Aaaagh! They’re swarming all over the house! It’s like a scene from an Alfred Hitchcock horror movie! There are masses of them crawling over every screen trying to get in! Many can guess what I’m talking about – STINK BUGS!
Brown marmorated stink bug
The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) has not only become an annoying invader of our homes but their populations have exploded to the point that they have become a major threat to many agricultural crops including both ornamentals and food crops.
Native to Asia, the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is a relative newcomer to the US being first reported in Pennsylvania in 1998. Since then their numbers and range have slowly increased and they are now found in 30 different US states and are still on the move.
At least, these annoying pests do not bite, sting, suck your blood, or carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Thank goodness for small favors!
Stink bugs crawl over the screen
Late September and October is the time of year that these nasty pests begin congregating around the windows and doors of our homes seeking a warm place to spend the winter. As I sit here writing this, there is a stink bug flying around our office; crashing into light fixtures, walls, windows…
The sunny weather and unseasonably warm temperatures last Sunday must have rousted them out of their hiding places and encouraged them to start looking for an overwintering site. They were on every window and every door; trying to find any crack or entryway into the cozy, comfort of our house.
In the past few years, we’ve seen a few stink bugs around our house in the fall but never the masses that appeared on Sunday! It was impressive – in a BAD way! It was hard to open the sliding screen door to get to the deck without letting one or two in. Ugh! They were quite determined.
We managed to keep them out mostly. The ones did manage to sneak in provided amusement for the cats for a while until we were able to catch them and toss them out again.
Green stink bugs are also very
damaging to vegetable crops.
Because this particular species of stink bug is having such an impact on fruit and vegetable crops, a lot of research is being directed towards developing control methods. Some of this research has focused on natural enemies and pheromone traps in addition to chemical controls.
Horned squash bugs, closely related to
stink bugs, swarm on a cucumber vine.
For the time being, exclusion is one of the best preventative measures for controlling populations indoors. Carefully examine the foundation and around windows and doors for cracks and crevices where they can sneak into the house. They will seek out these entry points in an attempt to find overwintering sites. Use caulk and weather stripping to seal any cracks.
Luckily our house is fairly tight and unless they sneak in through an open door, few manage to get in. The attic is a different story. I think they can manage to get in up there fairly easily but it’s hard for them to make their way into the rest of the house from the attic.
Boxelder bug nymphs swarm over
a statue in the garden
The boxelder bug is another nuisance insect that can invade your home in droves at this time of the year. Like the stink bugs, they are seeking protected overwintering sites and your warm home fits the bill perfectly! I’ve seen swarms of the bright red immature boxelder bugs crawling over concrete statues and the surrounding plants in the Viette gardens at this time of year. I guess the concrete warms up in the sun and they take advantage of this late season warmth the same as they do when they are swarming on the foundation of your house. Creepy!
There are several control products available that will kill stink bugs and boxelder bugs on contact. Bonide Household Insect Control kills on contact but also has some residual action that creates a relatively effective barrier around windows, doors, and other areas where these pests might gain entrance to your home. Use according to the label directions.
Stink bugs are super annoying
in the house!
Stink bug traps have also been developed. Some of these traps, like the Bonide Stink Bug Trap and the Rescue Reusable Stink Bug Trap, use pheromones to attract and trap the bugs. The pheromone traps work best in the spring and summer when the stink bugs are seeking mates. Once daytime temperatures drop below 60° in the fall, they don’t work well. At this point, the mating season is over and their attention is focused on finding a place to spend the winter rather than finding a mate.
Traps that use light as an attractant may work better in the fall. The Rescue Stink Bug Trap has an optional light attachment that can be used to attract and trap the stink bugs that have made their way into your home.
I’ve never tried any of these traps but if you have large numbers of stink bugs in your home, they might be worth a try!
If you search online, you can also find other “creative” ways to control stink bugs in your home. Andre prefers the vacuum cleaner but you’d better change the bag afterward!
Viette's Views 