What Smells? Stink Bugs and Why They’re in Your Home

This fall, hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin spice should fill the air as you prepare your home for holiday gatherings. The last thing you need to enter that lineup is a pungent chemical released by a tiny brown bug.

As temperatures drop, stink bugs start looking for protected places to spend the winter. Unfortunately, the cracks and crevices around your home can look like the perfect seasonal retreat. And once one stink bug makes its way inside, they alert others to get cozy. 

So, why are stink bugs in your home, what attracts them in the first place, and how can you keep them away? Here’s what to know before a stink bug party ruins yours. 

What Attracts Stink Bugs To Your Home?

Stink bugs are sneaky creatures. In fact, the brown marmorated stink bug wasn’t even introduced to the United States until the 1990s, when they hid in shipping containers from Asia. 

Today, they don’t need a cargo container to slip inside. Small cracks around windows and doors, gaps beneath siding, damaged screens, and uncapped chimneys can all provide easy access.

Stink bugs are also attracted to warmth and light-colored, sun-exposed surfaces. During fall, you may notice them gathering on the sunny side of your home before squeezing through nearby openings in search of shelter.

If you’re wondering how to keep stink bugs away, prevention is the best defense. The first step to keeping the brown bugs at bay is to seal your windows, doors, and water spigots. Tight-fitting screens with no holes help reduce their chances of entering through vents, and capping any chimney is essential. Ultimately, it comes down to saving your open-door policy for holiday guests, not stinky pests.

What Do Stink Bugs Eat? 

Before stink bugs start searching for winter shelter, food is one of their biggest priorities. And if you have food readily available, they’ll flock to it.

They feed on a wide variety of plants and crops, including corn, soybeans, apples, peaches, pears, grapes, tomatoes, and ornamental plants. That means homes near gardens, fruit trees, agricultural areas, or lush landscaping may see more stink bug activity.

When a stink bug decides to snack on fruits like peaches or apples, they inject a small amount of toxic saliva into it, causing the fruit to scar as it grows. This scar resembles a cat’s face, which gives the bug its nickname, the “cat-facing insect.” 

To be fair, it’s a cute nickname. But it’s way less cute when these bugs destroy the fruit you’ve been growing all summer. So if you have an infestation large enough to damage your crops, it’s best to call in the professionals. 

Where Do Stink Bugs Hide in the Winter? 

We’re all familiar with the long, cozy naps after a filling holiday feast. However, we’re not the only ones who love a good slumber.

As the temperatures drop, stink bugs enter the phase of their life cycle called diapause, a period of hibernation and inactivity. Outdoors, they may find shelter beneath bark or other protected areas. Around homes, they often slip into attics, window frames, siding, and other quiet spaces where they can remain undisturbed.

They also tend to gather in groups. Once stink bugs discover a cozy spot, they release a pheromone that attracts others to the same area. One stink bug hanging around a sunny window may not look like much, but it could be the beginning of a much larger sleepover.

Soon after, a home is filled with stink bugs who have caught wind of the scent, and the bugs will then become inactive. They stop eating and do not reproduce until the following spring. Even though they won’t damage your home while in this state, it’s still important to get them out, as they can cause quite a stink when they wake up. 

Do Stink Bugs Bite?

For something with such an unpleasant defense mechanism, stink bugs are surprisingly uninterested in people.

Stink bugs do not typically bite humans, and they don’t sting. Their piercing mouthparts are designed for feeding on plants and fruits, not you. 

Their biggest offense indoors is right there in the name. When threatened, crushed, or disturbed, stink bugs release a strong-smelling chemical as a defense against predators. 

So while they aren’t dangerous houseguests, they’re definitely not the kind you want to startle.

What Should I Do If I Find Stink Bugs?

If you find this stinky pest indoors, resist the urge to squash it. 

Instead, you can gently vacuum up stink bugs and dispose of them outside. If you’re dealing with larger numbers, it could mean they’ve found an entry point or a spot to ride out the winter somewhere in or around your home. 

The best long-term approach is preventing them from getting inside in the first place, which is why fall is a good time to inspect your exterior for areas where stink bugs may be slipping through.

Enjoy the Smell of Pumpkins, Not Pests

Don’t let your curated candle collection go to waste because of brown, smelly bugs. If stink bugs keep showing up and overpowering the smell of holiday cooking, contact us for a detailed pest control plan.