Some Stink Bug Facts

This article provides some basic facts about Stink Bugs. These facts are for everyday people who simply want to get and keep the bugs out of their house. Insofar as these little stinkers are relatively new to this country, there's not as much known about them as other pests. Nevertheless,  we humans are making progress!

Although there is a wide variety of stink bugs, the one most common in North America is the brown stink bug. You'll be pleased to know that this little creature is virtually harmless to humans, but they sure do stink! And they look like something out of a horror film too… very "prehistoric".

I've learned a couple of cool ways to kill them for anybody who might be interested. The first way is with hairspray! Just give the bug a quick spray and he'll drop like a rock. Another, more organic item you can use is pepper spray. They hate it. So I guess you can burn their eyes and make their hair look good at the same time! Either way, they're history. Another very effective and cheap way to kill Stink Bugs is to spray them with a 50/50 mixture of water and liquid soap.

So what makes these little guys stink so much? It's a defense mechanism. They have "stink glands" on their stomach. Whenever they feel threatened they release a blast of pungent spray from these glands. And, like a skunk, it's usually enough to discourage any would-be predator from harming or eating them.

Brown stink bugs will hibernate in the winter. This is the main reason they try to get in your house. They'll slip in under a door or window, and even find tiny cracks you don't even know about. But the good thing is, they don't reproduce indoors, like roaches.

Stink Bugs in your yard or shed will wake up come Springtime. They will then proceed to lay 20 or 30 eggs on the underside of leaves in May, June, July and August. Once the eggs hatch, the new generation of stink bugs will live for about 1 year, feeding on fruits and vegetables.

Stink bugs don't like extreme temperatures. On a hot sunny day you'll find them in the shade. On cold days they'll be out in the sun… or in your house! If you're not up to swatting them with something, you can always use a vacuum cleaner to suck them up. But be advised that your vacuum will smell like stink bugs afterwards, so you might want to empty it right away.

So in short, seal all your cracks, use window screens and close the door. But don't waste your energy on having a panic attack about them… they're not worth it.