What is a Stink Bug?

Perhaps you are starting to see these large “shield” shaped bugs wandering around, and sometimes in, your home. When you squash them you smell a pretty foul odor and re-think what you’ve just done. These are most likely halyomorpha halys, or more commonly known as, the stink bug.

So what is a Stink Bug?

Stink bugs are not a threat to your home or your family. They can be annoying and can invade a home in such masses that one wonders if they’ve been invaded by some alien bug overthrow. Be strong, the stink bug is a plant feeder, which does make them a problem for those with gardens or farming crops. The stink bug will pierce the skin of fruits and plants to eat which will kill off the fruit or plant. This poses a problem for gardens and farm crops.

The stink bug is not a native species to the United States but an import from Japan. They first appeared in the US in the late 90’s. The bug can seem increasingly active in and around your house in the fall because they are seeking out places to hunker down for the coming winter cold. If the stink bugs do find your home a suitable place for the winter you can expect to see them again in the spring as they try to get out of your home to feed on the plant life outside.

Why are they called Stink Bugs?

Stink bugs, as their name would illustrate, put off a stench when threatened of squashed (killed). So getting rid of the stink bugs can be a bit tricky.

From NPMA:

The problem more familiar to homeowners who encounter this slow-moving, armored-looking pest – is the smell. When handled or disturbed, stink bugs are able to secrete a bad-smelling, bad-tasting fluid from pores on the sides of their bodies. This secretion protects stink bugs from predators .And, to them that’s what we are – tissue-wielding, newspaper-swatting, foot stomping predators.

How To Get Rid of Stink Bugs

A pest control perimeter treatment will help to keep the stink bug from getting around the house. But as some bugs can go airborne they can fly over a ground treatment and claim the exterior of your house as a nice place to get some sun. If you have the time and energy, plus if the extent of the infestation is small enough, you can create a dish soap / water mixture and flick the bugs in there. The stink bugs will down in the soapy solution. You can then dispose of them. If your problem is too large to handle bug by bug then you can implement a vacuum (but only the suction so you do not squash them) or a pesticide option.

If you can seal of cracks around the outside of you house that will also help to keep the bug from finding their way into your home. It will also do some good in making your home more energy efficient.

So do not freak out about the stink bug. They are just looking for a warm place to call home for the winter.