What turned this Channel Nine presenter’s fingers yellow?
- Replies 1
If you always ensure your home is spick and span, being invaded by bugs in your home may be your worst nightmare.
Unfortunately, it's a problem that affects many of us, as unwelcomed guests find their way into our gardens and homes and settle in.
That's exactly what happened to Channel 9 presenter Deborah Knight. The Australian TV star recently shared a photo of her hands, which had turned yellow.
On her social media, she asked her fans, 'Guess what disgusting critter I've been removing from my back garden?'
Fans of the A Current Affair presenter were quick to identify that Deborah had been dealing with a stink bug problem.
Stink bugs are an invasive, six-legged insect that gets their name from the fact they emit an unpleasant odour when threatened.
What made the situation worse was that the critters had taken over the outdoor space of Deborah's Sydney home.
Sydney Pest Expert Julian Bracewell said that while the bugs weren't dangerous, the cases increased dramatically due to the warm spring weather.
'Stink bugs aren’t dangerous to humans, they’re just a nuisance and hard to remove without being exposed to their foul-smelling secretions,' he said.
‘The odour is hard to describe but can’t be ignored. Chances are, you’re likely to smell them before you see them,’ he added.
The secretions of the bugs were responsible for turning Deborah's hands yellow, as the secretion contained a yellow dye.
Many users online were shocked at the ‘enormous’ stink bugs in her backyard, and they have also commented on the same issue with these insects.
‘My husband did the same last weekend. Our lemon and orange tree were covered in smelly things,’ one said.
Another user commented, ‘Worst time of year! I can smell them a mile away!’
‘Wow! That’s a massive infestation!’ a third added.
Mr Bracewell confirmed that stink bugs are 'a pretty seasonal pest,' adding that the spike in cases resulted from the warm weather.
He added, ‘They generally seem to impact people with citrus trees, however, they can enter your home too.’
Users online called the stink bugs ‘horrible’ and shared some of their tips to remove them without using your ‘bare hands.
One user said, ‘My Dad uses an old vacuum cleaner and then dumps them into a bucket of water.’
‘BBQ tongs and a bucket of soapy water,’ said another.
There’s also a DIY spray you can make, according to another user. You can mix one part dish soap, two parts white vinegar, and four parts warm water in a spray bottle.
‘Works a treat,’ the user said.
Mr Bracewell said these tips can be done but emphasised that if you are unsure of the bug inside your house, ask for professional help.
‘You can physically remove them using a vacuum or by shaking them off tree branches and into a bucket of soapy water where they’ll drown,’ he said.
‘You might need to take them off the branches by hand, however, it’s a good idea to wear long gloves when getting rid of them so your hands don’t end up looking like Deborah’s. If you’re unsure, you can send a photograph to a pest control company to identify them for you.’
Stink bugs are just one of the few critters that invade our homes. An Aussie mum took to social media her discovery of ‘black marks’ on her bed, which turned out to be because of a nasty pest! Read more about the story here.
Have you encountered stink bugs? How did you deal with them? Let us know in the comments below!
Unfortunately, it's a problem that affects many of us, as unwelcomed guests find their way into our gardens and homes and settle in.
That's exactly what happened to Channel 9 presenter Deborah Knight. The Australian TV star recently shared a photo of her hands, which had turned yellow.
On her social media, she asked her fans, 'Guess what disgusting critter I've been removing from my back garden?'
Fans of the A Current Affair presenter were quick to identify that Deborah had been dealing with a stink bug problem.
Stink bugs are an invasive, six-legged insect that gets their name from the fact they emit an unpleasant odour when threatened.
Debora Knight’s hands turned yellow after removing stink bugs on social media. Credit: @debora_knight / Instagram
What made the situation worse was that the critters had taken over the outdoor space of Deborah's Sydney home.
Sydney Pest Expert Julian Bracewell said that while the bugs weren't dangerous, the cases increased dramatically due to the warm spring weather.
'Stink bugs aren’t dangerous to humans, they’re just a nuisance and hard to remove without being exposed to their foul-smelling secretions,' he said.
‘The odour is hard to describe but can’t be ignored. Chances are, you’re likely to smell them before you see them,’ he added.
The secretions of the bugs were responsible for turning Deborah's hands yellow, as the secretion contained a yellow dye.
Many users online were shocked at the ‘enormous’ stink bugs in her backyard, and they have also commented on the same issue with these insects.
‘My husband did the same last weekend. Our lemon and orange tree were covered in smelly things,’ one said.
Another user commented, ‘Worst time of year! I can smell them a mile away!’
‘Wow! That’s a massive infestation!’ a third added.
Mr Bracewell confirmed that stink bugs are 'a pretty seasonal pest,' adding that the spike in cases resulted from the warm weather.
He added, ‘They generally seem to impact people with citrus trees, however, they can enter your home too.’
Users online called the stink bugs ‘horrible’ and shared some of their tips to remove them without using your ‘bare hands.
One user said, ‘My Dad uses an old vacuum cleaner and then dumps them into a bucket of water.’
‘BBQ tongs and a bucket of soapy water,’ said another.
There’s also a DIY spray you can make, according to another user. You can mix one part dish soap, two parts white vinegar, and four parts warm water in a spray bottle.
‘Works a treat,’ the user said.
Mr Bracewell said these tips can be done but emphasised that if you are unsure of the bug inside your house, ask for professional help.
‘You can physically remove them using a vacuum or by shaking them off tree branches and into a bucket of soapy water where they’ll drown,’ he said.
‘You might need to take them off the branches by hand, however, it’s a good idea to wear long gloves when getting rid of them so your hands don’t end up looking like Deborah’s. If you’re unsure, you can send a photograph to a pest control company to identify them for you.’
Stink bugs are just one of the few critters that invade our homes. An Aussie mum took to social media her discovery of ‘black marks’ on her bed, which turned out to be because of a nasty pest! Read more about the story here.
Have you encountered stink bugs? How did you deal with them? Let us know in the comments below!
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