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How To Get Rid Of Stink Bugs

Discover the best ways to get rid of Stink Bugs when they infest your home, and learn how to keep stink bugs away.

By DIY Pest

December 16th, 2023

The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB)

"Uughh! What is that smell? It's these bugs! They smell foul!" We are hearing this more and more these days. The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) has become firmly entrenched here in the U.S. After being accidentally introduced from Asia into Pennsylvania in the late 1990s, it has quickly spread across the country, a significant pest to both homeowners and farmers alike.

Keep in mind that while these bugs are a nuisance, they can be dealt with. It's not easy or fun to do, but avoiding the stinky smell is worth the effort. In this article, we will discuss how you can identify these stink bugs, prevent infestations, and how to kill the stink bugs that make their way inside your home.

A close-up image of a stink bug on a white background.

Identify Stink Bugs

  • These bugs can range in color but are commonly green or brown.

  • They are about 5/8 inches long.

  • The adults have a triangular thorax.

  • Every one of these bugs has the characteristic five-sided shield-shaped body.

  • Stink bug eggs are barrel-shaped.

  • Stink Bugs nymphs resemble adults in shape but are smaller and have contrasting color patterns.

  • These bugs give out a foul odor.

An close-up top-down image of a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.

Stink Bug Diet and Life Cycle

An image of a stink bug on a plant.

Diet

Plants are the primary source of food for stink bugs. They feed by sucking on the sap from pods, buds, blossoms, and seeds. Some species of stink bugs even feed on juices from caterpillars and beetle larvae. They are often crop pests on cabbage, cotton, beans, squash, or melons.

Life Cycle and History

Stink bugs do not reproduce inside. Therefore they invade homes from the outside. They go through a simple metamorphosis: egg, nymph, and adult. There are one to two generations of these insects each year.

Peak population sizes occur from late September to early October. It is during these months that these bugs may become agricultural pests. Due to milder temperatures, the Southern states have the highest populations of these crawling insects.

An image of several stink bugs congretating on the bark of a tree.

Adults are sometimes dormant in the winter, overwintering in logs, leaf litter, other plants, or similar habitats where they are unlikely to be disturbed. They tend to seek shelter indoors.

Am image of stink bug eggs on piece of leaf.

Stink Bugs Tend To Lay Eggs On Plant Material

Stink bug eggs can be found on the underside of leaves in clumps of 20-30 eggs. Adult stink bugs begin to mate in the spring, and females will lay their eggs on plants. These eggs will be laid in groups and are not plant-specific. Stink bug eggs are oval, ranging from light yellow to a yellowish-reddish color, and equipped with tiny spines forming fine lines along with the eggs.

When the stink bug eggs hatch, the baby stink bugs (“nymphs”) begin their search for food, which they find in your yard or garden. The nymphs, similar in appearance to the adult stink bug, are differentiated by their lack of wings. Nymphs feed throughout the early summer and molt to adults in late summer.

The stink bug will molt (5 stages) before becoming a full-grown adult from the nymph stage. They take a couple of months to mature.

An image of a female stink bug protecting her young.

When and Where Stink Bugs Are A Problem

If you want to know how to eliminate stink bugs, it pays to understand why they are an issue and what causes them to infest the home.

The problem for homeowners begins in the fall. As the temperatures begin to drop, these bugs try to stay warm by clustering on the sides of homes and other buildings.

Stink Bugs are particularly fond of the south and west sides of the building because they are warmed by the afternoon sun. If you have a stink bug infestation, you will find the majority of the bugs congregating on these sides of your home.

Inevitably, they will work their way into the building through small cracks or crevices, door jams, attic vents, and other places. Stink bugs are seeking a suitable place to stay warm and spend the winter. Because they hide in tiny gaps in your building structure, it can be difficult to find and kill them.

Once inside the building, they go dormant, and they fully expect to remain dormant until spring. The problem is that every time there is a warm sunny winter day, their hiding spot warms up, and they think it is spring.

An image of a stink bug walking on carpet indoors.

After spending the winter months tucked away in the walls or the attic, they have forgotten how they got in. In their effort to get back outside, they accidentally end up inside the home. They don't want to be inside at all, they are merely looking for a way to get outside. This action may happen all at once in the spring or be sporadic throughout the winter and spring, depending on the weather.

Stink Bug Damage

Stink bugs feed on plants and shrubbery. Generally thought of as an agricultural pest, they will take up residence around any garden or landscape rich with plants and flowers. Stink bugs feed on buds and seedpods, sucking the juice from plants. This feeding results in badly formed buds and fruit.

An image of a person spraying insecticide to kill stink bugs.

How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs and How to Kill Stink Bugs

As tempting as it may be to squash a stink bug the moment you see it, you should think twice before doing so. When they are disturbed, or squashed, they will release the foul odor you know all too well. Releasing this odor is a defense mechanism intended to ward off predators and warn other stink bugs to flee. Squashing it may stop the bug from crawling around your home, but the pungent odor will remain in your house for hours.

If you have a stink bug infestation in your home, don’t fret! There are simple steps that you can take to eradicate them without them stinking up your home. We have listed our top tips below to help you with how to remove stink bugs, both inside and outside of your home.

1. Use a Vacuum Cleaner

Once they are indoors, the easiest way to remove them is to suck stink bugs up with a vacuum cleaner. Regularly vacuum cracks and crevices around the home with a narrow tip. By vacuuming stink bugs, you will get rid of any that have tucked themselves into a cozy corner of your house.

However, the vacuum may take on the stink bug's characteristic smell. If you've ever had a stink bug infestation, you’ll know the pungent smell. To prevent the odor from affecting your house, be sure to throw out the vacuum bag immediately after use.Using a bagless vacuum is not recommended unless you are willing and able to clean the inside of it immediately.

2. Use Pest Control Treatment for Stink bugs

What kills stink bugs instantly? Stink bug sprays and insecticides. Products such as Avesta CS, Bifen IT, Cyper WSP, and Demon WP are very effective insecticides to get rid of stink bugs. These products stop them from congregating on the side of the home, either killing them or preventing their entry. These products also work well on wide range of other pests.

The timing of the application is important. As the nighttime temperatures dip into the low 50s or even lower, you can expect these bugs to arrive. Focus on spraying the south and west exposure of the house.

When applying the stink bug spray, the more surface area you cover, the better the results will be. This may require the use of a ladder to reach the uppermost areas around the roof. Remember to use proper ladder safety protocol and, as always, be sure to read and follow all label directions for the pesticide you are using.

3. Try a Natural Stink Bug Killer

If you prefer not to use chemicals or pesticides, there are simple, natural remedies that can be used to get rid of stink bugs in the home. To kill stinkbugs, combine equal amounts of hot water, dish soap (to make soapy water), and white vinegar to spray around your home.The vinegar helps kill them, and the soapy water will make it difficult for them to escape. You can use a spray bottle to apply this mixture to the bugs directly.

4. Remove Access to Food Sources

Another way to get rid of stink bugs is to eliminate their ability to find food in your home. Keep leftover food in airtight containers, keep your garbage in a sealed bin, and dispose of it on a regular basis.

Key Takeaway

To get rid of stink bugs, treat the outside perimeter of your home with a good all-purpose concentrate. Pay particular attention to the south and west exposure of the house.

The Best Stink Bug Sprays

Sometimes, you can implement all of the preventative measures available, yet these smelly bugs still infest your home. Now you need a way to get rid of these pests quickly. So, what kills stink bugs instantly?

Insecticides are one of the most effective methods to kill stink bugs instantly, both inside the home and on the exterior. Like most insects, these bugs can be controlled with a range of insecticide sprays. Below, we have highlighted some of the best insecticides that will allow you to kill stink bugs:

  • Avesta CS

  • Bifen I/T Insecticide

  • Cyper WSP

Prevent Stink Bugs

The key to getting rid of stink bugs in the spring is preventing their entry in the fall. Once they have entered the home, it becomes extremely hard to kill stink bugs. Below are our top tips for preventing stink bugs in your home:

1. Remove Entry Points

Mechanical exclusion is the best method to keep stink bugs from entering homes and buildings. Stink bugs will enter your home through any crack and crevice they find. Without a place to enter, these pests will be unable to infest your house. Inspect the outside of your home and seal off any entry points that stink bugs may be sneaking into.

Look for any openings in the exterior of your home, if you find cracks around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, behind chimneys, near dryer vents, underneath the wood fascia, and other openings, apply a good quality silicone latex caulk to block them. Seal all holes with a diameter larger than a pencil.

The perfect time to do this is in autumn before the temperatures drop and these insects look for a warm place to ride out the winter.

An image of a person using silicone latex caulk on their window frame to prevent bugs from entering.

2. Turn off Outside Lights

Like many insects, Stinks bugs are attracted to lights. We recommend turning off your outside lights whenever they are needed. This will help to ensure that stink bugs living in your yard or near your property won’t be enticed to make their way inside.

During the evenings, turn off porch lights and pull down window blinds to prevent light from spilling outside.

An image of a stink bug on a window screen.

3. Use Screens to Prevent Stink Bugs

Start by repairing or replacing any damaged screens on doors and window frames in your home. If you do not have screens over any attic openings and vents, these need to be put in place.

4. Install Door Sweeps

If you notice smelly insects crawling under your doorways, you can also install door sweeps to prevent entry.

5. Use Stink Bug Spray on the Exterior of your Home

During the fall months, use stink bug spray around the home to prevent them from coming inside. Focus on the south and west sides of your home in the exterior spraying.

6. Reduce Excess Moisture and Ventilate

To discourage these bugs from entering your home, remove areas of moisture on the exterior of your home. Blocked drains or leaking pipes will attract bugs.

Condensation inside the home can also be an issue, so ensure your home is well-ventilated. If you have excess moisture inside your house, consider placing a dehumidifier in the affected area. Attics, garages, and basements need to be ventilated to prevent insect infestations.

7. Landscaping

These pesky insects love native plants. They live on and eat ornamental shrubs, weeds, fruits, vegetables, and wild vines. By keeping your garden well-maintained, you can prevent stink bug infestations

Are you having trouble figuring out how to get rid of stink bugs? If you have tried our DIY methods above, but your stink bug infestation is not improving, it may help to contact a pest removal expert. They will be able to assess the infestation and recommend the best way to get rid of stink bugs.

How To Get Rid of Stink Bugs

How to kill Stink Bugs when you have an Stink Bug infestation.

"Uughh! What is that smell? It's these bugs! They smell foul!" We are hearing this more and more these days. The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) has become firmly entrenched here in the U.S. After being accidentally introduced from Asia into Pennsylvania in the late 1990s, it has quickly spread across the country, a significant pest to both homeowners and farmers alike.

When and Where Stink Bugs Are A Problem

The problem for homeowners begins in the fall. As the temperatures begin to drop, the stink bugs try to stay warm by clustering on the sides of homes and other buildings. They are particularly fond of the south and west sides of the building because they are warmed by the afternoon sun. Many stink bugs will congregate there. They will inevitably work their way into the building through small cracks or crevices, door jams, attic vents, and other gaps in the structure. They are seeking a suitable place to stay warm and spend the winter. Once inside the building, they go dormant, and they fully expect to remain dormant until spring. The problem is that every time there is a warm sunny winter day, their hiding spot warms up, and they think it is spring. After spending the winter months tucked away in the walls or the attic, they have forgotten how they got in. In their effort to get back outside, they accidentally end up inside the home. They don't want to be inside at all. They are merely looking for a way to get outside. This action may happen all at once in the spring or be sporadic throughout the winter and spring, depending on the weather.

Stink Bug Damage

Stink bugs feed on plants and shrubbery. Generally thought of as an agricultural pest, stink bugs will take up residence around any garden or landscape rich with plants and flowers. Stink bugs feed on buds and seedpods, sucking the juice from plants. This feeding results from badly formed buds and fruit.

Identify Stink Bugs

Image from Marlin Rice Department of Entomology Iowa State
Image from Marlin Rice Department of Entomology Iowa State
  • Stink bugs can range in colors but are commonly green or brown.
  • They are about 5/8 inch long.
  • The adults have a triangular thorax.
  • All stink bugs have the characteristic five-sided shield shape.
  • Their eggs are barrel-shaped.
  • Sting Bugs nymphs resemble adults in shape but are smaller and have contrasting color patterns.
  • Stink bugs give out a foul odor.

Stink Bug Diet and Life Cycle

Diet

Plants are the primary source of food for stink bugs. They feed by sucking on the sap from pods, buds, blossoms, and seeds. Some species of stink bugs even feed on juices from caterpillars and beetle larva. They are often crop pests on cabbage, cotton, beans, squash, or melons.

Life Cycle and History:

Stink bugs do not reproduce inside. Therefore they invade homes from the outside. They go through a simple metamorphosis: egg, nymph, and adult. There are one to two generations of stink bugs each year.

Peak population sizes occur in late September to early October. It is during these months that stink bugs may become agricultural pests. Adults are sometimes dormant in the winter, overwintering in logs, leaf litter, or other similar habitats where they are unlikely to be disturbed.

Nymphs feed throughout the summer and molt to adults in late summer. The eggs of a stink bug can be found on the underside of leaves in clumps of 20-30 eggs. Adults mate in the spring and females will lay eggs on plants. These eggs will be laid in groups and are not plant-specific. The eggs are oval, ranging from light yellow to a yellowish-reddish color, equipped with tiny spines forming fine lines along with the eggs. The nymphs, similar in appearance to the adult stink bug, are differentiated by their lack of wings.

The stink bug will molt (5 stages) before becoming a full-grown adult from the nymph stage. They take a couple of months to mature. Due to milder temperatures, the South has the highest populations.

Prevent Stink Bugs

The key to eliminating and eliminating indoor stink bugs in the spring is preventing their entry in the fall. Once they have entered the home, there aren't a lot of treatment options inside. The easiest way to remove them once they are indoors is with a vacuum cleaner; however, the vacuum may take on the stink bug's characteristic smell. If you've had them, you know the smell.

Mechanical exclusion is the best method to keep stink bugs from entering homes and buildings. Cracks around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, behind chimneys, and underneath the wood fascia and other openings should be sealed with good quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk. Damaged screens on doors and windows should be repaired or replaced.

  • Spraying the exterior of the home early in the fall can offer an additional layer of protection.
  • Look for cracks and crevices and holes around your home's exterior to seal them. Seal all holes with a diameter larger than a pencil.
  • Place screens over any attic openings and vents.
  • Turn outside lights off.
  • Spray during the fall months around the home to prevent them from coming inside. Focus on the south and west sides of your home in the exterior spraying. Stink bugs enter around doors, window frames, utility pipes, under siding, under fasicia, in chimneys, attic vents, and crawl spaces.

Get Rid of Stink Bugs

Pest Control Treatment for Stink bugs

Products such as Avesta CS, Bifen IT, Cyper WSP, and Demon WP are very effective insecticides to prevent the stink bugs from congregating on the side of the home, thus preventing their entry.

Timing of the application is important. As the night time temperatures dip into the low 50's or lower you can expect the stink bugs to arrive. Focus on spraying the south and west exposure of the house.

The more surface area you cover the better the results will be. This may require the use of a ladder to reach the uppermost areas around the roof. Remember to use proper ladder safety protocol and, as always, be sure to read and follow all label directions for the pesticide you are using.

So keep in mind that while stink bugs are a nuisance they can be dealt with. It's not easy or fun to do but avoiding the stinky smell they bring is worth the effort.

Key Takeaway

To prevent stink bugs from entering your home in the fall, treat the outside perimeter with a good all-purpose concentrate. Pay particular attention to the south and west exposure of the house.

Stink Bug Control Sprays

Written by our resident pest control expert Ken Martin.

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