Stink Bugs Are Back!

Stink Bugs Are Back!

Summary: Spring is finally providing warm weather, and that means pests are coming out of hiding. This blog discusses the habits and springtime activities of stink bugs. Specifically, brown marmorated stink bugs are common in this region. Pointe Pest Control provides reliable pest control all year long.

When we think about animals waking up after winter, our first thought is of a mammal (usually a bear) sleepily crawling out of its cave and groggily going to find fresh food. Mammals aren’t the only ones that emerge after a long winter’s sleep — pests do too!

Stink bugs are one of the more infamous hibernators in the pest world. That’s because they prefer to invade our homes and stay in wall voids for the winter. So why are we starting to see more stink bugs now? Let’s find out by exploring the patterns and life cycles of the smelliest pests on the block.

Why Now?

The short answer is because it’s finally warm outside. The longer answer involves the biological habits of the bugs, so let’s dive in!

Stink bugs, like many insects, enter a resting state called “diapause” in the winter. It’s their version of hibernation. Basically, the bugs go dormant and pause their development for the season. If there’s a series of warm days in late winter, stink bugs might emerge too early and freeze during the inevitable cold days to come.

Once that spring sunshine warms the house, these bugs take it as their official cue to leave. They often gather on the interior windows and doors while they figure out how to get outside, which isn’t a welcome sight for any homeowner. These bugs want to be outside in the warmer months since they prefer to do all of their activities (reproduce, eat, etc.) outdoors. These pests are active from March through September, so we’re officially entering stink bug season.

Back to Basics

Before we go further into the active lives of stink bugs, it would be helpful to cover the basics of their existence. The brown marmorated stink bug is the most common stink bug in our area and therefore is the one we’ll focus on here. These bugs are originally from Asia and entered the U.S. in the 1990s, likely on a type of cargo ship.

The physical features of brown marmorated stink bugs include:

• Length of 1/2 an inch (dime-sized)
• Brown coloring
• Shield-shaped body
• 2 antennae
• 6 legs

These pests love the warmth, so they don’t want to stay in their (actually our) cozy wall voids longer than necessary. The sooner they can get outside to enjoy the plants and sunlight, the happier these bugs will be.

Making a Big Stink

Stink bugs have a unique defense mechanism, to say the least. When they’re threatened, injured, or squished, the bugs release their infamous stench. The odorous chemicals come from glands on the bug’s thorax. The odor is strong, especially when it makes contact with skin. We suggest never handling stink bugs if you can help it.

The stink bug’s odor is compared to cilantro and coriander. This may not sound that bad — especially compared to skunks — but the smell isn’t great in enclosed areas. That’s why pest experts advise homeowners to never squish stink bugs they find indoors. Even vacuuming up the bugs is risky. This cilantro-packed scent is nearly impossible to get out of a vacuum cleaner!

On The Outside

Like we mentioned earlier, brown marmorated stink bugs love the outdoors. They’re most active on warm, sunny days where they can bask in the sunlight on a plant or on the side of a house. When it’s not sunny, these bugs hide under leaf litter and stones. They prefer to stay near their favorite foods, but they don’t like being vulnerable when there’s no sunshine to enjoy.

Brown marmorated stink bugs eat the tissues of fruits, vegetables, and seeds. They like the juice that seeps out when they pierce the produce with their sharp mouths. Since they’re so small, these bugs don’t need much to satisfy their appetites. Unfortunately, stink bugs can ruin crops if they’re left alone to feed.

They inject digestive enzymes into their food, so the spot they ate from is left with a dark scar. If the crop plant is young, it’ll become distorted and drop prematurely. After the bug feeds, it leaves the crop vulnerable to other nuisance pests who will ruin the produce further. Now that it’s spring, gardeners and farmers need to keep an eye out for these problematic pests.

Should We Be Concerned?

With all of this in mind, are these bugs a valid pest to worry about? There are plenty of other pests that sound more dangerous (roaches, rodents, etc.) than the lowly stink bug.

Stink bugs aren’t the worst pest you could have. They don’t bite, sting, spread diseases, or destroy houses. They don’t even like to reproduce indoors since their offspring wouldn’t have any food to enjoy! And, like most pests, these bugs don’t want to get too close to us.

All of that being said, stink bugs aren’t innocent. They ruin valuable fruits and veggies, especially during the current growing season. Their smelly chemicals linger for hours when the bugs are indoors. If the bugs hide in your walls, that odor will grow stronger as the bugs die. They also stain furniture and surfaces when they’re squished.

Some DIY methods, like peppermint essential oil and dryer sheets, work against a few stink bugs. It’s also not a bad idea to seal any cracks in the house with caulk to keep future bugs out. But the most efficient solution for a stink bug infestation is always professional pest control services.

Protect Your Spring With Pointe!

Stink bugs are just one of many pests that are active in the spring — but they’re still no match for Pointe Pest Control. Our licensed technicians know the life cycles and habits of all the local pests, so we are prepared for the increase in pest activity this spring. We solve pest issues with a combination of thorough inspections, targeted treatments, and preventative measures.

Spring is a great time to implement general pest control services. Bugs and spiders only get more active as the temperatures rise, so starting preventative treatments now will protect your home against the large pest population in summer. For a free quote on our reliable services, contact us today!

Citations

Allsup, K. (2021, May 24). Brown marmorated stink bug a nuisance to homeowners. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences. https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/flowers-fruits-and-frass/2021-05-24-brown-marmorated-stink-bug-nuisance-homeowners

Daugherty, M. (n.d.). Brown marmorated stink bug. UC Riverside: Center for Invasive Species Research. Available at https://cisr.ucr.edu/invasive-species/brown-marmorated-stink-bug (Accessed on March 14, 2025).

Seeing stink bugs in your home? Here’s what you can do to avoid their foul odor?. (2025, March 11). NBC5 Chicago. Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/seeing-stink-bugs-in-your-home-heres-what-you-can-do-to-avoid-their-foul-odor/3694475/

Stink bugs. (n.d.). Pointe Pest Control. Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://pointepestcontrol.com/services/stink-bugs/