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What are Stink Bugs?

J. Beam
J. Beam

Stink bugs, sometimes referred to as shield bugs, are members of the Hemiptera order. These bugs are aptly named because they have small glands located on the thorax that are capable of emitting a bad smelling liquid. This ability is believed to be a defense mechanism that can be employed against predators; when a stink bug is mishandled, for example, it will release a foul odor.

Characteristics

Stink bug on a leaf.
Stink bug on a leaf.

There are thousands of species of stink bugs throughout the world. Two of the most well-known species are the brown stink bug (Euschistus servus) and the green stink bug (Acrosternum hilare or Chinavia hilaris). Both are commonly found throughout the US and other countries, particularly in Asia, where many species are thought to have originated.

Stink bugs range in color from brown to brilliant green, although many are duller shades designed to blend in with vegetation; a few, however, have bright orange markings that are thought to serve as a warning to predators. Nearly all species are distinguished by a triangle- or shield-shaped plate on their backs. Stink bugs are part of an order of insects sometimes called "true bugs," which do not chew with their mouths; instead, they have a proboscis that allows them to suck the liquids out of vegetation or other creatures.

Lifecycle

Colorful stink bug.
Colorful stink bug.

Many species of stink bugs reproduce rapidly, with some laying eggs several times a year. Females typically lay multiple batches of eggs, often on plant leaves, which hatch in about a week; it typically takes several additional weeks for the insects to mature from nymphs into adults. The nymphs closely resemble adults, although adults have four wings and the nymphs none.

Stink bugs can damage cotton fields.
Stink bugs can damage cotton fields.

These bugs generally are active from spring to late fall in most regions. At night, they are attracted to light and therefore can sometimes be seen flying around. Often, they hang around different types of vegetation, especially tomatoes, melons, and beans.

Agricultural Pests

Most stink bugs are plant eaters, making them serious pests to agriculture and home gardeners alike. In significant numbers, these species can be very damaging to crops, particularly peaches, soybeans, cotton, and grains. Certain species can damage stalks so that a plant cannot produce grain, or even kill seedlings. When they feed on peaches and tomatoes, they can create ugly scars and malformations called "catfacing."

Stink bugs are often attracted to beans.
Stink bugs are often attracted to beans.

A few species of stink bugs are considered helpful rather than harmful to plants. The anchor bug (Stiretrus anchorago) and the rough stink bug (Brochymena arborea), for example, prey on caterpillars, beetles, and other pests. Before assuming that a stink bug is harmful, a gardener may want to try to identify it.

Pest Control

Stink bugs can be difficult to control because they are resistant to some insecticides; there are a few varieties that do work, however, and they can be tried if the bugs become a problem. If they are found in a garden, cleaning the area thoroughly, including pulling up and removing weeds, disposing of all leaf litter and other waste, and washing pots and other garden items, can help reduce their numbers. Using a power washer to clean the outside of a house and any other outdoor structures may also help.

Stink bugs can be very damaging to peach crops.
Stink bugs can be very damaging to peach crops.

Homeowners should keep doors and windows well sealed to help prevent the bugs from getting in, as they often seek shelter inside houses during the winter. If stink bugs are found inside a home, they can be vacuumed up or gently picked up by hand and disposed of quickly. People should be cautious while handling stink bugs; they are not harmful to humans, but they will release their odor when handled roughly. The unpleasant smell tends to linger, but unlike the similar odor of a skunk, the scent can be washed away by using soap and water.

Stink Bugs as Food

Stink bugs are attracted to tomato plants.
Stink bugs are attracted to tomato plants.

Stink bugs are eaten in some parts of the world, and people who eat them often say that the bugs' strong odor enhances their flavor. In Laos, they are sometimes eaten fried or mixed into a paste along with spices and herbs. They are sometimes eaten live in Mexico or are mixed into salsa or used as part of the filling for tacos.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly are stink bugs?

Insecticides, which can be sprayed from crop dusters, may be used to control stink bug populations that threaten farms.
Insecticides, which can be sprayed from crop dusters, may be used to control stink bug populations that threaten farms.

Stink bugs are members of the family Pentatomidae, which encompasses over 4,700 species worldwide. They are named for their ability to emit a foul odor from glands located on their thorax when threatened or crushed. This defense mechanism helps deter predators and is a hallmark of their survival strategy.

Why do stink bugs release a foul odor?

Stink bugs release a foul odor as a defense mechanism to protect themselves from predators. The scent is produced by special glands located on the underside of their thorax. When they feel threatened, the stink bug will excrete a chemical cocktail that is unpleasant to both predators and humans, effectively discouraging attacks.

Are stink bugs harmful to humans or pets?

Cleaning the outside structure of a house with a power washer may help prevent stink bugs from invading a home.
Cleaning the outside structure of a house with a power washer may help prevent stink bugs from invading a home.

Stink bugs are not harmful to humans or pets in terms of health as they do not bite or sting and are not known to transmit diseases. However, their odor can be quite unpleasant and, in some cases, their presence can trigger allergies or asthma in sensitive individuals. They are more of a nuisance than a threat.

What do stink bugs eat?

Stink bugs are primarily herbivorous and feed on a wide variety of plants, including fruits, vegetables, and crops. Some species, like the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, are known to cause significant agricultural damage by piercing plant tissues to suck out sap, leading to disfigured and damaged produce.

How can I prevent stink bugs from entering my home?

To prevent stink bugs from entering your home, seal cracks and openings around windows, doors, and siding. Ensure that screens are intact and use weather stripping to close gaps. Stink bugs seek shelter indoors during colder months, so autumn is a critical time to fortify your home against these invasive pests.

Are there any natural predators of stink bugs?

Yes, stink bugs do have natural predators, including birds, bats, spiders, and predatory insects such as assassin bugs, parasitic flies, and wasps. In their native habitats, these predators help control stink bug populations. However, in regions where stink bugs are invasive, such as the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug in North America, natural predators may be less effective or absent.

Discussion Comments

coolvenom

Seems like they have made it to New York. I found one on my pillow when i got up from the bed. How did it get underneath me?

anon971936

I use BugStop from Spectracide. Spray all around outside any windows, doors. You have to make sure you spray the little seams. Keep pets away until dry. You really can't keep them all out. These sites that tell you to seal all cracks, etc.? That is not possible with stink bugs. Also you can put water and dishwashing liquid in a cup and drown them in that, for the peskies that get in. And I put screens over the outside vents of my ac to keep them from getting inside. I can't bear the things. Period.

stinky

I live in Taylor Mill, KY. I have never seen this bug out doors or indoors until this fall around mid September. Our AC went out after putting a lot of money out and still not working we decided to get a couple of window units to get us through the rest of the season. Not knowing any information about this new type of bug, we found putting in window units was a huge mistake.

I haven't seen much information about where they hibernate. I do know my curtains were covered and inside the pleat. I thought I was getting rid of them, but found the majority of them went into hibernating places. I put up a new curtain in my bedroom and had to take a picture off the wall to move the rod farther over on the wall. Behind the picture there were at least seven or eight of these bugs. I started looking behind all the pictures and found at least two behind every picture on the wall. In my information search on these bugs somewhere, I read if they're in your house, it's time to clean house and now I know what that meant.

I started going through every cabinet in my kitchen and they were everywhere, It was just awful to find. I literally cleaned house. I found them in my clothing drawers when I was changing out my summer clothes for winter clothes. I found them in my computer drawers and files. The only place I didn't find one is under the sink. Maybe they don't like the cleaning product smells.

Here we are in January and I'm still finding them. I can tell you for sure if there is one, there is another one near by. If you keep an eye out you will see another one. It's like they like to hang out with a buddy. I know they're not coming in; it's too cold, so the ones I'm finding are ones that were already in the house that I didn't find.

I am totally grossed out by this bug. It might as well be a cockroach because it's every where it doesn't belong. I cannot and will not go through another season like this year. I told my husband this house is going on the market. We live in a country like setting with many trees and bushes. I'm not living like this even if I have to walk away from it.

anon353466

Living with stink bugs is bad enough. Waking up in the middle of the night with one in your ear or (Eeek!) in your mouth is a nightmare. My husband and I fixed that problem by purchasing mosquito netting for the bed. Now, we can sleep without worry.

svenner7

I get a kick out of the little dudes! They move so slowly as if they are contemplating every step. I have never been bitten, bothered or sprayed with their stink.

amypollick

@anon348494: That's exactly how I feel about them and about those doggone pythons in the Everglades in Florida. I am reptile-phobic in general, but I'm rooting for the gators down there. Alligators belong in the Everglades. Pythons do *not*!

anon348494

These (brown) things must repopulate quickly. I live in Kentucky, and I could be wrong, but I don't ever remember seeing them growing up as a kid, or even just a few years ago. Now, they're just everywhere, and I live downtown in a city where there's only a limited amount of gardens/plant-life here for them to feed on, so I can't imagine what the farmers and country-folk must be experiencing. I did find one trying to crawl in my window, but I taped it up, so it's not really a issue anymore. Still doesn't mean I want them anywhere near my house or city though, because they're pests in every sense of the word. I'm normally pretty friendly to bugs. I take the spiders and ladybugs out when they occasionally make it in, but I show these things no mercy. I've been throwing them in a bottle with water at the bottom and letting them drown. A piece of me feels bad, because that's a cruel antagonizing death, but squashing them isn't a option, in this case. It just attracts more.

The simple fact is that they aren't native to this continent, and harm the ecosystem. Stuff like this directly, or indirectly causes mass-extinctions of the good bugs we need, like honey-bees. I'm not really implying these bugs specifically are causing that, but in a long chain of events, they could be. If they're repopulating this fast, that means they lack a natural predator, and balance to the environment. I'm just fulfilling nature's role a bit. I'm their predator. Not going to let them go to waste though, I'll bury them and let the earth-worms digest them into fertilized soil.

anon310229

Someone mentioned a large stink bug that doesn't seem to smell and is half the size of a pencil. Others are talking about stink bugs that bite. I wonder if what you are seeing is actually a "wheel bug". They look like stink bugs (prehistoric!) but are much larger. They have a half wheel like a stegosaurus behind their neck.

They are good bugs - they eat the stink bugs (and wasps too), but they have a nasty bite. Do not pick them up. Get rid of the stink bugs and they will leave.

anon298656

I live in the Bay area of Northern California. About a month ago, I happened on a video of stink bug babies huddled together on the underside of a leaf! When disturbed, they cuddled up to each other, and when they saw no more danger, they played like little puppies, jostling about, and running around! One seemed a bit larger, and seemed to supervise when it got too crazy!

These weren't the brown marmorated stink bugs everyone's dealing with, but the colorful green with rosy red and white spots all around the edges of their bodies, with a small area in the middle of their backs remaining shiny black with white spots as when they were babies! The babies were all exactly the same, except that larger one, which had the black with white spots area in the center of its back, but was half green and rosy red underneath! It was a juvenile – they molt five to seven times as they grow up! Each one was like a tiny little black with white spots dome-shaped wind-up toy. They had little feet like baby shoes, running around having fun! They were so cute!

I watched that video so many times, and became a pest to my family when I showed it to everybody! About a month ago, my grown son came in from the garden with a leaf, the underside of which had a group of those very same colored babies! I had a volleyball-sized clear glass, globe style vase, open at the top almost and as wide as a deli pint plastic container. I put about three or four inches of good plant soil in, with a small bottle with water in it to hold clover plants in all their stages of blooming, because these are perfect food for many garden insects!

I used a deli lid, cut the center out, taped a piece of screen over the large center hole, (1/2" tape strips, to leave a large air passage) and put my little babies into their new home! I have enjoyed watching them grow up, and have no epidemic here to deal with, as I only saw one other like mine in our garden, which I took inside to join my others, as I am also loving my 6-foot high tomato plant!

My little three-year-old granddaughter, Bella, loved these beautiful little bugs so much, she would not go to bed without her much smaller version bug jar in her hand! But, I would be finding great satisfaction in wholesale slaughter of those hideous and invasive SBs that all you other people have been dealing with, to be sure!

anon298458

I have found a few brown marmorated stink bugs around my house over the past few weeks. I didn't really pay much attention until my four year old son was found to have a cluster of bites on his torso, within 24 hours of the bites he started complaining of headache and vomited a few times accompanied with a low grade fever.

Three days later, his fever is gone but the bites have spread out and his headache remains. Everywhere I look online, they say these bugs don't bite, but I believe they do.

anon297098

After reading post 207, a couple of minutes ago, I'm terrified to sleep. Right now, I am sitting on my bed preparing to sleep. I just noticed a stink bug on just hanging out on my light plate, or whatever that is. I'm too scared of them to pick it up with a napkin or something. We don't have a vacuum, and even if we did, I wouldn't be able to use it because it's like 11 p.m. I would usually deal with this type of situation by asking my mom to come take it out of my room, but she's sleeping.

I don't want that stink bug flying or landing on my face while I'm sleeping, or even worse land in my mouth. I do tend to sleep with my mouth hanging wide open. I've never been so scared before going to sleep. Call me whatever you desire; I just don't like stink bugs. Any kind of bugs, insects, and whatever critters there are, I do not like.

Dear stink bug: Please do me the favor of staying on the light plate all night. If you would, leave my bed, blankets, and body alone for the night. Thank you. Sincerely, The girl who is terrified of your species.

anon294983

Today I was bitten by something and the only bug I saw was a stink bug! It bit me on my fingertip and caused severe pain that has lasted for seven hours now! At first the pain was so severe I wasn't sure what had happened. Then three of my fingers went numb and the finger it bit me on swelled to twice its normal size. Nobody believes it was a stink bug! Has anyone else ever experienced such pain or numbness from a bite?

anon294921

I lived in Pennsylvania and am now in West Virginia, and the stink bugs never bothered me until today, when I saw one so huge I didn't know what to do. I swear it was half the size of a pencil (long that is). My vacuum almost wouldn't suck it up.

I've been battling these in my house for about three years and never smelled their stench, even the squished ones, but can someone please tell me that not all stink bugs get that big. If so, I think I may move. I have a two year old daughter and I don't want these critters crawling all over her.

anon276113

I have recently accepted a particular stink bug as a pet. I find them quite nice and have named him/her Stuart. I hope this doesn't come back to bite me in the butt, but their harmless nature seems pleasant. If you want to get rid of them, loosely grab them with a tissue and release them away from your house.

anon271319

Look up "How to Make a Stinkbug Trap". Check out the ones with video results. Also on Youtube- "Best Stinkbug Trap Ever". A guy from the Pittsburgh, Pa. area came up with an idea for a trap using a large plastic pop bottle and an LED light. Instructions are in the video. Also, if you find the video that is a segment that Channel 11 news did on him, he tells how to make a smaller version that you can use to scoop them up by hand.

anon256424

I live in western PA and my home has been invaded by stink bugs. It's driving me crazy. They found a way into my bedroom and I can't even read a book at night without one buzzing right into my face or hair. They are also in other rooms.

I freaking hate them and want them all to die!

anon256204

Worst thing ever just happened to me! I went to eat a chocolate chip cookie, and what I thought was a cluster of chips turned out to be a stink bug! It took forever to wash the taste out of my mouth. I noticed a burning sensation when I first bit the bug, and now the inside of my mouth is feeling.

I have always hated stink bugs; they are the only bugs in the world that actually give me the "willies". Yes, they should be exterminated without mercy. They are an invasive species, and are harmful to the ecosystem because they eat our native bugs' food. As for being God's creatures, He created them for China, not for my den. Head lice, mosquitoes and termites are God's creatures too, but no one in their right mind would tolerate their existence in their house.

And whoever said "thank goodness they're not cockroaches" never got one in their mouth! Cockroaches are perfectly edible. Your breakfast cereal contains them. That stink bug was clearly poisonous. I'm just glad I didn't swallow it, or I'd probably be puking by now. Calling all bug-squashers: this invasion ends now!

anon252811

Reading all the posts was both amusing and informative. I'm from Jersey, and every year I've noticed a dominance in certain insects. One year it was the year of the potato bug, the following year were fireflies. Ever year is different, but the past two have been the year of the stinkbug. They don't bother me at all. Live and let live.

Post numbers 178 and 179 and 65 were so cute. I kind of like having them around, too, but I feel if people must get rid of them, use pyrethrins. Also maybe try something that repels them rather than filling the environment with toxins that kill everything else. Some posts are downright scary. Melting them with wax? Burning their legs off? I think their problem goes way beyond the stinkbug. Just saying...

anon249288

I just finished reading all the tips and horror stories about the stinkbugs. I'll spare you my story except to say that I discovered that unscented Huggies got rid of the smell off my hand one day after soap and water failed.

anon244051

I live in Sunbury, PA, and have SBs. They are only in two rooms, and both have window AC units. Once I took the clock off the wall the change the batteries and the SBs were chilling in the battery case. I merely kill them with a fly swatter. I haven't experienced the smell people talk about. SBs are becoming Pennsylvania's national bird.

anon242313

I find these in my basement from time to time. If the weather is nice, I take them outside. But in winter, I set up a little container for the bug with apple and lettuce changed out every few days and a drop or two of water daily, and they do just fine until spring. What is really interesting about these bugs is that once you feed them this way, they never do their stink business! I've kept them for months. Have become rather fond of them, actually. If I don't find them, and they die in the basement, it stinks like crazy. I cannot stand that smell.

anon240096

Yes, these bugs do bite! I have been bitten twice! Both times I went to get dressed and one was in my clothes. It hurts pretty bad. It's a bite, not a sting, though, thank goodness.

I believe they are nesting in my closet, but I can't seem to find the nest but it stinks like crazy. Has anyone else had them nesting in the home? I just want these nasty things out of my closet.

anon220544

I live in Maryland. I had seen one once in my house near the windows. But hey, it doesn't bother me at all. I was on the desktop doing my homework or using the computer and a "stink bug" came to look around. It sat there to look at my whole body. Funny thing I did was I pointed my finger closer to stink bug and moved it to left and right. Hilarious body moves from stink bug reactions. I placed my palm on the table, expected the stink bug to crawl on it and realized it did.

The stink bug dd not move at all until I released this kindness bug out to outside. By the way, it doesn't bite. Maybe you did something bad.

anon216904

All you need to rid your home of stink bugs is a gallon sprayer. Take four tablespoons of Vicks Vapo Rub and add it to the sprayer. Then add one gallon of warm water. Then add one third cup of Ajax dish soap (the orange kind). Spray this all over the outside of your house and the stink bugs will leave. The stink bugs hate the smell. The Vicks Vapo Rub will make several gallons if needed, but it only took one gallon to do my whole house and out buildings.

anon182874

The brown spots do come off with a solution of Murphy's Oil Soap. I am collecting and organizing information on my blog.

anon182004

I awoke at 5 a.m. this morning with a very painful stinging in my mouth and something hard on my tongue. I quickly spat into my hand and headed to the bathroom.

When I flipped on the light, I discovered a green stink bug that I quickly flung into the sink and squashed with a face cloth. My tongue, and the inside of both my upper and lower lips have been stinging and have had a numb feeling all day. It is almost as if I have burned my tongue really badly. I rinsed my mouth out profusely with cold water and grabbed the Scope for a few good swishes.

Question: Should I be concerned about any dangers or ensuing effects that I have not yet experienced? There is some minor swelling and the general discomfort continues. I did take a Benadryl and it helped some. Anyone have some words of wisdom?

anon181211

I hear a rumor (if you live in Southwest VA) that Virginia Tech was conducting studies on hundreds of thousands of stink bugs from 2009-2010 and released them into the wild last summer. That is what caused the massive overpopulation in our area.

I swear, up until then, i had seen maybe five in my life. now I've had to exterminate thousands of them, and I'm not even an exterminator! luckily i have never smelled one, but people tell me of their horrid stench and I'm always afraid to go near them. it scares the pants off me when they fly off right before you trap it!

anon180332

The brown stains only come off over time I have found. Wear rubber gloves when catching them. Bag them up in a plastic bag and tie it shut so they lack air and they die fast. It's easier then flushing toilets which wastes a lot of water!

If anyone knows the chemical composition of the stinkbug liquid they produce please state it, I read one type of stinkbug produces a poisonous liquid.

anon179828

I live in Baltimore, Md. I now have stink bugs, and they are driving me crazy. I went to Lowes and purchased a product by Bayer, which seems to kill them on contact. They seem to be dying off, but the only thing is, you have to spray so much. I come home to about 2-5 every other night. I caulked, used soapy water, bleach, and that did help a little. Now can someone tell me how to keep them from my home.

anon178336

The stink bugs came from China on pallets off loaded in Allentown, PA area in 1998(what I read). I have gotten 500 out of my house couple of years ago and worse this past fall/winter, gave up counting.

I use Fantastic bathroom cleaner and it works great! You clean while you kill bugs. We get about 100 - 200 on screens of windows that are opened in the fall. I think they are entering my house in the fall via our sky lights/windows. They are crop destroyers, especially soybeans in China. I use the fantastic to clean off the smell too.

anon177342

I live in Beaver County, PA, and we have a gazillion of them all winter in my preschool classroom. If I had a dime for every time a child said, "There's a stink bug!", I would have paid off my mortgage by now. We don't have them in Ellwood City, but we just bought a house and they are in our new bedroom. Ugh! I don't want them flying around our bedroom at night, creeping on us while we are sleeping.

Any ideas on how to get rid of them without emitting that nasty stench of burnt hair and rubber, please elaborate! One thing I've done was put them in a baggie filled with liquid soap. They seem to die right away, then I can seal the bag and put it in the trash.

anon175539

With almost 200 posts before me, I can't possibly read them all to see if anyone else has observed what terrible flyers these bugs are. They continually crash into walls and fall down. They also don't seem to have perfected landing all that well either. I'm no psychologist, but I'd have to say as bug IQs go, they are pretty low on the scale. Easy to capture, willing to stay in a cup or something with a light lid on top without making any effort to escape, continually falling down in captivity. They seem like the Benny Hill of bugs. Except to the stink part, they are so stupid, one can't help but laugh at their moronic behavior.

anon175466

I live in Pittsburgh and I, too, have stink bugs. Now, I noticed they are coming in through my recessed lights. Anyone have suggestions how to keep them from coming in. I know it is a potential fire hazard to seal up the lights. Do you think putting wire mesh over the lights would be safe? I have 30 of these lights and it would be a huge project but I would be willing to do this if it would be safe to do so.

anon171327

thinking of ordering praying mantis eggs. remember to seal up any openings to attic -- all cracks -- will make next year better. They die with most flying insect killers but it's not immediate. I also got a terrible headache last sep. and ringing ears. Might be a link. Still giving me problems. Also need to install full screens in windows.

anon165138

We have them all over silver spring, Maryland. I hate them. I have tried the soap and water and that makes them disappear from one area but of course they are in another area. Instead of flushing them all the time i went on ebay and bought a Bugzooka which sucks them up in a tube and then once you have a lot in the tube then i pour into a pickle jar filled with rubbing alcohol. Once the jar is filled then i empty into the toilet. I just know i hate them and won't touch one. I have a bugzooka for each floor of my house.

anon161310

stink bugs do bite. i got bitten by one one night in bed. it hurt so bad i originally thought it was a bee then realized it was a stink bug when i woke up. the sore busted open and i got MRSA in it.

the wound did not heal up correctly till the end of summer. It secreted a while pus and sometimes just leaked. it was gross and now i am at war with these stink bugs.

anon159360

i have never seen a stinkbug and hope i never do. if i were all you people I'd make bug traps somehow. I'm sure i could make one. When my building had roaches i took big pieces of cardboard and duct taped the surface with the sticky side up and put a tiny piece of food in the center. i was catching thousands of roaches, no lie.

anon159193

I've lived in Huntington, West Virginia, for the last four years. This winter is the first time I have seen the stink bug. I have asked the natives here about these bugs, and they could not tell me anything. So I got on the web and here I am.

I have been killing the alien looking things all winter. I had one on my leg when I slapped it off and run like hell. I ended up with some sticky stuff on my hand what the bleep was that! It was easy to wash off. I did not smell it, the dog ate it before I got back to it. I will take everybody's word for it on that subject.

anon159148

I had an addition put on my house last summer. Then windows were put in, but not finished quite yet when the weather started to cool off, especially at nights, and around the gaps of the unfinished windows, the stinkbugs gained access to my house. They hid in the ceiling via the recessed lights, and I had no idea just how many I had until the fall warmed up briefly again for just a few days, and they all came out of the ceiling from the recessed lights, and since by this time, the windows were sealed up, they were trapped in our sun room.

I have a water vacuum that I used to vacuum them up, and I lost count after about 250 over the course of a few days. Every day, there were less and less. Now, in March, we are finding one or two a day coming out since the weather is warming back up again, but hopefully the worst is over inside since the house room is now sealed up. I just wonder, since the attic vent blew down in a wind storm, how many are in my attic? I fear there may be thousands that may make their way back to the sunroom recessed lights if they can get access.

I did hear that they will leave the same way they came in, in the summer, to return to the warm outdoors to breed/eat, so that's the time, after they have left (or most have, anyway), to seal up the house well - get the caulk out.

I plan to plant a garden this year, lots of fruits and veggies, and I know they're in my yard, so I read recently that praying mantis will eat just about anything, including stink bugs; they have no problem with the stink. So I'm going to order three or four praying mantis egg cases online, as well as other beneficial insects, and hopefully that will control the stink bug population naturally. A word of warning: if you are going for the "hired bugs" to do the dirty work, stay away from pesticides. You can harm your good bugs, too. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm definitely ordering my mantis this spring. It sure can't hurt, and they're cool little guys to watch, anyway. That's one bug I don't mind having around.

anon157203

Oh man, seems like stink bugs are everywhere in Millersville, PA during the spring, summer, and fall. Some during winter, too, but it isn't like the other times of year. In some classes I've been in there would be stink bugs all over the windows and ceiling. Once I tried counting them, but it got too depressing so I ceased around 30. It isn't unusual to see a random stink bug flying through class, though luckily most seem content just to crawl about the window. And it just seems to get worse every year.

anon155564

i live in pennsylvania and it's not really that bad. I didn't get all of them when people did except in november only i found 2, december only a couple, and january not that many, but in february my daddy killed two. i found one in my parents bedroom and that's it.

An easy way to kill them is to cover them with a tissue, but don't squeeze it too hard, and flush it down the toilet. Stink bugs drown easily so they can't fly out of the toilet. it's the easiest way and you don't have to worry about the stench! hoped that worked.

anon155106

Yes, I have severe allergy issues and continuously can't breathe. Last winter I had an allergic reaction so bad and couldn't breathe, I ended up in the hospital for seven days. If this year is going to be worse than last, I will die for sure.

anon154226

Stink bugs do bite! I have been bitten! Hurts like a bee sting and left a red mark for at least a week which remained painful for days! --bsd

anon154090

I live in Northern Virginia and for the first time we have stink bugs in our house. They have been here over the past winter. I have developed serious sinus problems and my COPD has gotten worse. Does anyone know how to rid these critters from the house? Please help!

anon153941

To the allergist, yes, ever since these horrid creatures arrived in my area (Virginia) I have had constant sinus issues.

There is nothing good one can say about the stink bug. I once heard they were brought in here (btw, the blanket statement of "commonly found in the south" is misleading. I have lived in the Midatlantic and south almost all of my life and it has been only the past three years that stinkbugs have been a part of my life!). Anyway, I heard they were brought to the states because of the plague of ladybugs we had at the time.

And I really, truly wonder, what Einstein thought. Um, yeah, let's use stinkbugs to get rid of the ladybugs.

The other posters are correct: the stink bug rests not. We even had some in the house during last year's awful winter!

anon153682

i live in Pennsylvania and i hate stink bugs. every time i am coming into my house we have about 20-30 stink bugs on my porch and door. i am scared to death of them. it's getting so bad that i wear sweats and long sleeves and high socks and gloves. i can't even sleep at night.

the main place they seem to be at the most is my bedroom. and when i go some place else they are usually right around me because no one else in my house sees them very often. my dad thinks i am overreacting, but they are ugly annoying pests. can anyone tell me how to make them not like me anymore?

anon151351

I live in Central/Western Maryland. It is the middle of the winter and we are infested! I think that one of our problems is that our house is directly in front of an apple and peach orchard, and we have many fruit trees and bushes in our yard. I vacuum/discard hundreds every day.

I have a very difficult time sleeping at night because I have woken up so many times to have a SB crawling on me. I am generally not freaked out by bugs, but these little stinkers really get to me.

I get mild seasonal allergies every spring and fall. This fall and throughout the winter I have been suffering from what I consider severe allergies.

Whenever there is a warmer day and there are even more SB around, my symptoms get even worse. I have nasal congestion, sneezing, rashes/itch, and respiratory issues. Does anyone else have these issues? I know that these bugs are the culprits!

Thank you to everyone for their suggestions on how to get rid of the bugs. I will be going down the list and trying every method until there is success!

anon149964

We live in Roanoke VA and have had a stink bug infestation in our home for three years. The first year they appeared in the house. We have large windows and they would swarm onto the windows as the sun shined in. We kept our vacuum handy with an extended wand and would vacuum several hundred a day. People would ask you in hushed tones, "do you have stinkbugs." The people that did not have them three years ago now have them.

We sealed around all of our windows with "Great Stuff" and found a spray that kills them. The active ingredient is Cypermethrin. We found it in concentrate form at a hardware store. It does work. We still have stinkbugs in the house but not as many. I have been told they live in the walls and their lifespan is three years. We now kill them and dispose of their crackly little bodies and we are hoping that we are killing the ones left in the house and have sealed most of the openings where they have access.

In the warm weather there are thousands outside so I don't think we will ever be rid of them permanently but I don't want them in the house. For those who want to live with them peacefully, good for you. I don't want to live with them. They have flown into our drinks, dropped into food on the stove and plates, flown into our heads and dropped into our beds.

I find them extremely annoying. I have tried to talk my husband into letting me set up a bug zapper in the house to zap them but he said it would be too stinky. Good luck to all in your eradication methods and great suggestions for soap applications for our garden.

anon149688

We are in Western MD and even though its winter we are still having issues with these creatures. We use duct tape to capture them. Every room in the house has its own roll of duct tape! The cold does not kill them! As soon as it warms up they are up and running again.

We've resorted to keeping the temperature in the house between 55 and 60 degrees to slow them down. To those who insist that they are harmless, these stink bugs did more damage to my garden than any squash beetle ever did! They can destroy a zucchini plant in days. Every cucumber I grew had to be thrown away. They destroyed the last half of my total tomato harvest.

If they keep spreading, expect serious price increases to local produce in grocery stores as farmers work harder to produce healthy crops. This coming year I'm resorting to raised beds covered with screening to try to get a decent harvest.

anon149572

Its 2/11, and all winter I've been catching 8-10 per day. What works for me is my recycling bottles. I just stick the bottle up to the bug and it falls in. If I miss one and it falls, I use the cap to scrape it into the bottle. I don't put anything in the bottle but the bugs -- their own smell kills them! It seems I always have fresh containers available. after use I put to curb as normal. Also, I use lids and spatter screens when cooking on stove or open bowls.

I'm in Plum Boro. This is my third year with the SB. First year, a few, second many more, and this past fall season, inundated. I could even smell them when cutting the grass in Oct. and Nov. That's the only time I noticed them in the grass.

I also noticed they tend to hibernate in pairs behind stuff. I capture the big ones and smaller ones (must be the youngins).

I will tell you, when outside I would flick them as hard as I could with my finger, hoping for an instant death. I once went to flick one and it saw me. It raised its back end and two squirts flew out. Looked like tobacco juice! Anyway, I wouldn't flick anymore cause maybe I unknowingly attracted more.

anon146303

I think these little critters are neat. I can understand how they are considered a nuisance, but once you put all that aside and get to know them, they can be really fascinating to watch.

I can relate to poster #178; they like to land on my guitar while I'm playing as well. They are very people oriented and enjoy doing what your doing. If I'm washing the dishes, they often land on the faucet to lend advice.

Being sassy is another thing they are good at. Whenever I've had enough and swat at one, they fly back around and try to land on my face or clothing - as if to say "hehe, you want to play?! okay :)"

Observing one up close is a treat. There's one in my kitchen that likes to "wash" her feet sometimes. It sort of looks like she's typing and I say "hello there, are you sending your friends a message on the 'eradicate humans forum'?" Of course, they don't reply per-say, but they do love wiggling their little antennae. I often wonder if they are trying to signal me, groove to the tunes or just get a feel for what i'm up to.

Stink bugs are very unique creatures and so very unlike, say, ants. Ants seem so busy and focused on themselves. Not stink bugs. Have you noticed how carefree & unhurried they are when climbing amongst your stuff? Laid back bugs are the best... just my kind of insect.

The next time you see one of these little rascals doing their thing, please pause for a moment and observe their bugliness. They've evolved to a point where nothing really bugs them any more. I believe there is a lot to be learned from a stink bug.

anon145514

I thought stink bugs were just a pest as well but today one appeared on my lap while I was playing guitar. It actually made its way to the top of my guitar and sat there for two hours listening to me play. When I finished it turned and looked straight at me for a while and happily stayed with the guitar for the rest of the night.

The same bug (I can tell because one of its wings is visibly damaged) will come out of hiding and sit on my guitar most times that I play.

This has been going on for about a week, I'm thinking it's the vibrations but the bug is very polite and doesn't get in my way. Stink bugs seem to have a softer side for music!

anon143759

Don't worry so much about these things everybody. This summer go to your local hardware stores and you will find my new invention. A stink bug eliminator. Oh yeah!

anon143572

Hot shot ant killer plus! These darn things are all over the inside of my house and it's 20 degrees outside! It's freezing in my house as well because we don't have heat, yet these little freaks are every where.

Hotshot ant killer plus kills them on contact! It works! Praise jesus i found something that works!

anon139988

I have been killing stink bugs all winter. I have allergies and they have gotten worse this winter. My nose is running all the time. I also was treated for a sinus infection recently. This is in response to the allergist. Please, can anybody help?

anon138338

i recently replaced the siding on my house and found thousands of them underneath of the panels. i stuck them all in jars and put them in the freezer for a few minutes -- all dead.

anon131773

I am an allergist studying whether stink bugs can cause allergies. Has anyone who has been in contact with them developed nasal symptoms, sinus symptoms, worsening asthma, or skin rashes?

anon129225

One time, at my grandparents house, i was about to wash my hands when i saw a really bright green bug. it was in the regular shape of a stinkbug, legs, "shield" and all, but no little funky designs. just plain bright green all over. it was kind of cool. i don't like them but they are kind of neat.

anon125907

Start checking you store bought mulch. I think they might be laying eggs in the trees they use and we have been paying for the invested mulch. just a thought. how many of you have been adding mulch to your yards?

anon122427

I've about had it with these nasty bugs. I'm finding at least one a day, sometimes two and while that doesn't seem bad to some, to me it stinks. God help me if I ever find several at once, I'll lose it.

I make my boyfriend carry them to the toilet and flush them but I noticed something interesting today and after reading some of these posts, I figured out why.

Last night, one of my dogs was acting really bizarre,trying to hide in my closet, my back pack, etc. she left my bedroom and wouldn't come back in. She was staring around like she saw a ghost. Shortly after, I found a giant stink bug on the ceiling and after removing it, she was all right.

Tonight, another one of my dogs was sleeping between my legs under a sheet and came out, also acting weird, though that's not unusual for her. Anywho, she was staring at the wall behind my head (in the dark) and wouldn't turn her gaze so I made my boyfriend turn on the light and sure enough, a SB. Soon as we went after it, she crawled back under the blanket and between my legs.

I'm not sure if they just smell these SBs or if they let off a stink after one of the other dogs reacts to one and then they smell em? Either way, I'm grateful for my dogs sniffing their nasty selves out. I can't take them anymore!

anon121291

I have never seen or heard of stink bugs before in my 47 years of living in central PA. The infestation of these bugs have given me a new phobia, and I am calling it "stink bug phobia".

I am not usually frightened by bugs, spiders, etc., but I am having nightmares (when I can sleep) also I check my clothing inside and out before wearing them and shake out the bed spreads every night just to make sure I am not sleeping with them or wearing them.

I had recently cleaned out our spare room where we had stored boxes of old clothing, my art and drawing supplies and other stuff. Anyway, while cleaning this room,I must have killed about 500 of them by using an old pickle jar, water and Dawn dish liquid and medical gloves (in case I had to pick them up to dump in the jar). I had found them in the curtains (inside the folds), in my drawing tablets (between the pages), inside my laptop case (there were about 25 in there), in the boxes of clothing, which were immediately washed and taken to Goodwill.

I am developing a huge paranoia as well as my new "stink bug phobia" and have never wanted winter and the cold weather to arrive as bad as I do this year and of course this is the year that it is nearing the end of October and it is still in the mid 70's during the day.

I appreciate reading over everyone's comments and ways to get rid of these bugs and I will get on with some of your ideas first thing in the morning, especially cleaning out the window sills, screens, remove the remaining A/C unit and lock up the windows tight.

I hope to avoid this problem next spring and pray they go away when it gets cold. I did not know until reading some of your comments that if you kill them or leave whatever you killed them in around with an odor they will multiply and also that they can't live under 50 degrees. I am going to try the ice trick as well as my jar with water and Dawn in it.

I just want to say thanks to all who have given their advice, stink bug stories as well as more information regarding stink bugs and I also agree with some of you that stated that it is not right and downright greedy for some people to make $25 a booklet (that is his bargain price, it was up to $45 at one time) off of innocent people just frustrated and looking for information on how to get rid of stink bugs when his neighbor gave him the information that he compiled and is now selling for free!

I wonder if the neighbor knows if that guy is making money off of the ideas that he shared for with his neighbor for free. If I were the neighbor, I would be rather upset.

But, if I can just give a bit of advice to others that are looking on how to get rid of stink bugs, just read these comments and you will get all the information you will ever need on how to get rid of stink bugs it is all free!

Don't waste your money and be scammed by greedy people trying to make a buck on a serious stink bug problem we are all suffering from, just read these comments shared by others. Thanks and good luck to all and may we all finally be able to eradicate this horrible infestation of these nasty, ugly, stinky bugs and finally be able to sleep at night. Thanks for everyone's time and advice. I certainly appreciate it and the price was right.

anon119378

We have been battling these pests three years here in Lancaster County PA. Yes they come in through the air conditioners. They also fly in and sometimes even hitch a ride on you. In winter, spring and summer, hardly see them, they seem to be a fall pest. Nothing we've tried beats spraying them with a mild dish soap solution, any brand, the cheaper the better. Kills in seconds. These bugs aren't very strong.

anon119326

I have stink bugs nesting in my ridge vent, which I can clearly see from two windows located on the second floor above the family room roof.

In the fall when the temperature drops overnight and it warms up to about 70 degrees in the afternoon, they come out of hiding. I decided that I will single handedly kill each and every sting bug that lands on the screens of my windows.

I was using Raid which worked just fine, but the pesticide was bothering other members in the household, so I switched to Dawn and water in a spray bottle. You just have to make sure you spray their undersides to kill them. Oh, and guess what? The eastern bluebirds are helping me out. And they say they have no natural predators. I think that the sparrows that are also landing on my roof eat the stink bugs too. The only thing is that the birds cannot get at the stink bugs that land on vertical surfaces out of reach because the birds cannot hover in mid-air.

anon118823

you must remove your screens and clean out the nests between the screens and window frames. they will nest in there all winter and come out in the spring again. also keep your drapes/blinds down at night when you turn your lights on because the light will draw them. remember, they are looking for a dark, warm place to nest for the winter.

anon118012

These bugs are horrible prehistoric looking critters. I found one on my arm last night as I got into bed and had the lights out. I rubbed my arm and ran my hand right over the crispy critter. Well needless to say I was scratching all night thinking more were on me.

This morning I tore my entire bedroom apart and found them coming in through the window a/c unit. Well I mixed up some blue Dawn dish soap and water in a spray bottle and began to spray the entire room, around both windows, stripped my bed and washed everything.

Over the vent in the a/c unit I cut one of my pair of pantyhose and made a net to catch them if they decided to enter that way. I put duct tape all around my unit and sprayed the Dawn mixture all over the baseboards.

I washed the two sets of curtains and they were up in the pleated area of the material. They are the most disgusting thing I have ever seen. I have my a/c on the coldest setting, with a box fan running and my bedroom is like antarctica but if it's the cold that keeps them away, I will just have to dress extra warm at night.

Good luck to all in your plan of attack. My main concern is what are they here for and what can we catch from them. The EPA will give us that answer after we are all on our death beds from some dreaded stink bug pandemic. Nice, huh?

anon117837

For real. How can people keep saying they are harmless? Crop damage= harm. You got me. i have filled a spray bottle with bleach and sprayed them directly one by one, but nothing happened. they just sit there, and they probably laugh too.

i need to get rid of them. i flush them when i find them one at a time inside, but saturday my daughter was going through a bag of books and there were 10 to 20 swarming out of the bag.

i had a cup with a lid and straw an some coke in it i swept the bugs into the cup and put the lid back on, and they were swarming the lid. i threw the cup away with the bugs inside. there are way to many to use this method, though. it took 90 minutes to find a capture for these.

please someone help and don't make me pay 25 bucks. the guy who told you what to do did not charge you.

anon117703

To the person from Westchester County, NY: you spoke too soon. They are here! The last thee weeks I have been scooping these up, one or two a day, from inside my home. I have never seen anything more than an occasional spider or cricket inside in the 25 years I have lived here. I am in southern westchester.

anon117690

I found something simple to use on stink bugs. I was cleaning my windows with Windex Original with Ammonia-D when a stink bug flew to the window then flew away. So, I thought, spray the screen with Windex and sure enough, no stink bugs on the screen for two whole days. Then I directly sprayed a stink bug with two squirts of Windex while he was crawling on my porch and he crawled for about 30 seconds then belly upped.

So I have sprayed about three screens and cleaned the windows and so far no stink bugs. They fly close to the screens but do not land on them. It also helps to remove screens and clean between screens and windows frame for any nests.

I don't know if I will have to spray the screens again in a couple of days but with cooler weather approaching here in Pittsburgh, PA. Hopefully the stink bugs will already be at some else's house nesting for the winter.

anon117647

I live on the south side of pittsburgh. I have found many ways to kill stink bugs without the stink!

Me and my husband have tried many different ways, but one of the most effective is catch them in a closable container (like a pill bottle) and put it in the freezer or shake it until they die and throw it away. I have burned their legs and waited until they die to throw them away. I caught two in a container with a spider and the spider won.

If you keep your house cold they won't enter it either. I don't have very many, maybe one or two a day but that's it. these methods are not meant for a lot of them. Do not let stink bugs just stay in the house because they will migrate. Don't squish them because they will multiply. try keeping all you fruit and veggies in the fridge where they won't go. However bananas will turn brown a lot quicker.

I also read that they will not lay eggs in a house, but on leaves. these bugs are annoying and freak me out.

I don't want more so I figure out ways to kill them. I have also taken a cigar tube and trapped one and blew smoke in it and closed it. it was dead very quick. they are not very strong, although they are very ballsy. If you keep your AC on over the next few days and nights, then they most likely won't enter your house and if they do, it won't be very many. they like very warm temperatures and the reason that they are coming out so bad is because the are trying to find somewhere warm to hide over the winter months.

keep your heat off and they won't come in when it's cold. keep the AC on if possible. it works for me as far as outside goes. the guy that put number 155 on here has the best solution: a cocktail and a jar of ice and make the best of it. lol. -- Shannon and Don

anon117464

we have a stink bug that look like a scorpion? Has anyone heard of it? It smells awful when we kill them.

anon117352

We were sitting out on the porch in West Newton Pa. when I realized I had three times more stink bugs than the week before. I found out that my neighbor was smashing them. So it is true they multiply from the odor.

Realizing that they can't't survive in temperatures below 50 we filled a glass jar with ice, picked them up with a kleenex and put them right on the ice and they died instantly. Needless to say we sat the jar on the porch banister and three and more SB circled around and landed by the jar. Very true they follow the odor. We ended up catching over 30 SB. We then took off the lid and flushed the dead SOBS down the toilet.

Can't't wait for another fun filled day of SB games. By the way, have a cocktail of your choice while performing this task. You say all kind of crazy things about these SOB. Have a good SB season. It is what it is. Deal with it!

anon117013

There is a problem with windows in general. With them cracked open, the bugs can crawl through the slot when you don't have a full size screen. A half screen is notgood.

anon115264

I read to smash up 10 cigarettes and mix with soap to spray on them. There were other good tips at online, but I don't think anyone's found a perfect solution yet.

anon114670

you have to remove your screens and clean out the nests to get rid of stink bugs. you can spray all you want but if you don't get the nests, spraying does not help.

stink bugs nests in little areas that are not out in the open. simply pop out your screens and clean window frames. Remember, stink bugs leave a trail for other stink bugs to know whose house to enter and what window, screen, crack or hole to enter by. You must clean their nests and trail.

anon114595

My nephew picked 1327 off of his house. Suburb of Pgh.

anon114339

Hibernate in the lawn? I don't think so. They obviously live through the winter in the attic crawling under the insulation.

It's our job next year to seal up all cracks and entries into the attic. If they freeze I don't think they survive. Some critters like toads crawl about three feet into the ground to survive the winter. I don't know about other insects. Some may survive freezing.

anon114338

I had posted #53 and #83 on this "blog". Some folks here may be interested reading blogs under "the best way to control Stink Bugs" here on Wisegeek. I believe there is a bit more info under that area. I've read recent posts here, and suggest that to you all.

I would strongly disagree with anyone who thinks SBs are a harmless bug and suggesting to leave it alone.

Whatever method you are using, make sure to rid the smell from the area of killing. In other words, once SBs are sucked up, clean the machine, or you'll have more SBs. If you put water in the garage to catch them, empty the bucket of dead bugs, or you'll have thousands in the garage the next day. Do not allow free standing SB smelling things to remain; it only attracts more!

We know they are indeed attracted to their own "stink". Once you've created stink, get rid of the stink asap.

I've posted on "best way of controlling" as well as others. Much info there.

My vehicle had to be towed away and professionally cleaned when it became infested. It was not an old junk box truck, so I was surprised. Getting into vehicles through molding and trim work, just like a house.

Do not let this cooler weather allow you to leave it alone. They are now in your home and spending a lovely fall/winter season on your good graces.

Once it's a little cooler, go into crawl spaces, under porches, attics, above garages etc., and kill them as they are in hibernation.

The average SB lives three years and can breed at least two times a year. If it's really warm, then three times. Kill them before they make more!

I agree with anything that kills them or anyone helping in the battle of the bug.

Reminds me of the movie "The Birds". Not good.

Crop loss forms have been sent to the government. Hope they help the farmer.

This is a no-good creature, with nothing good to offer.

Thanks to those involved in killing the Stink Bug!

anon114198

i have a phobia of flying bugs, particularly bees and stink bugs! if i had dime for every time someone said to me 'they won't bother you if you don't bother them' and the best one of all 'they're more afraid of you than you are of them' then i would have made enough money to buy my college textbooks for all four years!

stink bugs have been my enemy lately. i accept that about 15 bugs invade my home weekly every fall. i vacuum them up daily because there will always be more in a matter of time! but my battle has lasted all year so far and now that their season has come around again there are more than ever! it's said to be the worst this year, fantastic.

the stink bugs are in every room in the house (except for my sanctuary, the dining room and my bedroom) no one dares to open my bedroom window because my family knows how uptight i am about this whole thing. let me skip the rest of my novel of details and say my vacuum method is no match this time because its not 15/week now. I've counted 30 in one window every day, and there are more scattered around the house. I want them gone! i can't do my day to day routine with them lurking and flying and clinging to me every where i go. i don't want to be in my own home anymore.

anon114177

To kill in the house, use scrubbing bubbles foam in a can. They die in the foam.

But we need preventive help. I think we need to treat out lawn, because these things hibernate in your lawn and come back next year, with family and friends. Any suggestions for lawn treatment?

anon114041

With the soap trick I have been using the recommended Mr. Clean with Lavender.

The other day I go out the basement door, and look at all the stick bugs around inside the storm door. I spray Raid into the closed interlock. The bugs hate Raid and start moving fast. I leave the door locked and I counted over 60 bugs killed or slowly moving the next morning. I don't know why on that day they decided to move in. There was no previous entry.

I spray ant and roach spray around the upper brick and it has a longer effect. Raid flying killer is only for the short term but works.

anon113755

Soap (dish or laundry detergent) and water or any type of household cleaning spray (Windex, Lysol, etc.) will kill box elder bugs instantly. Good to know it works for stink bugs, too, which fortunately are not as plentiful here in Martinsville, Virginia as the box elder bug. (At least not at my house yet).

anon113749

Shaler Township, outside of Pittsburgh, PA. First, remove your screens at your windows. The stink bugs will nest between the window and screen area. Also will nest between the plastic cover and inside mechanics of windows. Close windows and lock. Spray your entire house from top to bottom with Ortho outdoor garden spray connected to your hose. Spray your screens.

Wait a day or two then spray your house again-bricks and windows or siding and windows. Put white powder dusting of Ortho on windows frames when dry and use two sided tape at bottom of window. Put screens back in windows.

I also use Dawn apple blossom dish liquid, mixed with ammonia and water and put into a spray bottle to spray the stink bugs between the Ortho spraying of my house. It's been three days and no stink bugs -- not a one. I believe you have to find their nests and clean their trail they leave to help other stink bugs.

It takes patience and time to do this but it worked for me. If you just spray your windows or doors you are not doing anything to the nests. The nests will have eggs and dry grass and you will be surprised how big the nests can get between your screens and window frame.

I hope this helps someone. You can probably get the Ortho at Home Depot but for all of you around Shaler, PA I purchased my products at Hastings Hardware including my 3M two sided tape (actually it was carpet tape) that I used at bottom of window frame. So far, no stink bugs on it.

anon113689

I can't believe some people want to make money off of their neighbors telling him how to rid his home of stink bugs. What a lot of nerve! If I knew how to rid these little pests I would shout it from the roof tops and share the remedy with everyone so that they could have some relief, but I guess that's just me.

Besides you'd be crazy to pay anyone any money saying they could permanently rid your home of stink bugs when professional exterminators can't. Good luck y'all with your stink bug problem. I feel for you. They are a real pain in the butt. axtI

anon113577

So, I'm starting my war on stink bugs, I live in Virginia and heard about them on the radio. I've lived in this state my whole life (i'm 21) and this is the first time I've ever heard of them. So i laughed at the radio station's commentary about the bugs on my way to class.

A few days later my father had us cut down a tree near the house (which i later find out my brother saw a ton of those bugs in that tree) to make room to expand our deck. So a night later i see what looked to me like a giant tick, i certainly didn't think it could fly, so I killed it. i started seeing more of them in the days to come, and i thought back to the radio station. soon i found myself online, shocked to find out that the tick like looking bugs were the same ones i heard horrifying conversations about on the radio.

I've tried to warn my family, and the infestation is just beginning. I've killed 15 or so today, 10 outside 5 inside. I will be going full force against these bugs when i wake up tomorrow, im going to load up my pump sprayer with dish soap, and try the jar laced with dish detergent, and even the trashcan light trap that one man was so brilliant to post.

I'm trying desperately to prevent an infestation hopefully my family appreciates it. I've convinced my pops to hook up his bug lamp to hopefully lure them in outside and kill them with that oh so lovely snap crackle and pop of electricity, war is hell, and it will be for these bugs tomorrow. It's going down!

Wish me luck.

anon113537

I am so sick of these things! my husband is away for the weekend so i have to fend for myself with killing them and I'm freaked out. I have the air on and refuse to open any window. They still manage to find their way in. I just hope i can sleep this weekend.

I absolutely have a phobia against bugs, especially ones that fly and are as intimidating as these bugs are. I know they don't bite and are not aggressive but i can't stand them and i don't want any bug invading my home like these things do. We have the jar of dish soap which works wonders but i can't touch them. So since hubby's been gone I've been vacuuming them up and tossing the remains of the canister into the garbage outside.

I can't stand it and someone does need to make something I can just spray on them to kill them. I am so tired of them!

anon113518

returned from a trip and arrived home just now and had some hanging on my screen door and back door. I sprayed some OFF! (deep woods sportsman) on the screen and door and they are nowhere in sight -- so far. pray it works!

anon113513

Bugs, in general, including the dreaded stink bug, are easily taken out of action with the cheapest hair spray you can find at any market. we've had stink bugs in texas since the dinosaurs, and I use hair spray for any and all bugs. No toxic chemicals. Roaches instantly freeze in place, so do spiders, or beetles. dotty

anon113509

I have this irrational (yes, even I can admit it's irrational) fear of stinkbugs and it's ruining my life. There are thousands of them outside our house. They're flying around like flies, and they try to swarm you when you walk outside. They're determined to get inside the house and they even moved in inside my truck!

They're so creepy and tend to appear out of nowhere. I walk around the house toting my vacuum. I dread having to step outside and terrified of even getting in my truck. I feel so helpless and hopeless. This is no way to live! I hope they find a solution soon.

anon113485

Yesterday I was at a client's home whose property was infested with these stinkbugs. It was like a horror movie -- thousands all swarming and on her front door, garage. I parked and ran into the house via the garage.

When I left three hours later, they were all over my car! We swept them away enough for me to get in. I thought they'd blow off driving. Wrong! I drove through a car wash. The freakin' bugs just laughed at me.

24 hours later, I must have killed 100 SB's on and in my car. I refuse to get back in and am in the process of finding an exterminator.

I hate these things!

anon113484

i live in southern maryland on a farm we have 100s of 1000s of these bugs! there are driving me nuts! i need a way to kill them and kill them now! if you know any way to kill them, please share. i just can't stand them.

i have cleaned and cleaned and sprayed every type of bug spray or pest control spray around the house and on the bug but nothing seems to be working. thanks!

anon113467

Let me get this straight: something has to serve a purpose in order to live? You folks have issues. Unless you're a farmer and the bugs are destroying your crops, I'm thinking the 'live and let live' rule should apply.

I counted 43 of these guys on the outside of my screen the other day. A few made their way in and I kindly showed them their way out. The lady bugs have been visiting as well. No big deal. they're bugs, folks! You need to be more concerned about the bugs you can't see. Those are ones that'll get ya!

anon113377

Winchester, Virginia. Have experimented with Ortho Malathion and Seven full strength and both products worked well with a thirty second kill time. I used a plastic jar and captured the Stink bugs. Today I used another product: Mr. Clean with Febreze. This product works great and produces a thirty second kill time as well. I hope this proves helpful to all.

anon113331

I saw a couple of these last fall or winter. No big deal. But this year the are rapid. I am home to find them all over the outside of my house and inside too. I thought I was in the Amity Horror house but with SB.

I have been picking a one at a time and putting them in the toilet. But then we discover about a hundred of them in the corner where we had a door crack open. I was horrified.

We used a wet/dry vac to get them and they were everywhere in the living room. I would find a couple in another room of the house and have used dish soap and water and stray them until they are coverage and finally fall to the ground and pick them up and place them in a plastic bag and throw them outside. We spray around the house this evening also. I am in Western MD and they are awful.

I am afraid to go to bed. I checked the upstairs to make sure they are no up there yet. We are going to use some dust tomorrow, more spray brought from the hardware store. And I am going to be carrying around my spray bottle of dish detergent and water. You have to really soak them but it seems to work on one at a time. I really freaked out tonight when I saw hundreds of them and they started flying around.

Really, it is like a horror movie. I am afraid of nightmares tonight when I finally go to bed and fall asleep. Read all the posts. And writing them one because too afraid to go to bed. Can we sue Asia/China for these invasion? This is really bad.

anon113307

I know SB are very attracted to certain smells, especially human feces. My husband and I didn't see any in our home for one year when we stopped keeping the children's diapers in trash cans in their bedroom. Also taco-like dishes attract them. We also put plastic up to the windows, even though it's still warm outside. They die right then and there.

blue517

Here's the good news: They don't reproduce indoors and they don't feed on much of anything. They can't bite, lacking mouth parts, but if you mess with them, they might try to stab you with the same sharp proboscis they use to pierce fruit and suck plant juices. They can't be poisonous, either, since the Vietnamese actually treat them as ingredients in their cuisine — crunchy-fried, like popcorn. Mmmm.

The bad news is that, like skunks, they are equipped with glands that squirt a foul-smelling liquid as a defense against predators. The smell, alternately described as reminiscent of rancid almonds or moldy fruit, is released when they are crushed or disturbed. Of course, they also can suddenly fly up at you, adding to the Grade-B horror-movie effect.

blue517

They are not cute and the comment that they are God's creatures is a crock of crap. Rattlesnakes are God's creatures too, but they're not out of control and making people sick. My friend's dog ate one and the pup was sick for days. He thought his dog was going to die on him.

Also they don't lay eggs under your skin; they only breed and lay eggs outside on the undersides of leaves. Please don't freak people out anymore than they are by saying they lay eggs under your skin. This is nasty, but very true in Vietnam they are considered a delicacy. Who in their right mind would or could eat these things?

Does anyone have any idea when these bugs go in for the year? I hate them.

blue517

There here in Stafford, Virginia really bad this year. I've noticed them in Washington DC to. They make me pissed all day, just trying to get them out of the house and keep them out. You can't have the door open more than a few seconds or they fly in.

I went to write on my calendar on the wall and about 30 came out from behind it. I freaked out and was acting like a mad woman trying to get them all. I woke up last night grabbed my cig out of the ash tray and there was one on the filter and on my cell phone.

I hate these bugs. I thought I hated ticks and fleas worse, but these little things have the F&T's beat on my list of things I can't stand.

Whoever comes up with the cure is going to be a very rich person indeed.

anon113280

They stink! I noticed a couple a few days ago and now there are hundreds on my house.

anon113230

They started in my room last year. I told my parents about my infestation but they did little to help. Until one day I was spraying Raid and noticed about 11 or so around the top of my blinds. It turns out they were breeding in the top of my blinds.

Well a year later and now it's not just my room, but the whole house in and out. I've been seeing a lot of comments mentioning lots of tips to kill these things, like dawn and water, or vodka, vacuum with bleach. I'm trying all these and the vodka one could be real fun.

anon113167

As far as the smell, it's unclear, and I get conflicting reports, that it attracts stink bugs. I read where it repels. That makes more sense as it's saying there is trouble here. They may have another scent to attract others.

We have the Japanese beetle. I hereby crown this creature as the Chinese Stink Bug. That's official.

anon113158

I noticed these stink bugs when I moved into a new apartment last summer. At first I thought it was just my place they were getting into, but hearing the news it's a problem everywhere now. They need to find a new place of residence.

anon113157

Solution = soapy water! And spray your house. They die instantly, so, it's an easy solution without harmful sprays. I used dawn and water put it in a pumper sprayer and sprayed the whole front fascia boards and all over my windows and they all died, and today are not so bad out. They're here and there, but nothing like yesterday.

anon113068

you know what? If you lived in the country instead of being city dwellers, you would be used to god's creatures. They have a purpose just like you! If you read up on them stink bugs only stink when you mishandle them. They don't eat humans. The stink is a defense and can be washed away with soap and water. Not like skunks.

anon113066

good grief! I never knew stink bugs were such a problem. I live in Louisiana and we have always had them. I have never been sprayed or bitten by one, I usually just pick it up and remove it from the house. Once my ex-son-in-law was sprayed in the face. I thought that bug showed very good judgment. My Mom lives in Va. and is going crazy! Y'all, please keep your nasty bugs up North!

anon113032

I find these bugs to be at the lower end of evolution, if I can say such a thing. They are slow, weak, ah they are a Slothbugpoo. Any how I live in Regent Square and today they were all over my south facing porch. I collected about 100-plus in a jar and stuck them in my freezer. They like the warmth but leave my house alone or face the consequences, Slothpop Bug! I like that better. Jedward

anon113029

On Sunday there were just a few around an area where I sit and read. Today there were hundreds flying, crawling on me and all over my car. I live in Md and I had never seen one before in my life.

anon113028

The are taking over Maryland now. I have never heard of this bug or saw it until this spring. They are gross. I hope they go away soon!

anon112991

I live in Altoona, PA and these little things are scary. I have them all through my house, in my car, in the neighbor's house, and he said he wanted to find a safe way to spray for them, I said I would look on line. Wow! I can't believe how many stories there are for these SOBs. I wonder if there is a way to spray an insecticide that won't hurt your siding on the house or the walls or clothes inside?

I also have a slight problem with the box elder bug as well. It doesn't stink or sound like a June bug, it just shows up during the winter, and stays till spring. I was told by a local terminix guy, that if you smash them indoors, the fluid they leave behind will attract other bugs of the same species. I hate the things. Please help. Someone help invent a spray that ends their lives but doesn't hurt people or the house.

anon112960

I just killed one and now am afraid that more are coming. what can one do about this?

anon112948

Stink Bug plague here in Middletown, De. Never seen them this bad! Heaven help us!

anon112940

I like in Pittsburgh, PA and I had no idea what a stink bug was until now. I don't think I've ever seen one.

anon112937

We have so many of these little SOBs all over the front of the house and inside the cracks and everywhere. Well, I did try spraying them with dawn dish washing soap and water. I didn't measure -- just dumped it into a pump style sprayer, and they die instantly. Yay! It is a *must* try and is not harmful like most stuff out there. Die, stink bugs, die! LOL.

anon112932

Soapy water! I saw at least one other post, and this is the answer. Use some Dawn dish detergent in a spray bottle to get them on your screens. You can also keep a jar of water and knock them in when you don't want to spray your walls or window glass. I've killed no less than 500 today!

anon112924

These stink bugs came from china. the United States buys so much junk from this country that they have been carried over here in shipments. They are here to stay and I would love a good remedy to rid them from my home!

anon112895

I got grossed out this morning. Walking around my desk at work, I smelled stink bug. Sat down and felt crawling on my chest. Let that bugger out fast. Still in office.

We can only be on the defense next year. Getting too late this year. Got to button up any opening in your home so they don't live. Hope the government finds another bug to eat them. Only chance.

A trap like the beetle trap, only with an added light, will get a lot of these trapped. A small version for inside the house. That's what I'm working on. The trap itself caught zilch all summer long. Need that illumination.

anon112884

I live in Cheswick, PA (just outside of Pittsburgh). The stink bugs this week are worse than I have ever seen. Today was like an invasion. I would knock 50 off the outside of my window screen and 2 minutes later there were 50 more.

I closed the windows and went outside and sprayed hornet spray all over the house. It helped a little. We have a window a/c in one window and I noticed dozens have come in through it today! I need my husband to take it out of the window when he gets home.

In the meantime, I am collecting them in large ziplock bags and using something to smash them with. The smell from them is in the air and on my hands from trying to previously kill them with just a paper towel. I have seriously been sick to my stomach all day from this lingering smell!

anon112863

i live in pittsburgh, pa. i figured that i would enjoy the morning on my front porch until it got too warm. I decided to go out on my back porch in the shade to find approximately 40-50 of those disgusting things all in the back of house.

We have had them flying around for about two years, but this year is worse. they do fly around like maniacs just like a june bug.

they seem to be worse in my daughter's room, and i fear will crawl into her mouth when she's sleeping. Something needs to done about these gross things.

anon112856

Our neighborhood in Reserve Twp. Pittsburgh Pa has an abundance of stink bugs. We have been using a shop vac with bleach in the bottom, to suck up the bugs, thousands of them. They immediately die. We don't get many indoors but outside is disgusting.

However, our neighbors are not as diligent and so it seems it is a lost cause. If we can put a man on the moon, can't someone find a pesticide that can be sprayed from an airplane, over the city to get these creatures in check?

anon112852

The stink bugs have taken over my backyard and deck. Nothing I've sprayed on them has worked. Nothing. I did purchase one of those stick traps and left it on the deck. That works. Over four hours, I caught about 50 of them.

I also hear they don't like tobacco or nicotine. I read that you should break up about 10 cigarettes and soak the tobacco in a 1/2 gallon of water letting it sit overnight and the next day spray the SBs with the stuff. I'll try that tomorrow.

anon112851

They are everywhere outside! they are coming in the cracks of the window screen. inside I killed like eight so far. I don't even open my windows at this point. I'm leaving the central air on for now.

I never noticed them until just like a few weeks ago and within the last week they've gotten really bad. I'm also in plum, pa. Makes me want to move elsewhere. they are freaking me out!

anon112846

I found using peroxide on your hands like a liquid soap does the trick. I live in W.PA and kill about 200 a day on my porch and maybe 40 to 50 in the house daily. I hate them!

anon112825

I find them in the windows. I think it's possible they can fit into the narrow water drain slots. They do like to hide in any crevice. I have started blocking any suspected opening and any insert strip that they can hide under.

anon112722

Has anyone complained about them getting into there windows through there seen in a vinyl window I find it hard for them to fit through them. But have had complaints from home owners. I think they are getting in when you open the door and then breed and try to get out of the house. I just don't know.

The window companies are having a hell of a time with the complaints. I don't know what to tell my customers. The window companies don't either. So if you're buying new vinyl replacement windows, beware; they are not stink bug proof.

anon112679

I live in Wellsville, Ohio. My house has been overcome with these creatures! They are outside the house by the hundreds and inside the house by the 50's. I've flushed, smashed and stomped on these suckers (brown in color) and cannot for the life of me get rid of these freaking stinkbugs! I hate these things. we deserve an explanation of why they are like this! i have lived here four years and never had them before! please help! John H.

anon112651

I heard they were attracted to yellow. I put up a Japanese beetle trap in early summer. No good results, but yellow may be effective inside the house in winter. They are also attracted to light, so I am devising some kind of trap. Like fall into soapy water or something like that.

anon112650

I understand they can smell previous hideouts and thus know where to go. I got a tip. I don't really know if it kills, but it sure makes an impression. "Mr Clean with Lavender". Try it.

They don't like it one bit.

I also need to seal up all the cracks in the roof line soon.

anon112616

I live in Walkertown, North Carolina. I have lived here for 40 years and never had any problems with stink bugs until about two years ago. I hate these bugs. They are everywhere. They are just sitting on everything outside and flying in when the doors are opened. I don't understand. They are the worst pest I have ever had. Help!

anon112573

Wow! You all make this bug seem so dangerous, but this bug could have the DNA to cure some cancers and possibly AIDS. If this was found to be true you all would try save each bug you find. Every bug has it's purpose on earth. God created it that way. Mike R.

anon112520

Here in Rockbridge County on the Maurray river there are so many SB that I spray raid on them and later find dozens on the deck. My bedroom had a lot and we sprayed and in the morning there were dozens on the floor dead. my wife picked them up with the vacuum and threw the bag away. I spray the balcony outside and kill hundreds of them. Raid is my defense but the still come back by the hundreds.

anon112500

My problem is they are trying to come in through my screened back porch. After reading the above posts, I decided to try 1/2 and 1/2 hot water and ammonia in a squirt bottle. it worked! It takes longer for the large bugs, but they are falling fast! I can certainly deal with the ammonia smell and maybe it will keep them away!

anon112481

At first, I put them outside. Then there were so many. Don't use your vacuum! It will stink so bad. Use a real lemon to clean anything that smells of it. It will remove the odor. I got deathly ill after trying to catch them!

I used an empty plastic gallon spring water container. I squirt five squirts of window cleaner/windex at the bottom. You place the lid or top of the bottle over the bug and it flies right in. When it touches the little bit of windex at the bottom-it dies! I cover with a piece of foil at the top to the keep the smell contained.

I swear they sprayed me. I had that smell on my clothes- so caution with that. I caught about 40. Then when the SB is dead, goodness do they stink! Do not leave them in your house! I am in Plum, PA. Everyone is having this problem. Help!

I truly was deathly sick. I am recovering and it is the next day. Are these things a curse?

anon112399

Yet another import from China. Yes, they came here in shipping containers with our Walmart junk.

anon112387

Yesterday, one flew in my mouth while I was riding my mountain bike. It was like having a mouth full of fire. Nasty!

anon112287

these things are ugly. I'm afraid of them.there everywhere here in pa. went out on my porch and there must have been about 20 of them.now I'm afraid to go out there. can't the government do something about these? I hear they ruin crops.

anon112281

i put vodka in a jar and knock them in the jar with a plastic spoon. they die in about 10 seconds!

anon112095

I currently live in Pittsburgh, PA. and have been living in my house for about five years and this is the first year that I have noticed the Stink Bug. They are really really really bad.

I absolutely hate bugs, mice, etc. And I also hate when people say they are so little or cute and more scared of me than I am of them. Because if this is the case I then have another fear: The fear of us both running scared into each other. I am losing sleep of them.

I can hear them running into the outside of my windows, landing on walls within my house, etc. These things not only take over houses ladies and gentleman, they have planted fear and anxiety in the heart and now attempted to break up my happy home (not really) but I do find myself rolling my eyes at my husband or changing my tone of voice when he begins to say something about how afraid I am. As you can tell I have a lot to say about it. It's almost 7 a.m. and I've been up since 4 a.m. because every little noise sounds like one. Raindrops used to be one of my favorite sounds. Not anymore. I feel like they are everywhere. Please help someone.

anon111502

Fill a glass partially full of water and give it a squirt of liquid soap to break the surface tension. When they are on walls or ceilings just flick them into the glass and leave them until they drown.

They are bad here in Virginia.

anon111411

Oh My Lord. I can't believe what I just read on this post. "not killing stink bugs"

Stink bugs are damaging crops! Farmers are submitting claims for "crop damage".

Stink Bugs do not serve any good purpose, vs, bugs we already have.

If anyone out there actually suggests to not kill a SB, you have got to be kidding.

Asthmatics and people with allergies are having issues. SB's are not just a pesky bug, they are making some ill, damaging crops, and creating homes that are becoming overwhelmed with "stink". And some say "don't kill". you have got to be ignorant of the true meaning of the word.

Should anyone feel the need not to kill stink bug infestations, I strongly suggest they visit someone with a home that has infestation, or an asthmatic who needs to use an epipen.

No, if you are aware that you have SB on your property, you need to eliminate this bug! This is not the time to "be kind to all". You do not play nice in war, do you? Spend your energy being kind to mankind!

These bugs are costly for various reasons, again, have nothing good to offer. Although they do kill other bugs, the bugs they tend to kill off are less destructive to crops and health.

Being an empathist is not a bad thing, but do not show empathy towards a SB. Again, use your mind wisely.

There are many, many reasons to kill them -- all viable. They serve no good purpose, again compared to existing insects/bugs already here.

anon111276

i use a couple of rubber bands and shoot them off the doors, windows, walls, etc. They are stunned or killed but do not release any smell.

anon111097

Oh my word. I don't know where the hell these things came from. We kill about ten a day and its insane. I live in pittsburgh, pa and now that I'm thinking about it I don't remember them in my youth. They have to be a hybrid of some sort. raid doesn't even kill them. What purpose do they serve? This is nuts.

anon111053

i heard that penn state made this hybrid bug to kill off the mass amounts of ladybugs that southwest pa had. um i would much rather have lady bugs than these nasty little beasts. they are everywhere and so stinky and hard to get rid of. they are sneaky and fly like maniacs, banging into lamps and walls.

they bother my dogs and kill my fruits and veggies. insect activists, are you serious? come be irritated by these sbs then let me know if you want to call yourself that anymore.

anon111045

Here's what I did to get rid of them in my bedroom: put moth balls ($1 at the dollar store)in my vacuum cleaner and vacuumed very well. Then spread moth balls around the room and shut the room up for two days.

anon110842

I work at a storage facility in southern NJ 25 minutes from philadelphia and these guys are everywhere! They are the Brown Shield ones and they are disgusting. For some reason the smell does not bother me that much but that is due to the fact I have only crushed them one at a time and only outside! Do not, do not, do not squash indoors! This will only attract more stinkbugs.

The method I have been using is torturous just like how they torture me. When I find them inside I will take them outside to a group of their friends, take a burning candle, and 1st slowly wax their legs to the ground. then slowly wax their body to the ground, and eventually, cover the head. It may not get rid of them but it sure will make you feel better!

anon109567

They keep coming inside here in Northern Virginia. The smell really isn't that bad, it's kind of a pine smell. If you wash your hands with heavy duty soap it goes away. They don't bite and are very slow moving. just pick them up and either kill them or throw them outside.

anon109003

I have been finding stink bugs all over my house this summer, but not knowing what they were, i found just smacking them with my shoe took care of them. I never really noticed a smell, but after finding several in my bedroom i thought they were bed bugs, but they aren't. do they just die off in the fall?

anon108199

They are horrible and I cannot keep them out of my house. Caulk, screen, pesticide, nothing. They have ruined my covered porch and rendered it useless.

I have found that mixing dawn dish soap (high amounts) and hot water will kill them within a few hours. Doesn't matter because for every one I kill, I think 10 more find their way in!

Wash your hands with antibacterial soap a few times and use hand sanitizer with high amounts of alcohol. I also think the government needs to step in. They are eating all of my plants and nothing grew in my garden this year! Sad thing is if you kill them, you will also kill bees.

anon107671

They make me very sick. Had them for three years now and i am still scared to death of them. I read stink bugs can lay eggs under your skin on one of the posts. That's all we all need. Does anyone know if scientists are trying to find a pesticide for them. They are driving me crazy.

anon107267

They're all over the place here in Texas too. We have regular ones, but lately we have been seeing come that look like they grew up in a nuclear dump! They're the biggest I've ever seen. About an inch and a half long, and the smell is sickening. I have found something that works!

Nail polish! That's right, nail polish. Just make sure that you never use it on your nails again. I purchased some bright orange polish to be sure I didn't accidentally use it. Just brush it on them thick and fast. As it's drying, I use a piece of scrap cardboard and scrape it into a small snack size ziplock bag and out they go. I then clean the area with the Real Lemon juice in the lemon shaped bottle and no smell!

anon103234

Will they stink at you for just shooing them away with a fan or something? I get them in my laundry room outside and I don't want to kill or capture them for fear of getting "skunked" but they're making me afraid to go out there. So, shooing? Yes or no?

anon102189

First let me inform anyone who is a stink bug rights activist that the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is a destructive pest in peach orchards. Hard working farmers lose money as a result of their activity.

I encounter lots of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs in my garage here in Glassboro NJ. In the fall they become quite active looking for a safe place to overwinter - that is until they meet me.

Anytime I encounter one, I kill it. They like to hide in small gaps between things like stacked boards. As it gets cold they become extremely slow so if I move something and find a group of them I kill them.

I flick them onto the floor and stomp!

Once I played a dirty trick on my cats. I brought a stink bug in and threw it on the floor. One ran right over to gobble it up until it got a dose of that awful odor. That cat jumped three feet up into the air backward. I darned near peed myself laughing.

anon96398

I hate, hate stink bugs. I have a irrational fear of them to the point that I want to dive under a desk when I hear them flying, but I don't because they may be hanging out under the desk! I use the tape and wrap method, or I make someone else get them!

anon92203

I was awakened this morning by a loud buzzing sound and the feeling of something leave my cheek. I didn't have my contacts in but knew whatever it was, it had to go; the smell was disgusting.

I really think the only way is to one by one take them out of the room. One's spontaneous reaction is to squish them, but the consequences are revolting. But what's the other option to wasting half an hour every evening making sure they are all out of the room so you can have a restful night?

anon90879

Two good methods:

Quick and hands-on: Shop-Vac. Just make sure you change the bag when you're done because when you fire it up the next time, all that stench comes out the blower if they've been in there too long.

Slower but more hands off: Fish tank. No joke. My garage was oozing with them this spring (it looked like a bee hive with SBs). I put a shop light in a trash can (used a CFL bulb so it didn't get too hot) and sat a 10 gallon fish tank on top with about 1/2" of water with a little dish soap in it. At night they come out, see the light in the tank and dive right in.

It didn't work the first two nights, but after I tossed a couple of dead ones in there to "prime" it, it worked like a charm. In a week I had to change the water because it was solid dead SBs. Same after the second week. Third week just a handful of SBs, but instead of thousands in my garage, I only had a couple.

After the fourth week, I started finding only a couple in the tank, and rarely see them in the garage at all now.

anon90842

I live in new orleans and was told to spray with malathion to get rid of them. Hope this helps someone out.

anon88630

Good grief, why is everyone here so cruel to these harmless, defenseless little creatures?! I like the little guys! They've gone from reclusive and frightened to friendly! Everyone in our house, even my father who hates them, will put them outside instead of killing them.

They're more afraid of you than you are of them. Imagine life from their point of view:

Oh no! An enormous monster is trying to whack me with a box/squash me flat/spray me with poison!! Aaahh!

I just find it sick when people spend so much energy doing what? Engineering ways to kill harmless creatures! I consider any living thing, no matter how small or aggravating or pathetic, to still have a heart and a soul and feelings and a life that's worth saving.

Just because you turned out to be a human and not one of these little bugs doesn't mean that your life is worthwhile and theirs isn't.

I bet, if reincarnation happens to be real (I don't believe yet) and one of these stinkbugs you killed came back as a human, it would try and swat you! Ha!

I am an impassioned insect rights activist.

anon87615

they are the worst bleeping things I have ever met!

anon87226

SB's, hell no, more like SOBs!

And they are here to stay in Southern PA.

I moved down from Upstate NY - Dutchess County - where I never saw one before. Never saw one in Long Island NY either. Nothing kills the SOBs.

Hair spray immobilized them, but more recently that does not even work. I unload half the bottle on one with 1/4 bottle of bug spray and it keeps crawling.

The bug man here in Hershey says that nothing will kill them because the poison won't penetrate through their hard shell.

The bug guys won't contract to treat the SOBs.

They can't even get rid of them. They are here to stay.

If you don't have them, don't move to PA.

Lucky you found out about the SOBs before you came!

anon87137

Walked up my stairway to go to bed the other night and my hallway ceiling looked like a sci-fi movie! I freaked out!

I hate these things. I live in Southeastern PA and we've had these critters for the past several years. Doesn't even matter what season it is. Figured they'd hibernate or something during the winter - but no way. Please somebody figure out a way to get rid of them! Ugh!

anon85087

you can't get rid of that creature because your environment is the one's they're living in. Even the pine trees and shrubs that surrounds you, that's their nursery area.

So guys break your leg to win battle against them. If I get the info about the one that they don't like, I'll post it out here.

anon82884

Quick kill: go to the store and buy nail spray that girls use to quickly dry their nails. If you hold it close enough it gets really cold and can burn but do it to a stink bug and they freeze to death. Yay. Stumbled upon that when I was frantically trying to kill one.

anon82421

Funny posts about stinkbugs! I thought they were somewhat harmless too, until I was removing one tonight and I must have "bothered" the little creep.

What a stanky smell. It doesn't go away either. I am going to try febreze and water and soap where it landed. And no, I didn't kill it, I let it go outside. So much for karma.

anon81459

I live in eastern PA and did find one thing that kills them without using chemicals. Mix water, milk, and flour to a consistency that will spray out of a spray bottle which you can buy at most dollar stores.

Spray the little devils liberally--the milk and flour proteins clog their airways and they suffocate within a few minutes. The only downside is the spray residue leaves a mess to be cleaned up, and if you let it dry, it turns hard. But if used mostly outside, it's no big deal!

anon76415

I woke to find one under my eye. In my groggy state I reached for it to remove it and it released the smelly stuff on my face. I thought I was going to throw up. It burned really bad, that was last night. My cheek started to swell and this morning my cheek is really swollen. I feel really sick.

You can't convince me that there isn't something harmful in this secretion. I called my doctor and no one knows anything about them. Check your bed!

Be careful! These things are nothing to play around with.

anon76234

Yes, stink bugs will bite and they are dangerous to asthmatics.

The only suggestion I can offer is pyrethrin spray outside and dust inside in the attics and crawl spaces.

anon76020

I have had stink bugs for three years now- I call them dinosaur bugs. I too, hate them. Catch them with a tissue and kill and put in plastic bag. If the smell gets into the room use Lysol because I read that bugs come to where they smelled other bugs. I just hate them!

anon75932

Living in N.VA, SB's came out in a roar last year. VT and Penn are researching a solution to this problem, so I've heard.

I've spent a fortune in pesticides, called the "pros", but nothing. There is nothing really to defeat these bugs. I've tried to freeze spray them while flying, I've done it all. I'm home all day fighting these SBs.

I've had the house re-caulked, all screens replaced, and still they are here in numbers!

I purchased a cheap vacuum and suck them up all day. We have a beautiful wood sided home, and lots of vegetation outside. They love it here!

SBs wrecked my veggies last year in the garden.

They have flown into my pots while cooking, I've been sprayed on so many times I can't tell you. Once they spray your hair, you really have to shampoo several times, with a strong odor and deep cleanser. Tea Tree Oil based shampoos will help after you've been sprayed.

I've been in a war with them since last year! It's bad. It's real bad here.

Here are a couple of things to help survive:

Buy a cheap vacuum with a long hose so you can reach them. This will become your SB vacuum.

Do not plant veggies that they love. Once they have been into the vegetables, it no longer tastes good. My garden will be completely different this year.

Perhaps start planting herbs with a very strong odor that produce oils. There are many oily herbs that the SBs do not particularly like, so use them. I'm doing this now.

Do not use mulch around your house anymore. Just buy dirt and top your flower beds etc. with dirt. Do not use mulch (straw). They love it. Do not use mulch anymore!

Buy some type of lemon sea salt scrub, a bath product you can purchase almost anywhere. If you do get sprayed, or get stink on your hands this will remove it.

If you have cuts on your hands it will sting (salt), but the stink will go away -- you have to scrub, though. Use a fingernail brush too.

If you have asthma, and I do, go to the doctor's office and get an EpiPen, because once they have sprayed and the stink gets near you, a problem could possibly arise, so be prepared. I had a problem last night and that's why I'm I'm posting this today.

I've been sprayed so many times, but last night, I put a shirt on that was sprayed on and I immediately took it off, but it was too late. Asthmatics, be careful and seek professional guidance.

Pick up all pine needles and get rid of pine cones, etc. from yard. They love it.

Think: wood has become your enemy, hence the no mulch, watch for your pine/evergreen trees etc.

Do go on an SB hunt. Look behind curtains, behind picture frames etc., in drawers -- just have your SB vacuum ready! The worst thing and most likely the last thing you'd think about: look under the leaves of your house plants. It's horrible!

Kill the stink bugs!

I hope this helps some of you feel a little better, and will help you on discovery. ABC

anon75530

I used to live in upstate New York. I never heard of or saw a stink bug until i moved to PA.

anon75501

I live in Maryland and i can't sleep because i am so freaked out. I usually am not freaked out that much by bugs, but I can hear them flying around.

I haven't smelled anything yet, and they are everywhere! I think i have killed about six or seven tonight! Anyway, when i squished them, stuff came out. I'm guessing that's their "smell." Will that attract more of them? I really need my sleep.

anon75170

I want to sell my house. My husband is collecting the dead corpses in a ziploc bag as a trophy for his strong efforts to kill the disgusting stink bugs that are everywhere.

He has it down to a science. Yellow windex and a fly swatter. They are toast within 30 seconds, which is an improvement over the original four minutes.

I still want to sell my house. My kids scream when they see one.

I really want to sell my house but I heard they are everywhere. I guess I do not stand a chance in this battle. Help!

anon75130

The ones in Massachusetts are Western Conifer seed bugs. They're everywhere, and they are different from regular stink bugs.

Look them up and see what you actually have in your house. I noticed them about four or five years ago in Maynard Ma, when i lived in a house surrounded by pine trees.

I looked bugs up online and finally figured out what they were. I moved from Maynard to Sudbury and didn't notice them again until last year or maybe the year before. Now there's an invasion of them and they are getting in my house as many as two or three a day and it's only the beginning of April.

They are the yuckiest bugs I've ever seen. They give off a piney smell rather than a pungent smell. If anyone knows of a way other than keeping doors and windows closed, and locking myself inside, to get rid of these nasty things, please post.

anon75061

Just tell me how to make the stink bugs go away! These things are freaking me out! Why are there so many of them?

anon74767

I live in NJ and have discovered for the first time, stink bugs. (March) They are almost motionless unless they are flying. I have not had the pleasure of any odor so far. I've found them in every floor and every room, but only one at a time. I'm fearing that I'm going to uncover hundreds. Help!

anon72771

I live in Westchester County, NY and have never seen or heard of "Stink Bugs!" Sorry for everyone's problems with these suckers but I'm glad they're not near me!

anon71848

I found hundreds of them in my back yard (Central NJ). I vacuumed the bugs up off my house with a shop vac. Now they have found their way into my house. If I did not use the vac. to control the population of these pests, I would be totally overwhelmed with stink bugs.

anon71420

Quite a few of us have been stink bug free since last year. We all followed the same directions.

You can eliminate sbs from inside your home by spraying quarterly with Demand CS. Power spray it on the outside of your home and it lasts three months because it is microencapsulated. Together with caulking, screening, you can be sb free by next fall.

Also important not to put window air-conditioners in before mid June and remove by early september. Window air-conditioners are stink bug motels. Store them in a large trash bag sealed shut with duct tape. Screen gable end and ridge vents of house, bathroom exhaust fans, stove and dryer vents, central air return vents.

Capture sbs and drop in a container of 50/50 mix of water and dawn or ivory dishwashing liquid. Dispose of container when full. Spray Deep Woods Off on screens during the swarm (spring and fall) to keep them away. You will have success by fall if you begin the program now.

If you see sbs now they are in walls, attics and crawlspaces. They will move out for summer to feed and breed. Each sb is capable of producing 400 sbs. Do not let that 'one' get away!

You must do your inside prep over the summer. Begin with Demand CS sprayings in early March, July, early September and even December. It works and gives peace of mind!

anon70724

I also have seen them in my house and I live in Jersey. Never smelled an odor though. They just creep me out. Do they bite? I had one in my bedroom window going crazy in the blinds and three days later I had a sinus infection. Go figure.

anon69987

I have one room in the house that stink bugs seems to like more than any other. They're everywhere - dozens of them! I use the vacuum to suck them off of the walls and windows. If they are releasing their odor, it's staying in the vacuum bag.

anon69672

I have found one way to get them and save water by not flushing. I hate them and their stink. I buy lots of rolls of duct tape (yes, you can use it for everything).

I sneak up on them, and stick them on it, then roll it up fast enough so they drown in their own stink! So far, it has worked great when I see them -- and I see them. they have a hard time hiding from me.

Last year I also used Ortho home defense which worked great if sprayed on them when on the windows and I can't get to them to use the duct tape. I now have a yard stick, tear off a piece of duct tape, circle it around, stick it on the stick and then stick the stink bug on it, then quickly roll it up before they get a chance to stink.

this helps for higher up stink bugs or ones behind the couch. It is only march and I have already duct taped a dozen in the last few days. Help!

anon69112

I live in central MD, and many people I know have a major stink bug problem this year Fall 2009 through now that have never had them before. But like a couple of others have said, I have picked them up, with no smell. I remember stick bugs as a kid, and there is no smell associated with these bugs, even when I pick them up with my hands.

anon66569

I live in Western MA. The stink bugs that live in my house must like me because I move them all the time and I've never been stickified. Thankfully I have been gentle with them (moving them only so they don't get stepped) because I just learned of their odoriferous powers. I think they're cute.

anon66446

My daughter and I just counted four stinkbugs while eating dinner. I see at least ten a day, either dead or alive.

I was thinking they had a short life span, but then where does the next generation come from? I was reluctant to learn about them fearing I would learn something that would make me scared of them. At this time, I tell my two year old to let them be. She calls them monsters.

I have never smelled one and I sometimes flick them off whatever they are on, let them be, or throw them outside.

I have been in this house in Md for five years and this is the first year I have ever seen them.

As long as they do not spread major germs, eat wood, or poison my pets, I guess I can live with them.

I am just grateful they are not cockroaches.

anon65709

Don't just pick up and throw them down the toilet! You must get a jar with a lid. Mix dish soap and water and put them in there. Just use the lid to get them to drop in. unfortunately if there is an infestation they must be killed and flushing doesn't do it or extermination. VW girl

anon65330

How do you get info on how to get rid of stinkbugs and how dangerous are they to our health?

anon63553

I swear the stink bugs put little holes in my cashmere sweater, which I washed (hole free) yesterday and hung to dry. Two little holes in the morning, and a stinkbug within 100 feet. Nasty, nasty.

anon63284

We live in Northern VA and we too have stink bugs. Both my husband and I have been sick for months. I've read they can cause allergies. Anyone else been sick? Like a sinus infection with cough?

anon63104

I live in Wilkes Barre PA and I cannot take stink bugs anymore. Nothing kills them and i have a lot of them. I tried bug sprays, bleach and all kinds of things, so now I just flush them or tie up in baggies and put in the garbage. I called an exterminator and he can't guarantee anything, as they want a solution too. I hate them!

anon62167

i live in the heart of greenwich village nyc. i have several in my house almost every day. i've been here in the apartment for 17 years and on this block about 45 years and have never seem them before. i pick them up with a tissue and put them outside my windows. they look ancient.

anon61570

From what I've read online, these bugs will kill you. They will not bite you and lay eggs under your skin. So why are you killing them? Just because they aren't pretty like a lady bug, doesn't mean they should be squashed. Just say hello and go on your way, he's probably freaking out too.

anon61296

While renovating our home, I noticed these new bugs -- never had them before -- only ladybugs. Much nicer.

While taking out insulation, there were dozens. I am finding them everywhere to a point where every night turning on my bedroom light to see if any are on my bed! I have a feeling they are in the insulation in the walls which are now exposed because of the renovation.

I don't squash them. I get a kleenex and throw in the toilet. I am to a point of almost being paranoid. Help!

anon60624

Ten a day minimum. my downstairs stinks. my cat doesn't even mess with them, as she has learned they stink too bad. please help with something that won't hurt the kids. --Jeff

anon60519

The bugs entered my attic in droves and hid under the insulation. I lift up a piece of insulation and there will be a dozen or so huddled together. Help!

msscarlet91

This is absolutely crazy! Last year in August, we were overrun with these miserable, creepy and smelly stink bugs.

They were all over my door, windows and when I turned the air conditioner on, they all flew out like someone shot them out of a gun. They calmed down in November, but now I am seeing them in my house again and this is January. I used to kill them and my kitchen and house looked like a battlefield. They stunk so bad. We got some pesticide and kept spraying the doors and windows around the house, but even that didn't keep them away for long. Can't someone do something about these annoying things?

Whenever I let my dogs out, sometimes they come in on top of them. This is disgusting! I can't even remember having them and if I did, they were far and few between -- nothing like this -- can't someone please help us get rid of these pests?

anon58461

I first noticed these brown bugs with what looked like a shield on their backs last fall.

I have lived in my home for more than twenty years and in this Northern VA area all of my 50-plus years and this is the first year I have ever seen or heard of these bugs.

I found five in my living room, so not knowing what they were, I captured them and took them to our neighborhood "bug lady", who knows all about bugs. She identified them as stink bugs and gave me some information regarding their behavior.

I then did some research on my own on the the Internet and found several articles gave the same information regarding how they come inside in the fall months to find a place in your walls to hibernate through the winter, and that they can expel a "bad" odor, hence their name.

They have been known to bite and they often return to same location year after year. However, there was one article that mentioned if you see them in winter in your living areas then you must have a major infestation in your walls causing them to seek another area (wall) in which to hide. Can anyone out there verify this? I mean, can your home get infested with them in one year (season)?

I dislike these bugs and hate to think my home is infested to the point where I'll need professional help to get rid of them. I'm not even sure how they are getting into my home. How can find out if I have an infestation? I mean, how many is too many?

anon57857

Oh my gawd, help me someone! I am going to lose it! Our home has been invaded by walking shields with a sword and they smell!

They fly in my hair and make me jump sky high, they are staring at me even from the skinniest part of a mirror and move when I move. They ate my blessed palm from Easter!

I can't get rid of them. Where on earth are they coming from and a billion were in and around the air conditioner in October when I took it out of the window and they blew up in my house!

I can't stop them from coming in and we caulked and sealed totally and no holes in screens. Nothing deters them and toilet paper is too expensive to keep ripping and catching then flushing. I was letting them loose outside feeling bad, but they have taken over and I am ready to leave!

Why is the Department of agriculture not helping southeastern pa folks? what if visitors transport them to another state --then what? Are they really from China? What is up with China and the USA! Save me! Watch out before you put that toothbrush in your mouth or reach for a towel to dry! Aghh! They are everywhere! No drama here, folks. This is reality!

anon57766

A lot of you have asked to get rid of the smell of the stink bug. Though I've not tried it myself, Febreze might help. Once you have been struck by the stink bug, spray a little febreze on the affected area(s) and then try warm soap and water.

Though as I stated above I've never tried it, I used to have a friend whose dog got sprayed by a skunk and then was able to come back into the house. She used an entire bottle of febreze on the dog as well as the house, and then next day you couldn't smell an odor. Now there's a commercial for Febreze. Try it -- what do you have to lose? Drew

anon56411

Welcome to the world of sink bugs. As they are annoying and stink they are always present. I manage and own multiple apartments and they have invaded not only those but my house also. what to do you say?

Pick them up gently if by hand, calmly talk to them as you walk them outside and release them. If you scare them they will put off the lovely yes odor of cherries and grass if you will but if you handle them calmly and remove them you will not get the odor. Soap and water? Forget it. it stays for about six hours unless you really scrub. I just took one outside so that's why I'm blogging.

You cannot get rid of them. I talked to the exterminators who said they are going to hang around. global warming, right. not that's so wrong. it's nature and who brought them here? you guess? my hand after this is still inundated with the smell. oh well. good luck to all. it's better than camel back crickets or cave crickets as Dave Matthews sings about.

anon54375

I had a few stinkbugs in my house (nothing of biblical proportions), and I killed them all, Except for one, which took refuge in my bathroom in plain sight on the sink. I was about to kill him when I realized, he wasn't bothering me (or stinking), so I let him live for the day and figured I'd kill him when he crossed me wrong. Well that was two months ago. He just sits there with his back against a power cord and does nothing, until he gets tired of his location (every few days) and moves to one with a better view. I call him Stinky Doug now, and he's been inspiring me for two months.

anon54280

I live in Danville, VA. Just about every day, I find one of more of those little jerks in my bedroom. However, I have never really smelled the "stink" of a stink bug. Usually they smell like an odd blend of cherries and grass.

Has anyone else experienced that smell as well? Is there anything I can use to keep them away? Somebody, please help. These things give me the creeps!

anon52703

Regarding stink bugs, I think I have you all beat. In our office, which is the third floor of an old house in Broomall, PA, we have been co-existing with these creatures for eight months now. They are everywhere.

You pick up a pen, or a napkin to wipe your mouth, you better look at the object first. Last week, I thought my ponytail was tickling my neck and when I reached back to scratch, my itch was a stink bug.

Just now, I went to drink out of my gray 32 oz water bottle and was taking a large swig. I couldn't figure out why the water wasn't flowing freely.

I wound up with a stink bug swimming in my mouth. The smell is very strong but I also had a burning numbness from where the stink bug touched my lips.

In the past, I let them live when I found them, pushing them aside or moving them elsewhere. Not anymore. They are toast from now on.

anon50776

In Jersey we are being inundated with these awful things, the brown marmorated stink bug from asia. Shield shaped, dime sized, fearless, they emit a horrific odor when disturbed that most (but not all) people can smell. They can get in almost microscopic slits, and migrate in for the winter in fall. I hate these little SOBs! They love clothing and luggage, dark places, hair dryiers, etc. Shake your clothes before you put them on, trust me! This is a national emergency in my opinion. I grab them with tp and flush them away. So far no luck with the mint, garlic, or marigold treatments, they are impervious to common pesticides. If any expert out there wants to make a million, find a way to repel and murder these things!

anon49759

We are in upstate New York, in Queensbury. The plant where I work is infested with stink bugs. There are hundreds on the outside of our building today. I fear it is due to the decrease in the bat population around here. We have never seen it this bad. I have killed over a dozen tonight already. Hate them!

anon49750

I've never seen or heard about these until recently because this year i've just started to get them. They are so annoying! they would go through my ac and every time i killed one it would smell so bad.

anon49570

Wow. i live in Pittsburgh, pa. got to find some jokes about this area because it's becoming overwhelmed with "stink bugs". They are so creepy and scare the poop out of me. Do they bite? Sting, etc. i run every time i see one unless i can creep on it to kill it, if it flies I'm screaming for the husband. Please help, tell me what to do. I'm going buggy.

Micky.

P.S. i have had about 25 in my bedroom coming through my a/c. i guess but i now got central air what's the answer now?

anon49204

I recently found over 150 of them in our bedroom. They were hiding in luggage bags and a pile of clothing. They love clothes and they are coming in through our AC too. They are disgusting and all over the place this summer. We live in Jersey.

anon49053

I find several a day in my home. I live in Pittsburgh, Pa. I pick them up, let them outside, never smelled any odor at all. They just fly away.

anon48106

You might have bed bugs, not stink bugs. Bed bugs tend to be clear when they are young and dark when they are older. You might want to protect your mattress and yourself by getting a bedbug lock sheet. I have 7 stink bugs in my apartment right now and they terrify me. They can fly pretty well and they don't seem to move if you come around them. They might move towards you. I live in leesburg VA.

anon47964

Delaware is being overrun by the stink bug. I have killed many with no stink (most likely because they didn't see me coming) but when my dogs go near them the smell is horrible. I almost got sick the other day after killing one on my desk at work. I had to disinfect my area & hands & the smell still lingered. I cannot wait til these bugs are done for the season!

anon46642

well i live in between the border of maryland and Washington, D.C. and these bugs are evrywhere. they used to get in through my ac but now they come from everywhere, and every time i kill one, another one appears, but they don't stink or atleast i don't smell it. they are brown with a shield back.

anon45906

I am finding them in my attic. They are getting through my AC in the window, but I have picked them up and even killed them, but no smell. I live on the east coast, they are fat and brown and have wings. Anyone know what I have?

anon29189

Norma,

When the bug has a red x that's a box elder bug. You would definitely know if it was a stink bug because if you killed it or moved it, it would give off a horrible smell and you would be sure! But, like I said it is probably a box elder which are harmless. They usually live in the trees or plants outside.

Staci

anon28616

This was great! I have 8 stinkbugs as pets, and I hug them every day! My room smells pretty bad, but ya know what? I love 'em. I also have a chinchilla. I kind of need a cage for it. It is living in my bed right now. Thanks for the article! Bye!

anon16729

Last night I found what I think may have been a stink bug in my bed. It was between my sheet and a one inch foam protect mattress upon my bed. It was almost translucent with a green tint and a red 'x' on its back. It had wings and was about the size of the tip of a girl's pinky finger. Is this a stink bug? - Norma

gsnowdon

Can anyone tell me how to get the stain of stink bugs off your hands?

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