Why Are
Stink Bugs
In Your House
Stink bugs are fairly non-threatening to
humans, but they are still an insect you
don’t want in your house.
As their name suggests, their main defense
mechanism is to release an odorous fluid
if they feel threatened.
If you come in contact with this liquid,
it can cause skin irritation.
Some people also may experience
allergic reactions to the scent that
stink bugs release.
Figuring out why these bugs
are in your house helps you
to stop this common and
annoying pest problem.
Why Are Stink Bugs
Suddenly Showing Up?
A stink bug’s life cycle involves mating and reproducing
throughout the spring and summer months.
Once winter comes along, they seek out shelter from
the cold and go dormant.
If you’ve suddenly noticed a large amount
of stink bugs, then you’ve likely caught
them at a critical point in their seasonal
behaviors.
Whether they are reproducing or seeking
a winter shelter, watching out for these
reasons why they are in your house helps
you create an action plan to stop the invasion.
They’ve Found
an Easy Entry Point
Like many other pests, stink bugs need
a way to get inside to start an infestation.
Look around your house for these
common points of entry.
• Holes in window screens
• Broken weatherstripping around windows
and doors
• Cracks around electrical outlets and pipes
• Damaged siding or cracks around the
foundation
They’re Attracted
to Your Home’s Lighting
These insects are attracted to lights.
Consider switching to motion-activated
lights to illuminate your home’s pathways
in the evenings.
Switching to yellow bulbs or sodium vapor
lights can also help you to avoid attracting
stink bugs to the door.
They Hitched a Ride On
Something You Carried Inside
If you’ve recently done work on the outside
of your house, then it is possible that you
brought stink bugs inside with you.
This commonly happens when someone
brings in outdoor seasonal decorations that
are infested with stink bugs.
Giving inflatables, flags and other items
a shake before bringing them in for
storage helps to keep bugs outside
where they belong.
They’re Living Somewhere
Close to Your Home
Stink bugs feed on many different types
of plants and they’ll follow the crop season.
At first, they’ll spend time on grass
and weeds.
Once fruit trees and vegetable plants start
to grow, then they’ll head there.
Try to keep your lawn weed-free and the
grass short.
This deters them from showing up
in the first place.
Keeping gardening areas as far from
your home’s exterior walls as possible also
helps to keep them from coming inside.
How Do You Get Rid
of a Stink Bug Infestation?
Right now, you might be wondering how to
immediately address a stink bug problem.
First, you’ll want to avoid squishing
these bugs.
The scent that they release is pungent
and it can linger for hours.
Instead, you can vacuum them up.
Just make sure to dispose of the vacuum bag
immediately to avoid lingering smells.
Some people also have success with
trapping stink bugs in a dish of soapy water.
If you have a large number of stink bugs,
then insecticidal sprays make the
elimination process easier and faster.
These plant-eating insects prefer to live
their lives away from humans.
If they’re coming inside your house,
then there’s a reason.
Spraying for stink bugs gets rid of the
ones that are inside, and we can help
you figure out what is attracting them
so that they don’t return.
Custom Weed & Pest Control has been
in business since 1989, serving the greater
Phoenix metro area for both residential
and commercial.
We offer an affordable weed and pest control
package, with customized service to meet
your specific needs.