Stink Bugs Stinking Up The US
An Unending Nationwide Issue
Updated March 2025
We hate to make a stink – but bugs are a natural part of life; and for many, the initial reaction when seeing a bug is to give it a squish. While not everyone is grossed out by doing so, that natural reaction can backfire tremendously, especially when it comes to Stink Bugs.
Experts say temperature isn’t a factor for them, as they can produce enough numbers during the spring and summer to earn the title “pest” all year-round. If you spot them around the house or yard, take heed to their name. They don’t get it because they are bad at football – they get it because they emit an odor so foul it will ruin your day. More on that below.
What The Experts Say About Stink Bugs
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, its official name, has been a relatively new guest in the United States. They aren’t even natively from here if you can believe it! According to the PennState Extension, the species is native to China, Japan and the Koreas. The Extension even believes they were introduced accidentally to the United States in the mid-to-late 90’s. Oopsie daisies! What makes them notorious in the States, besides their hideous smell, is their catastrophic impact on crops. A report from The Star Tribune found they cost growers in Minnesota $2.4 million in crop losses and spraying costs in one year. That’s because the bug is known as a “sucking insect,” using their proboscis to pierce the host plant to feed. Their proboscis can pierce through fruits, leaves, seeds and trees, and render the delicious food inedible.
Besides their impact to growers, the average homeowner may spot this fairly innocent-looking bug crawling around the house. You may think to yourself: “Ew! A bug! Squish time!” But then you realize the horror you’ve unleashed in your home – a skunk-level type smell. The odor comes from holes in the Stink Bug’s abdomen. Like a skunk, experts say it is a defense mechanism meant to prevent it from being eaten by its natural predators. But you don’t have to be a bird or lizard to make it feel scared. Simply handling the bug, injuring it, or attempting to move it can trigger it to release the odor, so it’s best you don’t handle them directly and instead use disposable gloves, a piece of paper or even junk mail to control them. Just remember, squash with care as their odor can remain on whatever surface they’re squashed on for a period of time after.
Getting Rid Of Stink Bugs
So how do you get rid of them if you’re a homeowner? Well, the good news is that the vacuum can be an effective way of getting the unwelcome guests out, according to Mental Floss. Also, simply laying out trays of soapy water can kill them without the risk of the stink. The bad news: it’s a lot tougher for those of you who have outdoor gardens or farms. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has developed an artificial pheromone which can be used to bait traps. And, because the bugs are fairly mobile, a new population may just fly right back in after the population you just killed. So is there any hope? More good news – yes there is!
That same Mental Floss report shows the Stink Bug have a mortal enemy – the Samurai Wasp. Like the ancient warriors, these Stink Bug assassins strike at the heart of the problem, their eggs. These wasps lay their eggs within each of a majority of the approximately 28 eggs found in a typical Stink Bug egg cluster, eliminating a significant amount of the potential population.
While Stink Bugs are harmless to humans in general, they are still a pest. Besides their smell, they can ruin any growing plans you could have outside in your yard. And if you need added assistance, you can always call us at Fenix and we’ll happily get rid of these stinky pests for you and keep them from coming back.
Ready To Have Us Out To Your Property?
We won't spam!