Where Did All These Stink Bugs Come From?

Those stink bugs are like Mother Nature's retribution for all the other bugs you've squashed. Their offensive smell gives them away when they feel threatened or disturbed, hence their moniker. Trying to put words to that odor is futile. Despite sharing chemical similarities with cilantro, the odor is much more pungent and reminiscent of rotting fruit, dirty socks, and paper mill pulp. Simply put, the odor is offensive and persistent.

According to legend, stink bugs settled in the United States after riding in on shipping containers from China in the 1990s. Brown marmorated stink bugs, so-called for the brown marbled pattern on their backs, are a nuisance (especially if you smash them and release the eponymous smell that keeps predators away) but not a threat to humans or livestock. and a surefire way to prevent nesting, as insects that find their way inside the house when the temperature drops tend to hibernate until spring. So, yuck

The waning days and cooling temperatures of autumn send stink bugs scurrying for shelter. It would be one thing if they were protected by tree bark or mulch. However, they would rather spend the winter in your house than anywhere else, and they will crowd into any opening they can find. Scientists once discovered 4,000 in a bread box-sized container and 30,000 in a building the size of a restroom.

Stink bugs that have overwintered in your home will start looking for exits once the weather warms up so they can return there to forage and reproduce. If you don't want to see these pests in the spring, prevent them from settling in for the winter.

Stink bugs invade at a glacial pace all through the winter if they find a way to get inside your house. They're fearless explorers, stomping across the kitchen counter, the sofa, the toaster, and the bed. They're happy to hop in your shower with you or drink some of your coffee in the morning because they like the warmth. They make a clunking, stumbling noise in the air, like malfunctioning helicopters, and they frequently crash into things.

Diapause, or insect hibernation, is to blame for a stink bug's disoriented behavior in the home. Despite their zombie-like condition, they are able to move. When a sudden warm spell in the middle of winter tricks them into thinking it's spring, that's when you can expect to see them. Rather than making their way outside, they invade your homes and cause havoc.

In a positive turn of events, they are harmless indoors and neither eat nor bite. They're simply spending the winter in warmer climes, much like snowbirds from the Northeast do every year. The arrival of spring signals the beginning of a new feeding and mating season for them. If you see one or two, there is probably a whole horde waiting to saunter into view one by one.

Here are some strategies for warding off these pests and making your home a safe haven for your family. Not only are these methods effective, but they are also natural, inventive, and friendly to the environment as a whole.

Stink bugs, once inside, will cluster in high, dark places. That's why you'll frequently see them hiding in the folds of the curtains or skirting the tops of the walls. This is why you'll find so many of them congregating in garages, attics, and crawl spaces. When you see a stink bug moving around inside, what should you do? One by one is the most efficient method. If you want to try something, here are some options:

Making your home smell nice while also driving away stink bugs is like hitting two birds with one stone. Spray areas near doors and windows with a solution made from 10 drops of mint essential oil to 16 ounces of water.

Since this natural insecticide is derived from plants, it may take a week or so to become effective because it disrupts the insects' innate behaviors. Spray stink bug entry points like windowsills with a mixture of 32 ounces of water and 2 teaspoons of neem oil.

Stink bugs' protective exoskeletons are broken down by this natural rock powder, which can be placed at doors and windows both inside and out.

Spray the mixture on indoor windowsills where stink bugs are likely to enter your home (two cups water and four teaspoons of garlic powder or a handful of garlic cloves).

When dealing with severe infestations, some homeowners resort to purchasing a small shop vac specifically designed for use with stink bugs. You can also use your personal vacuum cleaner, but p Use this advice with caution. To be clear, this method is only applicable to bagged vacuum cleaners. To avoid creating a stink bomb, the bug-filled bags must be discarded immediately.

When threatened, a stink bug will fall vertically to the ground. Put a wide-mouthed jar filled with soapy water (with vinegar for extra killing power) under a stink bug, and the bug will likely fall into the jar and drown. Put some hot water and dish soap in a spray bottle and use it to disinfect the windowsills.

Putting strips of fly tape on windowsills and other potential entry points isn't the most aesthetically pleasing solution, but it does work.

The best way to fight these pests is to prevent them from ever appearing. Use caulk to seal any holes or crevices that pests could use to enter your home. Cover vents with fine mesh to discourage insects from using them as a backdoor entrance.

A great way to keep stink bugs at bay is to rub dryer sheets on window screens and other entry points around the house.

Use a lint remover sheet stuck to the head of a dry sweep mop as a long-handled stink bug catcher. You can use it to snag any flying insects that try to get up high.

When going to bed, put a large pan of soapy water in the room where there are the most stink bugs. Hang a miniature lamp above the plate. In the dark, the stink bugs will be drawn to the light, where they will inevitably tumble into the soapy water and perish.

It's tempting to use an all-purpose insecticide on the critters, but this rarely works because the insects recover from their deaths a few days later. What's more, even if you do manage to kill them, other insects may be drawn to their bodies as a source of food.

Most stink bugs invade structures through holes and crevices found on the west side of a structure. After settling in, they send out chemical signals called pheromones, which encourage other stink bugs to come and take up residence. Preventing their entry is your best bet. Learn some useful hints and techniques here.

Seals around doors, windows, and utility access points should be caulked if they have cracked. Look closely at the seams where dissimilar materials meet. Seal any openings that may appear.

Check the rubber seal on the garage door, as well as the weather stripping and sweeps on any other exterior doors. Change out as necessary

Locate the leaks and fix them if necessary. Make sure the screens are a snug fit in their respective housings. Some homeowners have reported success in preventing bug infestation by using dryer sheets to rub screens.

Squishing a few stink bugs at the spot where they're congregating, say some homeowners, seems to drive away the rest. Some people even make a stink bug spray (blend some stink bugs with water and then strain out the solids) that, when sprayed on a house, seems to discourage the pests from settling there.