We obviously hoovered up those that we could see, there will definitely be others out of sight. We bought three air fresheners and three days into this trip no more live ones found, and if there is a smell we can’t detect it.
Bruddy shield bugs
- Thread starter Dorwyn
- Start date
OP
OP
A further tip concerning the spray mist, we have a dedicated plastic wine glass, put a little of the spray mixture in the bottom, and cup the glass over the newly hatched bug, and knock it down into the mixture. They all die. We are becoming aware of where they come from. One place seems to be behind the passenger side blind frame. Possibly also the microwave surround.
I found one more yesterday when I opened the exterior hatch to the leisure battery compartment. I grabbed it before it could disappear. It must have released something as the smell was nasty.
I had no idea this thread was still running! We moved here from Wells (Carlton Mews) to escape the late night noisy drunks, the kids in the park at all hours, the idiotic car drivers and the daily invasions of elderly Welsh ladies by the coach-load for the charity shops. Sure, we've had invasions of shield bugs and, a couple of years ago, the ladybirds but I'll take them any day in preference. Not forgetting the thunder flies, large wasps and black ants. Granted the big bugs are a bit off-putting and the almondy smell isn't pleasant but a 28kg vizsla has her moments too! And we bought her.
- Feb 22, 2011
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I still keep finding the odd one but I've never had the bad smell from any of them thankfully.
I'm just hoping they're all evicted now
I'm just hoping they're all evicted now
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- Sep 2, 2023
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We got back from SE France last September, have found a couple since then, most recently one that suddenly appeared last week while we were in Scotland. How long do they survive in hiding???
- Feb 22, 2011
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No idea how long they can last hidden away but seems it's 8+ months at least.
Found another two today both alive and kicking. I suspect that they may be coming out of hibernation. Just found another 
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They’ll be with you for ever! We THINK we’ve seen the last of them from Saint Disant du Gua June 2023.
OP
OP
We're now in SW France, back at the original infestation point. No sign so far of any bugsie family reunion, just the occasional one that pops out from the van to be quickly captured and immersed in washing up water. The idea of checking out the engine battery compartment as the habitation battery locker was the place of the original nest. Not exactly quick thinking, huh?
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- Dec 31, 2010
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Just sitting in the sun on the IOM and noticed this guy on my wind break they're in the IOM as well 
Found un Bug de Stink this morning. It was alive after 7 months. Bomb deployed....I'll keep you all posted
As an aside........ I find that they smell of coriander when squidged.This is acceptable, but the smell lingers on the fingers if not enough kitchen roll is deployed during their demise.
They are the the work of the devil! Next time I encounter a massive, French swarm I'll be off, quick-smart, instead of just saying "quite a lot of these beetle-type things aren't there sweetheart. I better have more wine".
They are the the work of the devil! Next time I encounter a massive, French swarm I'll be off, quick-smart, instead of just saying "quite a lot of these beetle-type things aren't there sweetheart. I better have more wine".
Ok that’s interesting. We had a few in van last autumn in Dijon but found 2 yesterday - in NW Highlands, Scotland. Not sure if they’re left overs or if they’re resident here.
- Feb 22, 2011
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We do get them in the UK in small numbers, later in summer I think, but I'm pretty sure yours will be stowaways ?
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Post bomb update......one recently deceased bug discovered after detonation, so it appears that 2 cans of the previously pictured bug-bombs may have done the trick. That said, we will only know for sure when we go off on a trip in the sun. I dread both hearing the horrific buzzing noise produced when these things muster up the energy to take to the wing, and watching one walk across the telly screen, just when you thought that the last one must surely have actually been the last one!
OP
OP
They do seem very temperature sensitive. It was a colder day today, so only two or three appeared today, yesterday it was quite warm and very many more appeared mid-day and later. We're quite efficient at knobbling them now. Still don't know were they are hiding, but can't do the bomb thing until we return to UK coz we need the van to sleep in.
Full van clean conducted over the last few days. We found about a dozen bugs, all dead. No smell from them. Seems that the bombs did the trick, hopefully.
I used 2 Total Release cans in my van, just to make sure!. Covered soft furnishings and removed the contents of drawers and cupboards. Followed the instructions and all is well. No unpleasant smell left from the spray and no mess. Just dead bugs.
I used 2 Total Release cans in my van, just to make sure!. Covered soft furnishings and removed the contents of drawers and cupboards. Followed the instructions and all is well. No unpleasant smell left from the spray and no mess. Just dead bugs.
- Dec 31, 2010
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- Feb 22, 2011
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I was away in the van last week and two emerged from somewhere to sit on a surface and startle me as they hadn't been there a few moments previously
I'm hoping that's the end of them and wondering if I really want to go back to the Dordogne in September ?
I'm hoping that's the end of them and wondering if I really want to go back to the Dordogne in September ?
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OP
OP
Well, we went back to the original location in the Gers where we had picked up the infestation. It was fairly warm, and each day we had a steady number of new bugs which with our new improved killer system we rapidly disposed of. We are now in the Charente where it is much cooler and we've only seen a couple of very small stinkies. They were live in the original garden, where SWMBO said that they were coming in from, so it could be that she's right. Hopefully we will not need the bomb approach, if so.I was away in the van last week and two emerged from somewhere to sit on a surface and startle me as they hadn't been there a few moments previously
I'm hoping that's the end of them and wondering if I really want to go back to the Dordogne in September ?
- Feb 14, 2021
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- 3 years 30,000 miles UK and Europe.. Campsites and off Grid.
Been seeing them regularly for 8 months now but here in Le Mans where it is reasonably warm we've not see any for a week. Maybe they're all gone? 
OP
OP
Hope so. As I said above, we had plenty in southern France last week or so. Will be passing thru Le Mans tomorrow, pleased to hear it's warm there. Not here!Been seeing them regularly for 8 months now but here in Le Mans where it is reasonably warm we've not see any for a week. Maybe they're all gone?
OK. So we parked up today in Bourret on the banks of the Tarn. We've had a few Shield ( Stink) bugs around for last few days,thankfully none in the van, but here today.... it's bad. We went out for the day and returned to find loads of them. A quick clean around the crevices of the van ( they get themselves tucked in behind windows and doors) revealed 12ish at the kitchen window between the window and the van and about the same at both the hab and cab door hinges. Only the rubber seal stops them going into the van.
We were off elsewhere toute suite!!!
We had paid for the Aire to get some leccy for the aircon as it's 30 degrees today, but I am not intending to deal with these b@st@rd things for the next 6 months. Now on a free Aire away from the water and there are still a few around the outside of the van (potentially passengers in the nooks and crannies of the awning, some maybe local). I'll go round with the brush again in the morning.
Now planning a couple of hours driving to get away from them tomorrow. !!!!! Aaaaargh.
That’s a good plan. They’ll probably be plenty you haven’t found yet but hopefully not too many in that short time. We’re a few months bug free now but we did pick ours up last September
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funflair
LIFE MEMBER
Seems like today is the day, we are in the Charente region and the little buggers have been a right menace, ended up shutting all the door and windows and putting the air conditioning on, hopefully they don’t like the cold
Next door to us went out on the Goldwing about 4 hours ago leaving all the doors and windows open, as in wide open, just an old Alsatian for security
Check around your doors and windows for them hiding.Seems like today is the day, we are in the Charente region and the little buggers have been a right menace, ended up shutting all the door and windows and putting the air conditioning on, hopefully they don’t like the cold
Next door to us went out on the Goldwing about 4 hours ago leaving all the doors and windows open, as in wide open, just an old Alsatian for security
HKF
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- Jul 18, 2021
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We live in the Charente and they've been out in force since yesterday. I don't mind them really. They're quite cute, how they dive bomb around. If I find them in the house, I just put them back out again 
They don't hurt you
They don't hurt you
funflair
LIFE MEMBER
Yes when we opened the door they dropped inside so had to be evicted, I read they don't like Citrus odour so cut some lemon and put it by the windows when they were open, don't think it worked though
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