Battle is on with the brown marmorated stink bug invading my Dallas home

Insect News

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It's been a buggy year in Dallas, from the invasion of the inchworm to the Crane Fly outbreak in March.

But those pale compared to the current insect scourge infesting my house: the brown marmorated stink bug.

These little creeps started showing up in late April, on my windows and porch. At first, it didn't seem like a big deal; they'd shown up in prior years.

Stink bugs are like the skunk of the insect world: If you try to move or kill one, they emit a noxious odor in defense. I once saw my unwitting cat sniff one, then run in circles in agony for a few minutes after having set off the odor, which is musky and lingers in the air for quite a few minutes.

Brown marmolated stink bugs are an invasive species from Asia first spotted in the U.S. in the late '90s in Pennsylvania. They're currently in nearly all 50 states. They're shaped like a shield, about as big as a fingernail, are paper thin, and can fly. They don't bite and are viewed as harmless, although they are starting to have an impact on crops.

According to this Dallas Morning Newsstory, they hadn't yet surfaced in DFW in 2012, so it's only been in the last decade, and mostly just in Collin and Dallas counties.

After this spring, I feel certain they were all at my house. Inside my house. Somehow they got inside my house, and it has been a journey.

Two brown marmorated stink bugs.gdb.voanews.com

No kill
Experts say that the brown stink bug can be found in leaf litter and vegetation outdoors, and can enter structures by the hundreds or thousands, and will congregate anywhere: under sofas, in cracks, behind baseboards, etc.

I try to do no harm, I won't use Raid, so when I find bugs, I usually put them outside. But these were on my couch, under my dining room table, crawling on the edge of my TV, climbing the front doorway, poised on the side of the refrigerator. One even had the nerve to crawl on my kitchen countertop, which my cats know is a big NO.

At first, I would cover them with a plastic cup, scooch a cardboard on top, toss both out the door, run back in the house, then retrieve the cup and cardboard once it was safe.

But more stinkbugs kept coming in. Part of this was moderately empowering. I used to be afraid of insects, so being chill about any kind of bug seemed like personal growth.

And supposedly every species has its role or purpose. But brown marmorated stink bugs haven't been here long enough to serve a purpose, besides grossing people out.

I also try to allow nature to prosper. For example, they say it's better not to rake leaves but leave them to replenish the soil. I mow only intermittently, unlike my neatnik neighbors. (I wonder if they mow more often to compensate for my lack of mowing?)

But when stink bugs find a good place to stay, they release a pheromone that attracts more stink bugs. The pheromone I was hoping to send out needed to say, "This is no place for stink bugs, stay away."

Kill
Instead of ferrying the stink bugs out to my yard, I started putting a cup over two stink bugs and just leaving them on my floor. At least they could die together, and hopefully they were sending out pheromone warnings. Soon I had a dozen upside-down plastic cups strewn around the floor — but whenever I passed them, I felt so much guilt.

I started throwing them in the toilet; I read somewhere that the final stage of drowning is euphoria. But I couldn't bring myself to pee on one while it was in there floating, so now I was flushing two and three times.

Pesticides were starting to look good. But the National Pesticide Information Center Oregon says that "using pesticides inside the home to control stink bugs is often ineffective."

Time to sweep the perimeter. Remembering the part about how "stink bugs can be found in leaf litter and vegetation outdoors," a call was placed to Ernesto, the favorite landscaping guy in my neighborhood. He and his crew came and efficiently macheted my fake Topanga Canyon to the ground.

The flattened terrain they left behind felt gratifyingly tidy. But it only lasted a minute when I saw a rustle in the grass — a shell-shocked brown wolf spider running for cover from her perch on the fence — and felt terrible about destroying her habitat.

Even after the clear-cutting, brown stink bugs still showed up inside the house — although the population did seem to decline. It's down to just one or two a day now. Probably would have happened regardless.

Really, they were innocuous. They're not creepy crawly, they just sit there, dim and innocent, letting you put your cup over them, farting out their fear. If only there hadn't been so damn many.

Thank god, the brown wolf spider returned to rebuild her home on the fence. The guilt would have killed me.

The Dallas Arboretum

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden presents Summer at the Arboretum

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden will present Summer at the Arboretum, featuring uplifting sculptures by Gary Lee Price, live music and performances, and Family Fun Fridays in the 66-acre Dallas garden.

Additional events include Pride in Bloom, Father’s Day, Juneteenth, Independence Weekend, and more. The horticulture staff have planted more than 65,000 new plantings in June with 300 tropical elephant ears and 500 cannas creating the Arboretum’s signature summer look. According to U.S. News & World Report, the Dallas Arboretum is one of the "21 Top Things to Do in Texas."

Photo by Evgeniy Kozlov on Unsplash

Texas unearths new ranking as 2nd best state for urban treasure hunting

HIDDEN GEMS

The folks behind the big Art Quest summer scavenger hunts around Dallas are on to something: Texans love to treasure hunt.

Texas has ranked No. 2 in LawnStarter's 2023 "Best States for Urban Treasure Hunting" report. The Lone Star State has the most metal detecting sites, pawn shops, flea markets, and geocaching locations (a total of 226!) in the nation, the report says. Additionally, the state has the second-higuhest number of treasure hunting groups and geo-tours, and the third-highest number of storage unit auctions.

Those who are new to the hobby and want to find some new gear, worry not: Texas also has the second-highest number of mining, metal detecting, and hardware supply stores out of all 50 states. (Just be aware that you can't metal detect in state parks without a permit.)

For anyone who thinks metal detectorists find only junk, remember this story from a few months back, when a Dallas resident unearthed a class ring dating back to the early '90s and was able to reunite it with its long-lost owner?

The only state to outrank Texas is California, which the report called "a fitting outcome" for the Golden State, considering its history of gold mining in the mid-19th century and popularity in local communities. Washington, also known as "the birthplace of geocaching," ranked No. 4.

The top 10 states for urban treasure hunting include:

No. 1 – California
No. 2 – Texas
No. 3 – Florida
No. 4 – Washington
No. 5 – New York
No. 6 – Pennsylvania
No. 7 – Virginia
No. 8 – Ohio
No. 9 – Missouri
No. 10 – Arizona

At the bottom five of LawnStarter's list are Rhode Island (No. 46), Delaware (No. 47), Montana (No. 48), Wyoming (No. 49), and North Dakota (No. 50).

Photo courtesy of Trinity Falls

Trinity Falls presents Trail Day 5K

Trinity Falls will present Trail Day 5K, a day of fun and giving back. The scenic run/walk route will guide participants around the community of Trinity Falls and along the 350-acre natural park with miles of winding, wooded river frontage.

The event will also feature Ms. Bug reading the grouchy Ladybug book and Ladybug Release. There will be a disc golf demonstration, local outdoors vendors, music and photo-ops, food trucks and drinks, cash prizes, and model home tours.

Photo courtesy of Natural Bridge Caverns

Largest cavern in Texas excavates new tour through hidden wonders underground

Caving adventure

Spelunkers now have a new cave to explore at the state’s largest cavern: Natural Bridge Caverns’ newest tour, Hidden Wonders, will launch on Friday, May 12.

The new tour will allow visitors to access an area that was previously accessible only by cavers. Development of this second cavern has been in the works since 2017. It was previously sealed under the Earth’s surface, perfectly preserving the natural environment and its beautiful, unique formations.

“In developing this area of the cavern system, we have both pursued and established best-case practices for working in this delicate environment,” said Natural Bridge Caverns president Brad Wuest in a statement. “Our goal is to give visitors a stunning view of the cavern like never before, without impacting its beauty.”

The multimillion-dollar expansion into never-before-seen areas of the cave will feature state-of-the-art lighting and a unique sound and light show. Public passageways expanded by 1,100 feet with a new stainless steel bridge that crosses the cavern’s deepest area.

Additionally, a new 5,700-square-foot dome chamber, dubbed the Ballroom, has been constructed to serve as an event space. For the light show, a viewing area called the Box Canyon will serve as a natural theater.

Wuest explained that certain aspects of developing the cavern had been a challenge, such as the depth of the new touring area. Fortunately, they were able to construct a new exit tunnel "with minimal impact on the cavern."

"We used best-in-class techniques and developed new ones to make it work," he said. "We took the time to do it right. The result speaks for itself.”

To exit the Hidden Wonders tour, visitors will take a glorious ride on a pioneering conveyor system ride, the Belt Assisted Transport, to the surface through the newly constructed tunnel.

“We plan to showcase the science behind the beauty of this once hidden cavern on our tour,” said Wuest. “With Hidden Wonders’ many enhancements, we have an opportunity to both educate and entertain.”

More information about the new tour can be found on naturalbridgecaverns.com. The visitor's center at the caverns is located at 26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd., San Antonio.

Photo courtesy of Rebuilding Together

Rebuilding Together North Texas presents National Rebuilding Day

National Rebuilding Month is an annual month-long call to service during April, culminating with National Rebuilding Day, the last Saturday of the month. Participants in this event will be digging in the dirt, building planter boxes, and beautifying the garden.

National Rebuilding Month adopts a deeper and longer-term focus at the neighborhood level. Building a healthy neighborhood is a partnership between Rebuilding Together North Texas, residents, and community stakeholders to revitalize neighborhoods with safe, healthy, affordable, homes and community spaces that are accessible for everyone.

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44 new Dallas debutantes star in this week's most popular stories

This week's hot headlines

Editor's note: A lot happened this week, so here's your chance to get caught up. Read on for the week's most popular headlines. Looking for the best things to do this weekend? Find that list here.

1. 44 new Dallas debutantes begin Presentation Ball prep with glam parties and glorious gowns. With the start of summer vacation came the beginning of the 2023-2024 Dallas Symphony Orchestra League debutante season - even though it seems like just yesterday that the 2023 debs were Texas-dipping into society. The DSOL introduced 44 new debs during Announcement Weekend festivities, May 18-20. Their parties, philanthropy, and training will culminate with the 38th Presentation Ball.

2. 21 North Texas museums offer free admission to military families this summer. Nearly two dozen Dallas-Fort Worth museums are honoring active duty military personnel and their families with free admission through the Blue Star Museums initiative, May 20-September 4, 2023.

3. 11 Dallas icons star in new book of most influential Texans from last 50 years. To commemorate Texas Monthly's 50th anniversary, the publication has collected the stories and photographs of 50 iconic Texans who have shaped the state and the country over the past 50 years for a book called Lone Stars Rising. Eleven Dallas megastars have made the roster.

4. These are the 7 best most intriguing hot dogs in Dallas right now. Hot dogs are the quintessential summer food and an item that nearly everyone loves. They're simple, flavorful, easy to make at home, and affordable if you dine out. Here are the seven most interesting hot dogs you can find in Dallas-Fort Worth.

5. Mississippi sisters debut perky Southern-chic boutique on Dallas' Greenville Avenue. When Allison and Anna Williams graduated from University of Mississippi in 2021, they didn't picture themselves owning a boutique on Lower Greenville in Dallas. But the Williamses' new women's clothing boutique, Five 54, opened this spring at 1906 Greenville Ave., next to Clark's Barbershop, in the buzziest neighborhood in town.

Dallas-Fort Worth arrives at surprising spot among top summer travel destinations

SUMMERTIME blues

Dallas-Fort Worth recently racked up more than a dozen accolades at the 2023 Texas Travel Awards. But a new survey reveals it's not necessarily such a hot travel destination this summer.

DFW comes in at a middle-of-the-road No. 45 in WalletHub's recent 2023 Best Summer Travel Destinations report.

The report compared 100 of the largest metro areas in America across 41 metrics, including number of attractions.

DFW scored an overall rating of 52.56 out of 100. Broken down by category, the Metroplex ranked 86th in "Travel Costs & Hassles;" 32nd in "Local Costs;" 20th in "Attractions;" 41st in "Weather;" 27th in "Activities;" and 50th in "Safety."

Taking the top spot in Texas was San Antonio, at No. 11, with Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown at No. 14. Behind Austin and San Antonio in the 2023 rankings is El Paso (No. 18), then Houston (No. 38). After 45th ranked DFW came Corpus Christi (No. 62), and McAllen (No. 86).

Dr. Susan Weidmann, assistant professor in the department of recreational management and physical education at Appalachian State University, said in the report that summer 2023 is going to be a “good season for travel” despite recent economic downturns that have many worried about a recession.

“Coming out of Covid, I think many people have taken these last few years to really evaluate what they want out of life, and for those that love travel, I think they have probably put it at the top of their list of things to do,” she said. “As far as economics are concerned, many may have saved their traveling money from the last multiple years, so will have money to spend. That being said, after the airline chaos of last year, many people may be thinking about domestic travel over the long-haul, just to alleviate many of the concerns that airlines, especially in Europe, are still grappling with, such as reduced staffing leading to flight cancellations.”

Weidmann predicts the time period between July and early August will be the most popular season for National Parks, like Texas’ Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains.

Despite none of them being in Texas, the top 10 destinations in WalletHub’s report are all popular cities worth a glance in sun-friendly states like Hawaii, New York, and Florida.

The top 10 best summer destinations are:

No. 1 – Atlanta
No. 2 – Honolulu, Hawaii
No. 3 – Washington, D.C.
No. 4 – Wichita, Kansas
No. 5 – New York City
No. 6 – Chicago
No. 7 – Tampa, Florida
No. 8 – Orlando, Florida
No. 9 – Richmond, Virginia
No. 10 – Springfield, Missouri

Score a hole in one at these 10 top public golf courses in Dallas-Fort Worth

Tee Time

North Texas recently popped the cork for the new $520 million Omni PGA Frisco Resort, which opened in May and features its own entertainment district, full-service spa and salon, four swimming pools, 500 guest rooms and suites, 10 private ranch houses, and 13 unique dining options.

But as the name hints, the resort is very much about the golf. With Father's Day around the corner, we're revisiting Dallas-Fort Worth's best public courses, including the two newest ones found in Frisco and their alternative ways to play.

Load up the clubs and hit the green with this list:

Fields Ranch
Frisco
Omni PGA Frisco Resort boasts two 18-hole championship golf courses, collectively known as Fields Ranch. Fields Ranch East was designed by Gil Hanse, and Fields Ranch West by Beau Welling.

Registered hotel guests can book tee times 120 days in advance of their stay to play Fields Ranch, which will be home to 26 major championships starting in May and continuing through 2034.

Not ready for the full 18-hole experience? Take a few practice swings at the Fields Ranch Practice Facility, then head to The Swing, a lighted 10-hole, par-3 short course, or The Dance Floor, a two-acre putting course and entertainment area.

This will also be the site of Frisco's first Lounge by Topgolf and PGA of America's new headquarters.

Take advantage of all that expertise at the PGA Coaching Center, which offers a high-tech, data-driven club-fitting and instruction experience.

Cowboys Golf Club
Grapevine
If you're a die-hard fan of both the 'Boys and the links, here's where your passions combine. The par-72, 6,553-yard course is as swanky as you'd expect from Jerry Jones, with years of Cowboys history scattered throughout. Of course, with all this top-of-the-line design comes a rather hefty price tag for the green fees, but you do definitely get your money's worth.

Meadowbrook Golf Course
Fort Worth
The 18-hole regulation facility is considered one of the top in Texas, with a par 71 that covers the most rolling terrain in the city. It's also a popular course, with a golf association of more than 200 members who play regularly.

Stevens Park Golf Course
Oak Cliff
All 18 holes of this par-70 course were completely redesigned in 2011, including new tee boxes, fairways, greens, and bunkers. Even the carts boast newly installed TekGPS units that track yardages to the front, middle, and back of the green (and help keep play moving). Appreciate mature oaks, dramatic elevation changes, and great views of downtown Dallas while you traverse the course, which is also affectionately known as "Little Augusta."

Pecan Valley
Fort Worth
Originally designed by golf course architect Ralph Plummer in 1963, Pecan Valley is actually two 18-hole golf courses separated by the Clear Fork of the Trinity River. The "River" course is considered one of the top municipal courses in Texas, while the "Hills" course is approximately 150 yards shorter. Several hundred trees were semi-recently planted and are just beginning to mature, which only bodes well for playing conditions in the years to come.

Texas Star Golf Course
Euless
The accolades come rolling in for this course, which has been recognized for its beauty and serene atmosphere by Golf Digest and Golf Weekly, among others. Unlike most public courses, which back up to private homes or run along busy streets, this par-71, 6,529-yard course is truly secluded, surrounded only by ponds, waterfalls, woodlands, and fairways. Reasonable green fees are a bonus, with residents of Euless receiving a 15 percent discount with proof of residence.

Tierra Verde Golf Club
Arlington
As the first municipal course in the world to be certified as an Audubon Signature Sanctuary, Tierra Verde offers breathtaking natural scenery to go along with its challenging holes. The par-72 6,085-yard layout boasts some of the most uniquely designed holes in DFW, and was named the top course in DFW in 2012 by Avid Golfer.

The Tribute Golf Club
The Colony
Not had the chance to play Hogan's Alley at Carnoustie, Nos. 1 and 18 from St. Andrews, or the fifth from Royal Troon? Then you can experience the next best thing here in Texas, without having to fly across the pond. This par-72, 7,000-yard course is brilliantly designed while replicating the best links-style courses from the United Kingdom.

Waterchase Golf Club
Fort Worth
Like its name implies, Waterchase does indeed boast a cascading waterfall, found between the ninth and eighteenth greens. From tree-lined doglegs to split fairways, the risk and reward opportunities are abundant for the six sets of tees on the par-72 course. The club even received a nomination to Golf Digest's best new courses and promises to be "a round you'll remember."

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