Have you noticed an unpleasant smell in your home accompanied by sightings of brown, shield-shaped bugs? You’re probably dealing with a stink bug infestation, and we’re guessing you’ve clicked on this article because you want to get rid of them.
Having stink bugs in your home is never a fun experience, but the good news is that with enough dedication, you can rid your living space of these pests during the Fall.
Read on to find out how to get rid of stink bugs and keep your house insect-free year-round.
What Are Stink Bugs?
The scientific name for stink bugs is Halyomorpha halys. These bugs actually originated from Asia, including countries like Japan, China, and Korea.
However, it is thought that these insects were somehow accidentally introduced to the United States at some point in the 1990s since they were first identified in Pennsylvania in 1998.
The stink bugs that you might find in your home can actually be useful in some scenarios. They feed on beetles, caterpillars, and even the plant-eating varieties of stink bugs.
However, when they get into your house, they can start to cause havoc, crawling all over your home and releasing a horrible smell. This is why homeowners who notice the presence of stink bugs are usually very eager to get rid of them.
Tips for Getting Rid of Stink Bugs
1. Bug-Proof Your Home’s Exterior
Stink bugs enter homes from the outside when the weather starts to cool down towards the end of Summer and the beginning of Fall. That means that the best way to stop stink bug infestations is to prevent them from entering in the first place.
If you have any cracks in the walls of your home (even tiny ones) these need to be sealed up. The best material to use is silicone caulk from a reputable brand.
Bear in mind that cracks can easily form in hidden places such as around your pipes, in your siding and even behind the chimney, so inspect every possible area. Similarly, if you have damaged window or door screens, replace them with new ones.
Landscaping outside your home is another important step when it comes to deterring stink bugs.
Stink bugs thrive in unkempt yards and love to hide in piles of firewood, so make sure your shrubbery and trees are neatly trimmed and that your firewood supply is more than 20 feet from the building.
2. Keep Lighting to a Minimum
Like moths, stink bugs are drawn to light. Obviously, you can’t have the lights turned off inside your home all the time, but when you do turn on the lights at night, try to remember to close the blinds.
Additionally, if you have porch lighting, turn it off. This way, stink bugs will be less likely to accumulate outside your home and start looking for entrance points.
3. Deal With Any Moisture Issues
Stink bugs are one of many types of pests that thrive in damp, humid areas. Therefore, one of the best things you can do to make your home inhospitable for stink bugs is to keep your house as dry as possible.
Now is the time to do something about that leaky pipe and make sure all your drains are unblocked.
You should also ventilate your home well, but make sure to put screens over any vents and windows to stop more stink bugs from coming in through these openings.
If possible, use a dehumidifier in the dampest areas of your home such as the bathroom, basement and garage.
4. Don’t Leave Food Out
Stink bugs will want to stick around in your home as long as they have sources of food. So, make sure you’re keeping all food in sealed containers behind pantry doors, and never leave food out on the counters.
Also, check your grocery bags before bringing them inside to make sure no unwanted visitors are coming in with your produce.
5. Avoid Squashing the Bugs
When you see a stink bug in your home, you might feel grossed out or even scared. In these situations, it’s easy to act impulsively and squish the bugs, but it’s best not to do this.
Squashing a stink bug will cause it to release the chemicals that cause that signature smell. Instead of squishing stink bugs when you see them, try to stay calm and get out the vacuum cleaner.
This way, you can suck up the bugs without releasing the smell and immediately throw the bag away.
Make a Homemade Stinkbug Trap
Time needed: 5 minutes
Use dish soap to make a simple stinkbug trap
- Add a drop of dish or castile soap to a bowl
It doesn’t matter what kind of soap you use. The soap is there to break the surface tension of the water.
- Fill the bowl up with water
Place it in a central location that is easy to access.
- Any time you find a stink bug, drop it in the bowl
The bugs will drown in the water and won’t emit any stink
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re dealing with stink bugs for the first time, you may be afraid of them biting you. Luckily, stink bugs don’t bite humans, so you don’t need to worry about this.
As far as anyone knows, stink bugs don’t carry diseases, which means that they won’t spread illnesses to humans or other animals despite their ability to destroy agricultural crops and lawns.
People often mistakenly think that stink bugs spread disease because they confuse them with kissing bugs.
You should avoid touching stink bugs if you can.
Not only can touching them cause them to release the smelly chemicals that give them their name, but some people are actually allergic to these compounds and may develop symptoms of dermatitis from touching the bugs.
Respiratory allergy symptoms can also be triggered without touching the bugs.
Final Thoughts
Getting rid of stink bugs in your home involves taking away their food sources and reducing moisture levels while blocking off any entry points to stop more bugs from coming in.
Landscaping your yard, turning off outdoor lighting and closing the blinds when you have lights on indoors will also help to deter stink bugs.
To remove stink bugs from your home, vacuum them up and throw away the bag instead of squashing them. This will keep bad smells to a minimum and allow you to get rid of as many bugs as possible in a short space of time.
Hi I’m Adrienne Carrie Hubbard. I believe a rich life comes not from the things you have, but the things you do; the experiences you create and the people you meet along the way. Thanks for hanging out!