Have you noticed a small brown big hanging out in your garage, around your pool, or on your patio? If so, this tiny insect may be identified as the “stink bug.” Pennsylvania entomologists were the first to identify the “Brown Marmorated Stink Bug in 1996. Over the decades, the stink bug has stretched as far as Michigan,  Indiana, West Virginia, and Tennessee.

Identifying The Stink Bug

Everyone should be able to identify the stink bug in case of an unplanned meeting. This is especially true for people who are repulsed by insects. One thing is for sure, if you do cross paths with these insects, there would be no need to fret. While stink bugs are not known to bite or sting, they do excrete a foul odor what some people describe as a “malodorous” odor.

The stink bug body is brown or gray. If you look closely at the body, you will notice it has a mixture of brown or gray coloring. The triangular-shaped body measures between 0.5 and 0.75 inches in length. Even the younger stink bug is very easy to see with the naked eye.

The antenna acts as a sensor. It is utilized to detect taste, odor, heat, cold, direction, and/or wind speed.

Why Are Stink Bugs In My Garage?

Stink bugs spend a lot of time searching for shelter. Even when the weather is nice outside, the stink bug will venture indoors through open windows and doors, cracks, crevices, and other access points. Once the insect accesses a home, it will continue searching for a warm place to hang out for the winter.

Since the stink bug does not need nutrition during diapause, which is similar to hibernation, it can hang out anywhere. There is no need to fret about food during this phase.

The stink bug meal is primarily made up of plants, with a mixture of fruits and vegetables.

Stink Bugs Are Harmless To Humans

As mentioned previously, the stink bug does not sting. However, these so-called harmless insects are known for their devastation of crops. Farmers all across Pennsylvania have reported significant stink bug crop damage.

As the demand for organic fruits and vegetables continues to soar, American farmers are moving farther away from chemical pesticides and insecticides. Commercial pesticides containing a chemical known as deltamethrin is most often utilized to eradicate bed bugs.

When utilized properly, deltamethrin-based pesticides are harmless once the solution dries to the touch.

How To Eradicate Stink Bug Infestations

It really depends on your perception of chemical pesticides. If you are against these products, it would be in your best interest to utilize home remedies with natural ingredients, such as vinegar, garlic, mint, and neem oil. Mix these ingredients in a spray bottle and apply a generous amount in problem areas.

DIY Stink Bug Eradication

Depending on the severity of your stink bug infestation, it may be in your best interest to hire a licensed exterminator. These professionals will inspect your home to determine the severity of your stink bug infestation. At the end of the inspection, the inspector will offer you a list of treatment options.

If it is determined, your bed bug infestation is mild, a simple treatment plan will be sufficient. Unfortunately, the same thing cannot be factually said about moderate- to severe-stink bug infestations. The more severe the infestation, the complex the treatment. In these cases, the exterminator will recommend a mixture of treatments over a specific period of time.

The exterminator will help you choose the best course of action to ensure maximum success.

Stink Bug Infestation Treatment Cost

Stink bug extermination costs vary from one infestation to another. The more severe the stink bug infestation, the more complex the treatment plan. Mild- to moderate-stink bug infestation extermination will not cost nearly as much as severe infestations.

The only way to pre-determine the actual cost of stink bug extermination is through a quote. Contact your local extermination company to request a free quote in advance.

Stink Bug Prevention

Like other insect infestations, stink bug infestations can be prevented. The best way to keep these insects from accessing your home is to close off all access points. Keep your doors and windows sealed or screened off from the outside. Utilize caulk to seal cracks and crevices around the doors, windows, and plumbing pipes.

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