The age-old question remains: should you kill a stink bug and, more specifically, crush it?
The answer is no because stinkbugs release an unpleasant odor if crushed or killed, which is more powerful than you might expect.
If you spot a brown, flat, dime-sized insect buzzing through your living room in spring or wintertime, hold off on squashing it; there’s a good chance you’re face-to-face with a hard shell brown bug, aka the marmorated stink bug!
What Is a Stink Bug?
These pesky, invasive little insects hail from Asia but were brought to the U.S. in the 1990s. They’re known to travel indoors during the start of winter to seek shelter for hibernation, which is likely when you spot them in your house.
When threatened, they’ll often release a foul-smelling liquid designed to disrupt predators, allowing them the chance to escape.
Most invertebrates have some defense mechanism against predators, like a honey bee’s stinger, an ant’s mandibles, and the stink bug’s stink.
So, when you encounter one of these smelly little insects, it’s best to follow a few guidelines to prevent the release of their unappealing odor.
Why Are There So Many Stink Bugs in My House?
Stink bugs are notorious for sneaking into homes as temperatures drop. They come inside homes in search of warmth and shelter, often hiding in cracks, gaps, and crevices around doors, windows, and vents.
Once inside, they remain dormant until spring, when they become more active again. Their tendency to gather in large numbers makes them particularly annoying for homeowners.
If you’re spotting a large population of stink bugs in your home, it could just be that you’re providing easy access via a gap in your foundation or a cracked window screen/
When Are Stink Bugs Most Active?
Stink bugs are most active during the late summer and fall when they seek warmth before the cold months set in. However, if they’ve already made their way inside your home, you might notice increased activity in the early spring as they attempt to exit and return outdoors.
Are Stink Bugs Harmful or Dangerous?
Despite their unpleasant odor, stink bugs are not harmful to humans or pets. They don’t bite, sting, or spread diseases. However, they can be a nuisance, especially if they invade in large numbers. Additionally, their scent can be overwhelming if disturbed, making them more of an annoyance than a threat.
Should I Squish A Stink Bug?
Squishing stink bugs is arguably the worst way to handle them. Whether threatened or not, stepping on or swatting a stink bug is likely to release its stinky spray, resulting in a pungent odor that will fill the area where it was killed.
For this reason, it’s always best to use less aggressive tactics when eliminating stink bugs.
What Happens When You Kill a Stink Bug?
Unlike other pests, stink bugs are the one bug we caution against directly crushing with a paper towel or fly swatter. While seemingly innocuous, killing a stink bug can have lingering effects. Not only does the chemical produced by stink bugs smell, but it also releases pheromones that attract other stink bugs. With numerous stink bugs roaming through your home, it’s only a matter of time until you’re stuck with a smelly infestation!
What Do You Do If You Find A Stink Bug?
Unfortunately for homeowners who come across a stink bug in their house, these small insects release their foul-smelling chemicals when they feel threatened by a human, resulting in a powerful stench.
For this reason, it’s best to dispose of stink bugs in ways that don’t require direct skin contact. Some effective methods include:
- Vacuuming. This is one common method, allowing you to remove the bugs from your home without running the risk of exposing yourself to their trademark stink. However, these insects will stink up your vacuum, so it is best to avoid using the good household unit. However, any old vacuum or an inexpensive dry/wet vac will certainly do the trick and may be worth investing in if you regularly deal with infestations.
- Natural Insecticides. Fill up a spray bottle with a 50-50 concentration of vinegar and water. Then, add a small squirt of dishwashing liquid and get to work! This mixture is highly effective and safe, though it takes more time to kill the bugs than typical insecticides (requiring 30-45 minutes.)
- Manual Removal. While this method isn’t ideal, you can always remove the insects manually (with some added protection.) Gloves are a terrific option, as well as plastic bags or other protective coverings that you can slip over your hands to prevent contact with your skin.
There are also plenty of additional stinkbug repellants you can try if you’re struggling with an infestation or even just one bug.
Can You Touch Stink Bugs?
If you’ve read this far in the article, then you should already know the answer to this question: NO! Well, technically, yes, but you shouldn’t. While stink bugs don’t bite or cause any harm, touching one is likely to release its defensive chemicals, which will quickly stink up your home. Touching one directly will always be ill-advised, so keep the vacuum or plastic bags handy if you must!
So, what’s the deal with stink bugs? And how should you handle finding them in your home?
First, it’s important to note that they aren’t harmful, and their well-known stink is merely a defense mechanism that will dissipate. Therefore, when removing them, it’s best to use methods that either won’t alarm them or won’t require direct skin contact to prevent them from releasing their defensive spray.
If you’re struggling with an infestation that goes beyond the typical pre-winter hibernation behavior, don’t hesitate to contact a qualified local pest control expert.
FAQs
Why do stink bugs smell so bad?
Stink bugs release a foul-smelling chemical as a defense mechanism when they feel threatened. The odor is designed to deter predators and can linger in the air or on surfaces for a while.
Do stink bugs bite or sting?
No, stink bugs do not bite or sting humans. They are harmless, aside from the strong odor they emit when disturbed.
Will killing one stink bug attract more?
Yes, stink bugs release pheromones when they are crushed, which can attract more stink bugs to the area. That’s why it’s best to use non-aggressive removal methods.
