Asked on Sep 25, 2014

Why are stink bugs covering my house?!

Jean McCormick
by Jean McCormick

Stink bugs are invading the back side of my house! Well, maybe the front too, but I don't sit out there! They fly in my hair, land on the computer and I don't like it!! Who would? Is there anything I can do to get rid of stink bugs?

  15 answers
  • Stink bugs tend to enter cracks and crevices around homes this time of year. Unfortunately there isn't a lot you can do other than sealing these areas. Some pest companies "power spray" the house to try to prevent them from getting in. I don't feel this is very effective and exposes people to a large amount of pesticide. www.amtechct.com
  • A professional pest company can do local exterior spraying to lower the amount of these bugs. But Amtech has one great idea and that is to seal your home. If the bugs can get in, the heat and cooling can get out. A few tubes of caulk and perhaps a can or two of expanding spray foam should help this issue out a lot.
  • Peggy Donlon Peggy Donlon on Sep 25, 2014
    the only stink bug I've ever seen, are black and shinny..when you walk up to them they put their butt up in the air with their head down the odor is really bad...
  • Peggy are you talking about skunks? LOL What makes stink bugs so nasty is the smell they make when you squish them. And with a house they tend to get trapped in door and window openings creating a nasty smell when the door or window is closed. Vacuum works wonders, but plan on discarding the bag in it once your done sucking them up.
  • Linda K Linda K on Sep 26, 2014
    I just killed 43 of them inside my living room and kitchen this afternoon. Then I went out on the deck and killed at least that many more. I used the flyswatter. Very effective!
  • Jean McCormick Jean McCormick on Sep 26, 2014
    Thanks, everyone!!
  • Kim Smith Kim Smith on Sep 26, 2014
    They seem worse this year than last. They are multiplying. I read they are bad for crops, not a good bug. I squish when I can. But they are bad flying in my face and hair etc. Ohio SW.
  • Debi Debi on Sep 26, 2014
    If you squish them, they emit a scent that tells the other stink bugs that it's party time in here. So more will show up. Don't squish them, just get them into a tissue and flush them. Also, they don't like mint so plant lots of it around your house. It may take a few years to see them gone, but they should move on.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Sep 27, 2014
    You might want to put some dryer sheets around...I have heard they keep bugs away! I have seen more stink bugs this past year that ever in my life! They drive our dog nuts! I too pick them up with a tissue and flush them! They seem to be gong for the season...probably off somewhere settling in for the winter to come out and torture next spring!
  • Debbie Kuhar Debbie Kuhar on Sep 28, 2014
    iN pENNSYLVANIA, THEY WERE NOT BAD THIS YEAR. sEEM TO SEE A FEW NOW, TRYING TO GET INTO THE HOUSE BECAUSE OF THE COLD. yES, THERE IS NO WAY OF STOPPING THEM FROM ENTERING YOUR ATTIC. a FEW YEARS AGO, WHEN BRINGING OUR XMAS TREE OUT OF THE ATTIC OUR TREE WHICH IS DRAPPED IN A SHEET WAS COVERED WITH THEM. bUT THEY WERE DORMENT. wASHED ALL MU SHEETS IN THE ATTIC, HAVE EVERYHTING UP THERE COVERED WITH SHEETS
  • Jean McCormick Jean McCormick on Sep 28, 2014
    I spent yesterday dropping all I could reach into a cup with water and dishsoap. They are reappearing in fewer quantities now that most of them are gone.
  • Melinda Melinda on Apr 02, 2017

    We try not to use chemicals but these guys were getting in despite chaulking window! Finally went to Home Depot and bought "Home Defence spray." Husband spayed outside lightly at foundation and around the outside window frames, garage overhead door, around door frames and all vent openings. Not ON the actual window or on frames, AROUND THEM. That was two years ago. No more intruders.

  • Jam21050348 Jam21050348 on Apr 02, 2017

    Definitely seal all your cracks! That helped me. I also hung fly tape around and that caught quite a few too. I also used the home defense as well. Unfortunately, theirs not much you can do for these pesky bugs.

  • Diane Adams Diane Adams on Sep 22, 2017

    These bugs are horrible this year, I read they are attracted to the warmth of the house and light, but why are these things on the shady side of my house and not on the sunny side ? I went outside with a can of raid and sprayed a few real heavy and it did NOTHING to them. Ugh eeeek help !

  • Sarah Zoppi Sarah Zoppi on Sep 23, 2017

    Here in Brick,NJ ; They are all over the exterior of the house. I see them crawling along the rain gutters, hanging out on the window screens, and hiding in cracks and crevices along the seams of the siding. On ALL sides of the house and the roof. Lol

    never have we had these

    little stinkers here before. Usually I see them while camping throughout PA.