About Stink Bugs & How to Control Stink Bugs
by M. K. of Stink Bug Service

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys officially designated as BMSB is a very well-known pest in our region. It has no natural enemies in the United States in sufficient number to restrain its population growth. This a real and growing threat to agricultural and the  economy.

Adult bugs are 5/8” and dark-mottled grey-brown. The front antennal segments have alternating light and dark bands. The exposed edges of the abdomen also have light and dark banding. In our homes, Stink Bugs will exploit crevices and openings of one quarter inch.

The stink bug emerges from overwintering sites (our homes!) from late March through June depending on latitude and temperature, and immediately begin to feed. Stink Bugs eggs hatch in June-August. In our mid-Atlantic region, BMSB will have two or more generations per season.

BMSB is native to Asia and was first observed in the U.S. in 2001 in Allentown, PA. Since then, it has steadily migrated to other states. As of this year, it has spread to 33 states in the U.S., eight more than the previous year (2010). The Stink Bug was very prolific in 2009-2010, due in part to heavy winter snow cover, and subsequent mild temperatures in spring and the very hot, dry summer.

Fortunately, the stink bug is not a vector for disease. They are not harmful to people or pets. They do not bore into wood, bite, sting, swarm, suck blood, or spread disease. The Stink Bugs feeds on plant leaves, buds, fruits, and the fruit of vegetables.

How do we keep them out of our homes? Once their food source outside is diminished after August, they begin migration into our homes. By mid-September they will have found their way into any crevice and opening (usually ¼”) they can find, to seek shelter for surviving the winter. If the environment remains sufficiently warm, they may lay another generation of eggs.

Prevent them from coming into the home by sealing up cracks with caulk, use weather stripping around doors and windows, remove window air conditioners, and close all possible entry points.

Vacuum up the bugs with a strong hand-vac and place the used vacuum bag in sealed outdoor trash. Even in the in the vacuum the odor can be noticeable and some bugs can climb out. Vacuuming up a small amount of powdered boric acid, however, can be an effective chaser, and will ensure the bugs inside the vacuum bag will all die. Keep the BORIC ACID out of reach of children.

Alternatively, place a little soapy water into a plastic cup and use this as a temporary trap. Simply place the cup with the suds beneath the bug as it crawls on a window or wall and nudge the pest into the cup. You avoid direct contact, which usually triggers the odor release, and the soapy water will cause them to suffocate. Throw the mixture down the toilet or throw it outside with the bird feed to accustom your friendly songbirds to eat them. Some will, but many will not.

A common misconception is that the odor of the bug will attract other Stink Bugs into the home, and the infestation problem will grow rapidly. This is not true. The odor of  the Stink Bug is only defensive (like the skunk). Unfortunately, the truth is there are so many of these bugs outdoors, you cannot help observing their progression into the home.

Pesticides? If you have pets, elderly, or children in your home, we cannot recommend any off-the-shelf insecticides for controlling the problem, because:

• Most do not work and all are ineffective over time.

• Some are broad-spectrum and will kill honeybees and the other beneficial insects or the few predators that eat these pests (like hunter spiders and tachinid flies).

• Use of broad-spectrum insecticides will often lead to secondary pest-outbreaks such as spider mites and carpet beetles.

• MOST IMPORTANT: They pose a health risk to humans in the contained environment of the home!

  Hunter Spider, predator of the Stink Bug in North America.

Should you choose to try an insecticide to control the stink bugs read the label carefully. The plant or the bug must be identified on the label! If not, do NOT use the substance in your home! Follow all safety precautions rigidly. Some professional applicators, who have researched this problem carefully, can use a botanical-chemical mixture which is safe within the home and widely used in Europe. The applicator must be licensed and certified and must be experienced in its use. Multiple treatments may be required, depending on the outside infestation and the vulnerability of the home. Remember, physical exclusion of Stink Bugs from the home is the best and first defense.

Other measures to address the problem? Try the following old-fashioned mixtures to assist with your physical exclusion of Stink Bugs. They are harmless to humans and provide temporary but effective relief:

SOAP SPRAY: One gallon water or less. One-quarter bar of Fels Naptha or Octagon soap, shredded finely. Heat water and add soap shreds until completely dissolved. Let cool. Apply with hand-held sprayer directly to the pest and to openings and crevices where they are suspect to harbor.

OIL SPRAY: One gallon water or less. One-half cup vegetable oil (any sort, unused). Two to three tea spoons baking soda. Mix the baking soda with the oil. Pour Combine 2-3 teaspoons of this mixture into your hand-held sprayer. Apply as above. Test on sensitive areas before use.

What research is ongoing? Various sophisticated studies on biology (including environmental cues for aggregation), control options, pheromones, mass trapping, and biological control are currently underway by researchers at the USDA and Land Grant Universities. There is research to identify egg parasitoids that will aid in control of Stink Bugs. USDA’s Biological Control Research laboratory anticipates that in approximately three years, parasite releases will begin to control the landscape presence of Stink Bugs. In the meantime, USDA's Agricultural Research Service laboratory in Kearneysville, WV, leads a BMSB Working Group; and Virginia Tech's Winchester Agricultural Research and Extension Center is petitioning the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for an emergency-use exemption of a specialized insecticide to assist in addressing the agricultural threat to the region.

Professional intervention for your Stink Bug problem contact Stink Bug Service @ 540-687-5988

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