What’s that smell? A stink bug, of course!

Have you seen this little critter around your home? It is called the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. It holds to its name because boy does it smell when you squish it! Now that we are seeing cooler temperatures, they are looking to come inside. Let’s take a look at these stink bugs in a little more detail.

Why do they smell?

Their odor is a defense mechanism so that small prey will not want to eat them. They release their stinky smell from small holes in their abdomen.

What can I do to prevent them from invading?

Stink bugs will gain entry to your home from the tiniest of cracks or holes. Here are some steps you can take, from inside your home, that will help prevent stink bugs from gaining easy access to come in:

  1. Install weather stripping where needed.
  2. Seal any cracks and crevices where bugs can access the inside of your home.
  3. Check all windows, doors, and pipes that go into the home and the chimney.

From the outside, make sure you do not have any debris or litter around the home. You can apply a control product around the perimeter of the house as a last resort.

What do I do if I see stink bugs in my house?

Certainly, don’t squish them! The best thing to do if you see these stink bugs is to gently sweep them into a disposable bag or something similar. You can also get a bucket of soapy water and sweep them into that, this way they perish and you will not have to tolerate the awful smell. I wouldn’t recommend using the vacuum cleaner because it could trigger the awful odor thus smelling them each time you run your vacuum.

Researchers from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech (source) suggest, “…filling a roasting pan with water and your favorite dish soap, put a light over it and watch the magic as it will attract the bugs.”

As always, feel free to contact MissionGreen Services at 413-998-STAY (7829) for more information or to help with any of your pest problems outdoors!