Stinkbug

Notorious for their "smelly" reputation, stink bugs frequently enter homes during the cooler months in search of a warm place to overwinter. While stink bugs do not pose a health or property risk to homeowners, this pest can quickly become an odoriferous nuisance around the home.

Like other pests, including ants and termites, stink bugs often enter structures in larger numbers, making stink bugs difficult for pests to control once inside. As a result, homeowners are often looking for simple ways to ward off these invaders before an infestation develops.

 

Signs of an Investation

Large numbers

Homeowners often first detect stink bugs by their mass invasions in the fall.

Sunny walls

They turn up on sunny sides of homes where they warm themselves.

Crops

Growers often detect them by the damage they cause to their crops.

 

  • Stink bugs have an uncanny ability to slip into homes through torn screens and door cracks thanks to their flat body shape. When the weather turns cold, these pests overwinter indoors in hopes of surviving until the spring.

    The pests gravitate towards light and often gather on sunny exterior walls. At night, porch lights attract them to houses, where they use gaps in the siding to head towards warmth indoors.

  • Stink bugs can damage ornamental plants, fruit trees, and gardens, but they are more of a nuisance than a threat to people. They do not cause structural damage or spread disease, but they do cause a few issues.

    Glands between the legs of stink bugs emit an odor that gets much stronger when the pests are smashed. They frequently die in light fixtures, filling rooms with a bad smell and forcing homeowners into frequently clean-up. They also fly around rooms and crawl on walls and ceilings in large numbers.

  • Seal cracks - Homeowners can discourage the brown marmorated stink bug from entering the home by sealing as many entryways as possible. Cracks around doors and windows can be sealed with caulk.

    Screens - Vents in attics and crawl spaces can be protected with the screen. Any torn or damaged window screens should also be repaired.

    Doors - Weather stripping can help seal gaps under exterior doors.

    Overwintering - Unfortunately, once stink bugs invade the voids of the home to overwinter, they can be difficult to remove. More info on stinks bug in winter.