How To Get Rid Of Stink Bugs

What is the best way to get rid of stink bugs?

There are two main approaches to stink bug control. First, if you have detected only a few stink bugs, you can use a fast-acting spray that kills them on contact. A second option is an integrated approach, which is recommended for eliminating heavy infestations. In this case, you should use pheromone traps in combination with powerful insecticides. Treat cracks and crevices in the wall and ceiling with a spray labeled for spot treatment. Seal cracks, especially those in baseboards and around the windows. The recommended ingredient for indoor treatment is pyrethrin. Place traps with pheromone lures to reduce stink bug populations in the garden. More importantly, you should treat your backyard with insecticides. Products containing acetamiprid, ß-cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, dinotefuran, and a-cyhalothrin are the most effective ones against stink bugs. While being potent, these insecticides are safe for plants and can be applied around ornamentals.

Quick Picks for products to help you get rid of Stink Bugs:

If you are in a hurry, we’ve got you covered. This quick list will take you straight to reliable Stink Bug Solutions. If you have a few extra minutes to read through the rest of the article you may find out that you already have a product in your garage that will eradicate the little stinkers. The TOP 7 are discussed in greater detail below. Our best advice is don’t wait! Start smart and start now!

TERRO T3500 Stink Bug Killer Aerosol Spray min: photo

BugZooka WB100 Bug Catcher Vacuum min: photo

Stink bugs are particularly troublesome both for farmers and homeowners in the USA. Did you know these little invaders originated in Asia but appeared in the USA quite recently, just some twenty years ago, quickly spreading throughout the country. These insects normally become active in spring when they start sucking sap from leaves and fruits and by doing so damage trees and vegetable crops. When autumn comes, stink bugs search for a shelter to overwinter becoming a major nuisance for homeowners. Thankfully, Stink Bugs do not bite, nor do they inflict any damage to the surfaces of the building. What they do is less harmful but still really gross and annoying – they emit an unpleasant odor when disturbed or crushed… possibly squirting it a few inches.

Therefore, in the case of the stink bug infestation, you face a double challenge — inside the house and out in the garden. In this article, we will tell you how to get rid of stink bugs applying scientifically proven solutions. These include stink bug sprays and granules, natural enemies as well as stink bug traps. We will look at how to repel stink bugs and will review the 7 most popular products on comparing their cost-effectiveness.

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Identification Of Stink Bugs

Normally, the marmorated stink bug is 5/8 inch long and is speckled with marbled brown and cream colors, with the shape resembling a knight shield. The insect’s eggs are light-colored oval and can be detected in the undersides of a plants’ leaves in groups of several dozens of eggs. To distinguish marmorated stink bugs from others of this species, have a closer look at their antennae which should have two white bands, while the insect’s head should be blunt.

While other species of stink bugs — brown and green ones — overwinter outside of human-inhabited spaces, in particular, in the garden debris and bark, the marmorated stink bugs head for buildings or other protected structures to find a shelter there as soon as it is getting cold. Each female can lay up to almost five hundred eggs during her life producing several generations over the course of the year. This fact undoubtedly makes the likelihood of an infestation larger and the inflicted damage to crops more tangible.
How can you detect that it is stink bugs you are dealing with? First, have a look at fruits in your garden. If there are white or yellow spots on the fruits while its leaves are wilting and blossoms falling before the time comes, this is a signal that urgent pest control measures are needed to be taken. When inspecting the foliage, check each leaf carefully as adult stink bugs are smart enough to hide, especially when being frightened. However, clusters of their eggs are not easily to conceal, therefore always look at the underside of the leaves when monitoring these pests.

How To Get Rid Of Stink Bugs Indoors

Prevention is the key to success. When a stink bug finds an appropriate overwintering site, it emits the smell signaling to others where the shelter is located. After a while, other bugs will follow the pioneering explorer and will flow into the house. This is a good reason for you to take all available steps to keep these insects away because otherwise your house will get highly infested with these pests in winter.
Exclusion. The best way to prevent an intrusion is exclusion. Inspect your house for gaps and crevices along windows, doors, and foundations, including openings around utility pipes and vents. Seal them with caulk or foam sealant, repair window and other screens. Place them inside vents in the attic. Steve Jacobs, Sr. Extension Associate at the Pennsylvania State University notes that this approach is good for preventing bugs from entering the building. Once they are inside, monitor the places where they emerge from. Paintable Household Caulking is a quick way to complete this task in indoor areas. A more durable outdoor caulking is recommended for sealing cracks outside of your house.
As a rule, these are the cracks under baseboards, along window and door trims. Seal them as well, so that the pests would not be able to get out inside the room. And do not worry about dead stink bugs left inside the sealed openings as their smell will not attract the new ones, according to the National Pesticide Information Center. Though, if detected indoors, the dead insects can be removed with a vacuum.
Turn off exterior lights. Also, keep in mind that turning off exterior lights at night when there is no need in illumination is a sure way to reduce the number of stink bugs attracted into your house. Apart from that, if there are exterior lights near doors or windows, you should relocate them or put motion detectors on them so the turn off when not needed. Interior lights near the entrances are recommended to be turned off at night.
Vacuum cleaner. Another instrument in your pest control strategy can be found in any household and this is a vacuum cleaner. Use it to suck in stink bugs, but remember that these pests will leave an offensive smell inside the bag so it would be wise to have a separate vacuum for this purpose only. House owners are creative though, and some of them place a nylon material inside the cleaner and secure it outside. The bugs will be collected inside this improvised bag and afterward easily removed from there. Or you can buy a small, lightweight, hand-held 38-inch long device – bug vacuum (catcher), like BugZooka.
Spraying the insecticides as pyrethrin into cracks in walls and ceilings will kill a significant number of stink bugs.
Using light traps is scientifically proven to be effective. They attract insects by an installed LED lamp. When bugs approach the device, its fan sucks them inside.

How To Kill Stink Bugs In The Garden

If damage to the garden is not significant, no pest control measures are required, just cut out spoiled spots on the fruit and that will be enough. But for the large infestation, a combination of methods should be implemented to avoid losing a part of the crop to stink bugs. In order to protect your garden, first, clear all plant debris and remove potential sites for bugs’ overwintering, such as wood piles and rocks.

Scientists from the University of California recommend using row covers made of polyester and designed to hamper stink bugs’ devouring fruits. But it is not that simple since this solution excludes not only pests but beneficial insects and pollinators as well. Another drawback is that tall trees are nearly impossible or hard to be covered and if you succeed, the material can be torn by winds.
Handpicking is also a scientifically approved pest control method and is facilitated by a stink bugs’ habit to “drop” when they are frightened. Just place a jar with soapy water beneath to catch as much of these nuisance pests as you can. This procedure is also considered to be an easy one as stink bugs have quite a big size compared to other insects and are likely to be noticed on fruits. Just be ready since they will want to play hide-and-seek with you. Commercially available vacuums specifically designed to catch bugs will help you to emerge the winner in this game. Yes, you can vacuum your plants!

Stink Bug Trap

Consider adding traps to your armory. These devices may help you kill lots of stink bugs, moreover, they can be used to monitor the presence of these pests in the garden. Keep reading to see if Dr. Hoddle’s observation fits your specific siruation.
Dr. Mark S. Hoddle, a Biological Control Specialist at the University of California, claims that when used by homeowners in pest control strategies, traps with pheromone lures will have a limited effect. In his opinion, this solution is more effective as a method of monitoring of stink bug populations in large commercial crops. Mr. Hoddle believes that pheromones of these insects are not so potent to produce tangible results if no other solutions and technologies are applied. The problem with stink bug pheromones is that this substance is emitted by males, not females, which is why, according to scientific studies, this kind of lure is not as powerful as it is in the case with other pests. Moreover, stink bugs react to pheromone attractants only when mature and there is a low probability that they will be attracted to the lure in autumn.

According to scientific studies, female stink bugs are attracted by male pheromones at a long range distance but as soon as they approach each other, for example, sitting on the same fruit, special vibrational signals emitted by the males are needed to prompt the females to mate. Therefore, this feature has to be taken into account when designing a trap, so that the device combines both pheromone lure working at a large distance and a specific vibration attracting females at a short distance.
Nevertheless, sometimes by saving money better results can be obtained. This is the case that a Virginia Tech team of scientists make urging to use homemade traps designed for indoor application. They claim this solution to be a simple and cheap trap which, according to their findings, works much better than those commercially available. What you need is to pour water in a foil roasting pan and then add a liquid dish soap there. Place the trap in a dark room and put a lamp above and stink bugs will flow there from crevices inside the building they are hiding in to overwinter. You might have heard about this solution before, but what is important here is that this approach has been scientifically proven as not only effective but superior to commercial versions! The drawback is that the device is helpful only indoors and is impractical in managing the stink bug population in crops where damage is much more significant.

Are There Stink Bug Repellents?

Stink bugs are tough guys and they are hard to repel. These pests are tolerant to insecticides, not to mention solutions made of natural ingredients which are traditionally considered to have a much weaker impact on insects. For those still interested in natural repellents, below we offer you some tips on how to make natural stink bug repellents which can be helpful as a supplementary measure to your stink bug control strategy.
Mix garlic and water to make a garlic spray of high concentration. For this purpose, blend two bulbs with a cup of hot water. Steep the liquid for 12 hours.
Place ten drops of essential oil in a bottle and mix it with two cups of water. Shake it up and spray on the foliage.
Mix neem oil with warm water. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and treat all sites where stink bugs are likely to congregate.

How To Kill Stink Bugs With Insecticides

A bulk of known commercially available insecticides killing pests are not very effective in a stink bug control. As scientific studies show, these insects can migrate from neighboring areas thus increasing the risk of re-infestation even after chemicals were applied. Nevertheless, scientists from the State University of New Jersey have offered a list of insecticides which, according to their estimates, work against stink bugs when applied to crops. These are products containing the following active ingredients: acetamiprid, ß-cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, dinotefuran, a-cyhalothrin and fenpropathrin. All of them, except for fenpropathrin, can be applied to ornamental plants. Acetamiprid-based products are recommended for using on vegetable crops.
The National Pesticide Information Center claims that applying insecticides indoors with the aim of managing stink bugs is of little effect, but some insecticides produce desirable results when used outside the building, along the structure’s perimeter. However, this solution works only if used timely. According to Steve Jacobs from the Pennsylvania State University, spraying the insecticides as pyrethrin into cracks in walls and ceilings will kill a significant number of stink bugs.
And yet, using insecticides indoors has some drawbacks. First, they are poisonous and must be handled very carefully. Second, when killed inside the building, dead stink bugs attract carpet beetles which are pests as well. Third, this approach does not prevent other stink bugs from penetrating into the house, which is why using chemicals is not recommended as a long-term pest control strategy.
Always choose an insecticide based on the intended location of use. Never use “outdoor” insecticides inside your house! There are plenty of spays and methods for both outdoor and indoor locations. Read the labels to make sure.

How To Get Rid Of Stink Bugs: Comparison Chart

Method	Advantage	Diadvantage	Effectiveness
Sealing gaps and openings in the building Effectiveness: 10	safe; cost-effective; additional benefit of repairing your house; a long-term solution; prevents stink bugs from entering the house	hard to detect and seal all gaps and cracks; time-consuming, moderate effort
Handpicking Effectiveness: 8	environmentally friendly solution; safe; kills specific bugs for sure; facilitated by stink bugs’ habit to drop when frightened; stink bugs are relatively large and easy to be detected	does not kill large numbers of bugs; time-consuming; stink bugs have a habit of hiding; a short-term solution
Trap cropping (placing alternative plants around the crop to “intercept” stink bugs) Effectiveness: 9	environmentally friendly solution; scientifically proven to be effective; a long-term solution	require additional expenditures on the garden; it is necessary to properly select the plant which will surely attract stink bugs; time-consuming;
Using row covers Effectiveness: 9	ensures full protection from stink bugs when appropriately fixed; protects from all pests in general	excludes pollinators as well; hard to cover tall trees; the material can be torn by winds
Using a hand vacuum Effectiveness: 10	safe; scientifically proven to be effective; can be used both indoors and in the garden	smell from the pests remains inside the bag; needs to be conducted regularly; time-consuming; a short-term solution
Light traps Effectiveness: 9	scientifically proven to be effective; cheap; easy to use; can be homemade; components can be easily found in households	can be used only indoors; a short-term solution
Traps with pheromone lures Effectiveness: 5	save; environmentally friendly	better for monitoring than pest control; ineffective when infestation is not large; pheromone is not as powerful as it is for other insects; stink bugs react to pheromone lures only when mature; they do not respond to it in autumn; requires additional stimulus of special vibration; a short-term solution
Using natural enemies (predators and parasites) Effectiveness: 10	scientifically proven to be effective; environmentally friendly solution; some of them (wasps) are beneficial insects; doesn’t require human participation	stink bugs can migrate from other areas
Insecticides (acetamiprid, ß-cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, dinotefuran, a-cyhalothrin and fenpropathrin) Effectiveness: 8	recommended for the outdoor use; inside the building can kill large numbers at once; almost all of them can be applied to ornamental	does not prevent insects from entering the house; stink bugs are tolerant to insecticides; can pose a risk to human health if used incorrectly; stink bugs often migrate from neighboring areas; dead stink bugs attract carpet beetles; a short-term solution

TOP-7 Stink Bug Sprays, Traps and Killers

Below, we will have a look at a vacuum designed to suck in stink bugs, a light trap and a trap which attracts stink bugs by pheromone lures. We will review different insecticides, including sprays and concentrates based on a wide range of active ingredients recommended by scientists, such as tetramethrin, permethrin, bifenthrin, imidacloprid and others.

BugZooka WB100 Bug Catcher Vacuum

This device will help you to kill stink bugs both in the garden and inside the house, as well as remove the dead ones after insecticides’ application without creating too much smell. BugZooka is lightweight, 38-inch long and easy to use. What is essential, its construction allows you to keep a distance from the bugs when they are being sucked into the device, to avoid any unpleasant feelings.

As it follows from comments left by the consumers, the vacuum catches stink bugs even in the spots which are hard to reach. However, the SPI Team recommends not to release these insects outside as they will return to the house. Nor should you crush the captured stink bugs as they will release chemicals with an awful smell.

The users confirm that the vacuum really sucks in stink bugs as well as big spiders and wasps. With no batteries to charge or replace, this device can actually make sucking up bugs quite fun. Most kids will enjoy it too. Even those who find insects absolutely repulsive can still usually capture a few this way.

Price: Check current price

Electronic Bug Killer

The manufacturer claims that the bug zapper specifically designed to be used indoors kills stink bugs as well. It attracts insects by the installed LED lamp releasing the light wave of 365 Nm in length. When stink bugs approach the device, its fan sucks them inside, regardless of the direction from which the insect has flown. Using this apparatus is a non-toxic, odorless and safe way to get rid of stink bugs. The dead ones are withdrawn from a storage box in the bug zapper – keeping the smell to a minimum. Be aware that the apparatus will not function well if the air conditioner blows directly to it so choose a protected spot.

The science supports the use of devices like this. Many satisfied customers claim that the device works well as a bug killer.

Price: Check current price

Stink Bug Trap RESCUE! SBTR

As we have learned, pheromone lures are not considered by most scientists as an effective solution and should be supplemented with special devices emitting vibration. For this reason, the product like this should not be viewed as a strong measure in your pest control strategy. But it can be helpful as a supplementary solution. Actually, the presence of this stuff in your arsenal will pose no additional risks as it is absolutely environmentally friendly and safe for humans. The trap can be placed both indoors and outside the building or in the garden.

The product is supplied with additional pheromone attractants which will be enough for a month of intensive stink bug management. Once the stink bug flies into the trap, it cannot get out and is eventually dehydrated. The dead ones are easily disposed of. The manufacturer claims that the trap works in a range of thirty feet. The product’s drawback is that it does not kill eggs.

This stink bug trap is not popular with users at all. It might be worth a try if you are desperate or as a way to keep an eye on the population the year following a successful eradication.

Price: Check current price

Stink Bug Spray TERRO T3501-6

This spray kills stink bugs on contact in two ways: as a wide spray or when directed straight into crevices where the pests are hiding. The product is a good solution for the exclusion method since it can be applied both inside the outside house, in particular, to treat foundations. Its effect lasts for about a month so you will not have to apply it too often. Terro spray does not stain, nor does it have a foul smell.

However, this is a powerful insecticide with active ingredients tetramethrin (0.25%), permethrin (0.50%), and piperonyl butoxide (1.0%)which can harm humans. Therefore, having sprayed it indoors, walk away in order not to breathe it in. Also, do not use the stuff around your pests as it is not safe for animals.

The SPI Research team would like to point out that the solution has a long residual action and when the whole can is used there will be no bugs around for a month or more. Since it does not damage building products you can spray it around doors and windows too.

Price: Check current price

96 oz 7.9% Bifenthrin Multi Use Pest Control Insecticide

The product containing a high concentration of insecticide — 7.9% of bifenthrin — targets more than 75 pests including stink bugs. It can be used both indoors and outdoors, in particular, can be applied to ornamental plants and in the areas with eatables. This is not your average everyday insecticide. It is a professional option for the determined homeowner. It is versatile and safe for many uses.

Animals can be allowed in the treated area only when the stuff is dry. Before application, remove all pets, food and kid toys from the room for two and more hours and, after the treatment, air the house for several minutes. The product’s distribution is restricted in New York. To make a spray, mix 1 oz of the concentrate with a gallon of water and apply the solution to an area of up to one thousand square meters. Thus, the bottle of this insecticide will be enough to cover almost 32,000 square feet when diluted.

The insecticide has high rating. “This stuff kills everything that crawls. Even stink bugs are not immune,” one of the customers says. The SPI Research Team recommends, when dealing with an infestation, reapplying the stuff every three months to eliminate stink bugs totally.

Price: Check current price

Ortho Home Defense Dual-Action Bed Bug Killer Aerosol Spray, 18-Ounce

This spray is designed to kill bed bugs but, according to the manufacturer’s description, it also destroys stink bug infestation. What is essential, the stuff which includes active ingredients imidacloprid, 3-phenoxybenzyl, cyclopropanecarboxylate and n-octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide, works against pyrethroid-resistant insects and is good for spot treatment. Compared to TERRO spray which we have reviewed before, Ortho is less toxic and safer as it can be applied directly to furniture and bedding. However, its effect lasts for a shorter period of time, just two weeks, whereas the residual of the previous spray lasts for more than a month.

The customers find it a benefit that the spray does not leave the smell an hour after application.

Price: Check current price

FenvaStar EcoCap – 8 oz

The concentrate contains an active ingredient esfenvalerate (3.5%) which is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide. The manufacturer claims that the stuff kills marmorated stink bugs along with some other pests. The product can be used both inside and outside the house. Also, it can be applied to the areas where eatables are planted. The key advantage of this solution is that its effect lasts longer than that of most natural insecticides. Apart from that, it is highly resistant to UV-rays from the sun.

To make a spray, one oz of the liquid should be diluted in a gallon of water. Spray all crevices, walls, and baseboards, as well as other places where stink bugs can hide. The solution requires repeated applications which must not be made more often than once a week. Don’t forget to wear gloves when handling the stuff. The SPI Team recommends using the product as a perimeter spray as the most cost effective way to use it.

Price: Check current price

Comparative Chart Of Stink Bug Killers

BugZooka WB100 Bug Catcher Vacuum (Twо Расk)

How To Get Rid Of Stink Bugs Naturally

Stink bugs have diverse natural enemies depending on what the target is: eggs, nymphs or adults. Predators that feed on stink bugs are birds, rats, spiders and all sorts of other insects which help to reduce stink bug populations. These insects are adult green lacewings, jumping spiders, ground beetles, wasps, just to name a few.

Scientists from the Oregon State University have examined the behavior of the Samurai wasp, also known under the scientific name Trissolcus japonicus, and have found them very helpful. When populations of stink bugs have exploded in Oregon and house owners started complaining about a large number of these insects in the vicinity of their dwellings, the scientists have opted for a biological solution and eventually succeeded. Studies conducted in the laboratory showed that female wasp lays eggs in the eggs of stink bugs which eventually die.

Russell F. Mizell III from the University of Florida refers to scientific studies proving the effectiveness of a so-called trap cropping. Although much depends on the combination of pests and plants in every particular region of the country, the strategy as a whole really works. The idea of trap cropping is to place plants attractive to stink bugs near the crops you what to protect from the infestation. By doing so the farmers “intercept” the pests stopping them at the perimeter of the field. It is also preferable to mix species of plants so that insects will have enough food. As for stink bugs, the recommended plants include crimson clover, millet, buckwheat, sunflower and some other.

Wow! You made it to the end! StopPestInfo has resources for hundreds of different pests. As you can see, we take DIY pest control seriously. Just remember, you can do this! The best action is the action you take.

1. TERRO T3501-6 Stink Bug Killer Aerosol Spray It contains tetramethrin and permethrin that kill bugs fast. Equipped with a two-way nozzle, it is used for broad applications and spot treatment.	Check the current price
2. BugZooka WB100 Bug Catcher Vacuum Use it to kill bugs and remove dead ones after spraying insecticides. The 38-inch-long vacuum sucks bugs instantly. The catch tube is easily removed.	Check the current price
3. RESCUE Non-Toxic Reusable Stink Bug Trap The trap comes with pheromone lures that attract bugs within 30 feet. Once a stink bug gets in the trap, it cannot get out and dies from dehydration.	Check the current price
4. Bifen I/T Insecticide-Bifenthrin A powerful insecticide for heavy infestations. With 7.9% bifenthrin, it kills bugs fast and provides long-lasting control both indoors and outdoors.	Check the current price

Product	Type
BugZooka WB100 Bug Catcher	vacuum
RockBirds Electronic Mosquito Killer	light trap
RESCUE! SBTR Non-Toxic Reusable Stink Bug Trap	trap with a pheromone lure
TERRO T3501-6 Stink Bug Killer Aerosol Spray	active ingredients: tetramethrin, permethrin, and piperonyl butoxide; spray
96 oz 7.9% Bifenthrin Multi Use Pest Control Insecticide	active ingredient: bifenthrin; concentrate
Ortho Home Defense Dual-Action Bed Bug Killer	active ingredients: imidacloprid, 3-phenoxybenzyl, cyclopropanecarboxylate, and n-octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide; aerosol spray
FenvaStar EcoCap – 8 oz	active ingredient: esfenvalerate; concentrate

How To Get Rid Of Stink Bugs

What is the best way to get rid of stink bugs?

Quick Picks for products to help you get rid of Stink Bugs:

How To Get Rid Of Stink Bugs: Comparison Chart

TOP-7 Stink Bug Sprays, Traps and Killers

BugZooka WB100 Bug Catcher Vacuum

Electronic Bug Killer

Stink Bug Trap RESCUE! SBTR

Stink Bug Spray TERRO T3501-6

96 oz 7.9% Bifenthrin Multi Use Pest Control Insecticide

Ortho Home Defense Dual-Action Bed Bug Killer Aerosol Spray, 18-Ounce

FenvaStar EcoCap – 8 oz

Comparative Chart Of Stink Bug Killers

How To Get Rid Of Stink Bugs Naturally

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