than on an actual reduction of their numbers on the property.

But today I realized that I'm not alone in the battle when I saw that the praying mantis that's been on the screen door of the greenhouse since yesterday had actually caught one and was enjoying a late lunch. I've seen a lot more of those, too, this year which is always a good thing but now even more appreciated.Wish he had a bigger appetite!