Bugs & The MES

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Bearcarver

Gone but not forgotten RIP
Original poster
OTBS Member
Group Lead
Sep 12, 2009
45,279
18,182
Macungie, PA
Some of you saw my mesh sink strainer over my MES 30 exhaust vent before, and wondered why.

For the last few weeks, every time I take the cover off, I have to get rid of a bunch of Stink Bugs.

They can't get in anywhere, if I have everything closed up & plugged, when it's not in use.

They probably wouldn't want to get in when it's running hot either, but when you are cold-smoking, they could walk right in that vent. If you don't want the extra "Stinky" meat, this is one way to solve that problem.

It's in the Mods thread, but I didn't have a picture of how they line up on the smoker then.

It also seems they like that digital control the best!

Bear

c61e862c_DSC01488.jpg
 
Dems some serious bugs going into the smoke chamber when you got a cold smoke going on.  Like the sink drain idea, why do it the hard way when you can do it the easy way?
 
Bear there was just a article in the newspaper yesterday about the stink bug problem.  We have them everyone, caked on the side of the house.  The only the other place I would check to make sure they dont get in, is the small drain hole in the back, that they could crawl up inside.  Here is the article.   http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/c...cle_f10a10c0-cb40-11df-a4ba-001cc4c002e0.html  .   I love th strainer idea bear, im going to do that.
 
Stink bugs going are crazy here the last few years Bear. I never remember them being this bad. Maybe I'm too young
icon_wink.gif
. Thanks for the close up pic of the screen, that's a great idea. I'm thinkin' of upgrading to the MES30. (if I can talk the wifey into it...Home Depot gift card) It's nice to have a resource that's "been there done that" to make things easier. LOL And then....maybe......... A-Maze-N!
 
Bear there was just a article in the newspaper yesterday about the stink bug problem.  We have them everyone, caked on the side of the house.  The only the other place I would check to make sure they dont get in, is the small drain hole in the back, that they could crawl up inside.  Here is the article.   http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/c...cle_f10a10c0-cb40-11df-a4ba-001cc4c002e0.html  .   I love th strainer idea bear, im going to do that.
I keep aluminum foil jammed up that drain hole. Not sure, but mice might even be able to get in that hole. It's pretty big.

Stink bugs replaced bed bugs in the news as of last week.

We never had bed bugs, but a lot of Stink Bugs & about 2 or 3 days every fall, we get a really bad ladybug attack here. A couple years ago the one day, I must have had at least a million ladybugs on my south & southwest log walls!

Bear
 
Bear there was just a article in the newspaper yesterday about the stink bug problem.  We have them everyone, caked on the side of the house.  The only the other place I would check to make sure they dont get in, is the small drain hole in the back, that they could crawl up inside.  Here is the article.   http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/c...cle_f10a10c0-cb40-11df-a4ba-001cc4c002e0.html  .   I love th strainer idea bear, im going to do that.


Yup,

They said they're an invasive species from Asia, but that article fails to mention that they were brought here to control some other pest, and then we got stuck with this "Cure".  
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Broken, cheezee, meateater, 

Maybe "Smoked Stink Bugs" could end up on that program where the guy travels around the world eating the most disgusting things known to man?

I forgot the name of that show.

Bear

meateater--Sorry about that salutation---It just sounded funny.
 
Broken, cheezee, meateater, 

Maybe "Smoked Stink Bugs" could end up on that program where the guy travels around the world eating the most disgusting things known to man?

I forgot the name of that show.

Bear

meateater--Sorry about that salutation---It just sounded funny.
Bizarre Foods. My wife loves that show. But she's picky as all get out when if comes to food
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?
 
No stink bugs but the last time I was smoking I didn't catch that there were several mud wasps nests inside the smoker.  One fell down on my pork shoulder during cooking.  Now I keep my vent closed when not in use.  I've found these mud nests inside my grill as well.  Just that time of year.
 
Thought I'd Bump this up to help out all the new MES owners.

The MES 30 in the Picture was my first smoker.

I still use a SS Sink strainer on my MES 40 top vent to keep any bugs out.

Bear
 
 
Thought I'd Bump this up to help out all the new MES owners.

The MES 30 in the Picture was my first smoker.

I still use a SS Sink strainer on my MES 40 top vent to keep any bugs out.

Bear
Here's a Better look at the sink strainer that keeps bugs from entering the smoker through the top vent of an MES.

All you have to do is cut a slot in it for the vent handle, and slide it right onto the vent:

1607s6a.jpg
 
I hated those stink bugs when i lived in NEPA.

Tip

Get some 0000 steel wool and stick in all the openings your not using when your smoker is idle. Mice and other rodents hate the stuff. I put in all my openings electric cord and water hose on the motorhome and rodents wont even go near it. Im looking at some bugs and they dont like it either.
 
 
And I thought we have a stink bug problem...
They weren't quite as bad last year as the few years before. Hopefully even less this year.

We'll see.

Bear
 
I hated those stink bugs when i lived in NEPA.

Tip

Get some 0000 steel wool and stick in all the openings your not using when your smoker is idle. Mice and other rodents hate the stuff. I put in all my openings electric cord and water hose on the motorhome and rodents wont even go near it. Im looking at some bugs and they dont like it either.
You don't have any Stink Bugs in Georgia??

I only have my MES top vent with the strainer over it, and the bottom drain that I keep plugged when not in use.

But you're right about the Steel wool. We had it all over in any holes in the place we used to have in Pike County. A little rough to chew through steel wool.

When my Log House was being built, I kept up with filling every little access around wires & pipes with the Red Fireproof caulk, so no mouse can get into the living part of my house.

Bear
 
 
They weren't quite as bad last year as the few years before. Hopefully even less this year.

We'll see.

Bear

You don't have any Stink Bugs in Georgia??

I only have my MES top vent with the strainer over it, and the bottom drain that I keep plugged when not in use.

But you're right about the Steel wool. We had it all over in any holes in the place we used to have in Pike County. A little rough to chew through steel wool.

When my Log House was being built, I kept up with filling every little access around wires & pipes with the Red Fireproof caulk, so no mouse can get into the living part of my house.

Bear
I think they were just getting into GA when we left.

We perm snow birds now in FT Pierce, FL
sausage.gif
Still doing the motorhome thing. We have our house up N rented now to a friend.
 
 
I think they were just getting into GA when we left.

We perm snow birds now in FT Pierce, FL
sausage.gif
Still doing the motorhome thing. We have our house up N rented now to a friend.
I'm here to say there are plenty of those little stinkers here in Georgia, fortunately I haven't had them form a choir on my MES 30 ....yet.....
 
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