As the temperatures drop and the cozy sweaters come out, we aren’t the only ones seeking warmth and shelter. Stink bugs, those pesky shield-shaped insects, also start looking for a cozy place to overwinter, often finding their way into our homes.
While they are mostly harmless to humans, their presence can be a nuisance, and their defense mechanism—releasing a foul odor when disturbed—can quickly turn an unwelcome visitor into a stinky problem. Here are my tried-and-true tips to keep these bugs at bay and ensure your home remains stink bug-free.
1. Seal Entry Points
Stink bugs are adept at finding even the smallest openings to squeeze through. Conduct a thorough inspection of your home and seal any cracks, gaps, or holes in walls, windows, doors, and foundations.
Use high-quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk to seal these openings. Pay special attention to areas where utility pipes, wires, and cables enter your home, as these are common entry points.
Windows and Doors
Install weather stripping around doors and windows.
Use door sweeps to seal gaps at the bottom of exterior doors.
Ensure window screens are intact and fit tightly. Repair or replace damaged screens immediately.
2. Use Screens and Vent Covers
Stink bugs can enter your home through vents and chimneys. Installing screens on attic vents and chimney caps can prevent them from gaining access.
Tips for Installing Screens:
Use fine mesh screens that can keep out not just stink bugs but other small insects as well.
Securely attach screens to ensure there are no loose edges.
3. Reduce Outdoor Lighting
Stink bugs are attracted to lights. Reducing the use of outdoor lighting during peak stink bug activity in late summer and early fall can make your home less appealing to them.
Lighting Tips:
Use yellow or sodium vapor lights for outdoor lighting as they are less attractive to insects.
Turn off unnecessary outdoor lights at night.
4. Keep Your Home Clean and Decluttered
Stink bugs are drawn to places where they can hide. Keeping your home clean and free of clutter, especially in attics, basements, and garages, can reduce the places where stink bugs might find shelter.
Decluttering Tips:
Regularly vacuum and dust corners, under furniture, and other areas where bugs might hide.
Store items in sealed plastic containers rather than cardboard boxes.
5. Use Natural Repellents
There are several natural repellents that can help deter stink bugs from entering your home. Essential oils like peppermint, neem, and eucalyptus are known to repel stink bugs.
How to Use Natural Repellents:
Mix 10-15 drops of essential oil with water in a spray bottle and spray around entry points and areas where stink bugs are likely to enter.
Use dried herbs like mint or lavender sachets near windows and doors.
6. Deploy Traps
If you already have stink bugs in your home, traps can be an effective way to capture and remove them. Commercially available stink bug traps can be placed in areas where stink bugs are commonly seen.
DIY Traps:
Fill a foil pan with water and add a few drops of dish soap. Place a light over the pan. The light attracts the bugs, and the soap reduces the water’s surface tension, causing the bugs to drown.
7. Maintain Your Garden
Stink bugs often enter homes from gardens, so maintaining your garden can help reduce the likelihood of them finding their way inside.
Gardening Tips:
Remove weeds and overgrown vegetation where stink bugs might hide.
Keep outdoor lights away from the house if possible.
Harvest ripe fruits and vegetables promptly to avoid attracting stink bugs.
8. Professional Pest Control
If you find yourself dealing with a severe stink bug infestation, it might be time to call in the professionals. Pest control experts can offer treatments and solutions that are more effective and long-lasting.