How To Get Rid Of Stink Bugs

Key Takeaways

• You can get rid of stink bugs by keeping your space clean and using DIY methods like traps.
• And you can prevent them by sealing entry points, reducing outdoor lighting, and calling in professional stink bug exterminators.
• Stink bug infestations happen when it’s too cold outside for them, so they seek shelter indoors.
• They can actually stink, leave stains in your home, and land on you randomly.

If you have ever had to deal with stink bugs getting into your home, you know how frustrating a pest they can be. These smelly bugs are the kind of nuisance that can drive the sanest person crazy. 

And, if measures aren’t taken to seal them out, they are a pest problem that can come back to plague you time (and time, and time) again.

Ways to Get Rid of Stink Bug Infestations

While it is better to try to keep stink bugs out in the first place by doing the hard work of sealing up your home, replacing damaged screens, installing door sweeps, and implementing other pest-protection measures, if they have already invaded your home, here are a few things you can do:

• Scoop them up with a cup and a piece of paper. If you find a stink bug crawling around inside your home, one thing you can do is get a cup or glass and put it over the bug. Slide a piece of paper under the glass, trapping the insect inside. Then, dispose of the bug outside. But this could go on for months without much relief.
• Vacuum them up. If you have more than a few of these pests, you can try vacuuming them up. But then you will need to dispose of the vacuum bag outside. If you find yourself vacuuming up a lot of stink bugs, you could find yourself spending more money than you care to spend on new vacuum bags.
• Some folks make a pretty good handheld stink bug trap with a 2-liter plastic bottle. But we wouldn’t suggest you leave a large bottle of stink bugs in your home. They can become unpleasant.

Ways to Prevent Them

Here’s how you can stop them before they become a major pest problem:

• Seal up entry points. Even small openings can be an invitation for stink bugs looking to escape the cold.
• Replace damaged screens. Take the time to repair or replace any damaged screens before fall arrives.
• Install door sweeps. Installing door sweeps on all exterior doors can help block this common entry point.
• Address chimney and vent openings. Make sure these areas are properly screened or capped to keep pests out while still allowing proper ventilation.
• Reduce outdoor lighting. Like many other insects, stink bugs are attracted to light.
• Keep vegetation trimmed. Stink bugs often hang out in gardens and on plants before making their way to your home.
• Simply call in the professionals. Exterminators like Schendel Pest Services know exactly how to eliminate and prevent stink bugs with tools you can’t get at the store.

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How Do Stink Bug Infestations Occur?

The way stink bug infestations occur is like this: In fall, these cold-blooded insects, which are normally happy to stay outside, start to get cold. When this happens, they look for spots to warm themselves. This causes them to leave gardens and farms, where they are usually found, and congregate on the sunny side of rocks, trees, and, unfortunately, man-made structures.

When a congregation of these nasty creatures hangs out on the sunny side of a home, they start trying to find a way into that home when temperatures drop further. In nature, they crawl underneath the bark of a tree or into some other crack or crevice. On a house, they crawl under siding, go down chimneys, or squeeze in through some other small entry point. This brings them into wall voids.

Inside walls, stink bugs will usually go into a sort of hibernation called diapause, where they slow down to conserve their energy. But there will always be a few that make it into the living areas of a home. And in spring, when things warm up again and stink bugs start moving around again, this is when they can become a major pest again.

Problems They Cause

Inside a home, these are a few of the problems they can cause:

• Stink bugs stink. No kidding, right? One reason these pests are such a pain in the neck is that you can’t just get out the fly swatter or a tissue (or your hand) to simply squish them. (Well, you can do this, but you probably won’t do it more than once.) When a stink bug is crushed, or even just threatened, it can put off a foul-smelling odor.
• Stink bugs dive bomb. Though these insects are able to fly, they are really lousy at it. Because of this, they often fly erratically through a room and then suddenly drop, sometimes right onto a plate of food, or onto a food preparation surface, or, even better, right on someone’s head. These are not fun bugs to have around.
• Stink bugs stain things. The stinky fluid of the stink bug can also stain. These stains can be hard to get out, depending on the material the mark is on.
• Stink bugs taste bad. Now, this shouldn’t be a problem if you only have adults in your home, but sometimes pets or small children will put things in their mouths that they shouldn’t.

Let Schendel Pest Services Help

The most effective solution for getting rid of stink bugs is having a professional pest control company come, remove stink bugs from your home, and apply EPA-approved insecticides to targeted areas.

Reach out to Schendel Pest Services today for effective stink bug control.