Stink Bugs in Autumn: Why Fall Means More Stink Bugs, and What To Do About Them!
Autumn brings the delights of changing leaves, jeans and sweaters, pumpkin spice lattes, and stink bugs.
Wait… Stink Bugs?
Yes, along with all of the lovely traditions and feelings of Autumn comes our favorite little pest, the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.
Stink Bugs, like acid-washed jeans and Weird Al Yankovich, have been a nuisance to the United States since the late 80’s. They first arrived via shipping containers from Asia, and after falling in love with American culture (and our crops!) they have been here ever since, multiplying and spreading at a faster rate than we can keep up with.
While the stink bug can be seen all year long, autumn is the time they truly begin their invasion into our homes. With the first falling of leaves, you can expect the stink bugs to mobilize and head indoors!
Why do stink bugs head indoors in fall?
Simply, as temperatures begin to fall, stink bugs seek warmer environments. At the start of autumn, it is common to see the stink bugs congregating on the sunny side of your house or on trees with southern exposure.
As temperatures trend lower and lower, the stink bugs will begin to aggressively seek entrance to your nice, warm inviting home. This is where they would love to wait out the winter until the weather outside is favorable to them once again.
Throughout the fall and winter, stink bug activity will continue to coincide with the weather. On warmer, sunny days you will notice more of the little pests becoming active throughout your home. Just as you may be anxious to break out the sundress and take a ride in the convertible at the first warm day in November, the stink bugs are also easily fooled by the warm temperatures.
How to prevent a fall stink bug invasion:
Stink bugs will look for any way possible to seek refuge in your house this winter. Like Canadians heading to Florida, these pests hate the cold and will do anything to spend the winter in a warmer climate. Instead of Fort Lauderdale, they will settle for your attic.
There are many steps you can take to help secure your home against stink bugs this fall:
Seal your home! The best way to keep stink bugs out of your home is to ensure it is properly sealed. There are many entrance points the stink bugs can use to gain entry into your home. The trick is to identify and seal all of these.
- Look at your windows and doors, sealing any spaces around the frames with caulk, and filling any holes. If there is a gap beneath your door, replace the weather stripping.
- Fireplaces are an entry point for all sorts of critters, including the brown marmorated stink bug. Install a chimney screen or cap to keep pests from entering your home through your chimney. Make sure your chimney flue is in working order and has a tight seal.
- Check your soffets, plumbing, electric outlets, and other possible gaps in your home. These are all areas that may serve as entryways for stink bugs. You can easily fill these with a product like Great Stuff. This will also help insulate your home, cutting down on heating costs!
- Fix screen windows! Patch holes or replace screens as needed.
- Watch what you carry indoors! If you carry something in from the garage or shed, inspect it for stink bugs. Take a look at grocery bags before carrying them in. Inspect boxes before carrying your christmas decorations up from the basement or down from the attic!
Outside your home, keep your yard clear of leaves and debris. These are breeding and gathering spots for stink bugs. Maintain a clean foundation around the outside of your home.
Secure your entrances! There are a number of magnetic mesh screen doors that are affordable and easy to install. Keep these on your entranceway in the late summer and early fall to stop stink bugs from following you into the house.
Getting Rid of Stink Bugs in Your Home
You may have done your due diligence and attempted to seal your home from stink bugs, only to find they managed to sneak in anyway. Don’t panic- there are still plenty of measures you can take to get rid of stink bugs once they’ve found their way inside your house.
Stink Bug Traps. There are many Stink Bug Traps on the market that can help alleviate the stink bug problem in your home.
Here are a few of our favorite Stink Bug Traps, that have all been shown to be effective in getting rid of stink bugs in your home:
The Bonide Natural Stink Bug Trap attracts and catches stink bugs without the use of dangerous chemicals. It can be used indoors our outdoors, is odorless and non-toxic.l
The Rescue! Stink Bug Light works with the Rescue! Stink Bug Trap to attract the stink bugs in your home. It is non-toxic and reusable. Stink bugs are easily disposed of once they are trapped.
Bug Vacuums
Stink bugs get their name from the odor they emit when they are killed. Because of this, you may want to consider using a bug vacuum to remove stink bugs when you encounter them in your home. Crushing them in a tissue is a sure way to release the stink!
Natural Stink Bug Prevention and Control
There are many natural methods of eliminating and controlling stink bugs. These range from home-made traps to insect-eating plants. Read more about natural stink bug prevention and control here.
However you choose to wage your war on stink bugs, know that you are not alone!
Stink bugs are a real problem in the United States, and the stink bugs are spreading. What began as a problem in the Northeast of the US has now spread throughout much of the country. If you begin to see stink bugs in your area, the best thing you can do is to get on the defensive. Don’t wait for the stink bugs to bring the war to you!
A pre-emptive strike in the form of stink bug prevention and control will give you an important advantage in the War On Stink Bugs!
