Table of Contents
Introduction
Stink bugs are becoming an increasingly common household pest. But the question is, What attracts stink bugs to your home? To answer in short – they are looking for a place to congregate in annoyingly large numbers and can be a major nuisance if you have crops. While they won’t hurt your or your pets, they can cause significant damage to plants as they are herbivores.
Stink Bug Origins
Stink bugs are a major crop pest that originated in China. They have since spread to other parts of the world, including North America, where they have become a nuisance for homeowners.
There are a variety of reasons why stink bugs might be attracted to your home, but there are a few things you can undertake to discourage them from coming inside.
Though stink bugs don’t bite, sting, or pose a health risk, they are considered an annoyance. During the cooler months, they may enter people’s homes as they search for a place to nest.
If you the presence of stink bugs on your property, it is best to remove them and seal up any cracks or openings that may have allowed them inside.
What Do Stink Bugs Smell Like?
When a stink bug feels threatened or stressed, it emits an unpleasant odor that smells like a rotting piece of fish mixed with spices and cilantro. This scent is often very difficult to get rid of and can linger in your home for weeks.
In addition, when stink bugs get squished, they release their guts. This smell is very potent, and it can attract other pests to your home. So, if you see a stink bug, try not to squish it!
In order to stop the smell, you can clean the surface with disinfectant and wipe it dry. This should remove the attractants for stink bugs and keep them away from your home.
What attracts stink bugs to your home?
Knowing the answer to what attracts stink bugs to your home is essential to be able to get rid of stink bugs. Stink bugs are fond of a variety of things, but the two main things they are drawn to are moisture and carbon dioxide.
They often enter the place through cracks and crevices around windows and doors. Once they are in the home, they can be difficult to get rid of.
Your home’s structure may play a role in stink bug infestation. The pests prefer to live in dark, moist areas with plenty of access to food. If your home has structural problems such as leaks, cracks, or gaps, it may be more attractive to stink bugs and increase the chances of an infestation.
Though they may be pesky, there are ways to control stink bug populations. One of the most important is proper sanitation- keeping your home and yard clean will help deter these bugs from congregating. Additionally, using pesticides can help exterminate these pests.
Here are certain prominent cases for why you frequently find stink bugs in your home.
Stink Bugs Seek Shelter During Winters
Stink bugs will seek shelter during winter when there is no food available. They can be spotted in various places but often congregate around homes and buildings because they are attracted to the warmth and light inside our homes.
You can use a few things as a deterrent to stop them from coming inside, but ultimately, they will find their way in if they are determined.
Stink Bugs Are Attracted To Light
In the winter, many stink bugs enter homes during the day because they are drawn to the light, which is why they tend to stick around windows and lamps.
They are also drawn to warmth, so keeping your home warm in the winter can attract them. The pests are looking for a warm place to settle in for the winter and will often end up in your house.
While stink bugs are attracted to light during the winter, they are also attracted to light during the rest of the year. This is because they use light as a way to orient themselves and find their way home. So, if you have any lights outside your house, you may be attracting stink bugs.
The attraction of stink bugs towards light is owing to the fact that it confuses their navigational system.
They are diurnal, which means they are highly active during the day, but they undertake most of their feeding and breeding activity at night. This is why you often see them congregating around porch lights or other bright objects.
There Are A Few Stink Bugs Already Hiding In Your Home, Attracting Other Stink Bugs.
Stink bugs emit a range of pheromones to attract mates, communicate their location, and signal alarm. These pheromones are detected by other stink bugs and can result in an infestation.
In addition, aggregation pheromones are responsible for the clustering of stink bugs- both indoors and outdoors.
This is because the pheromones cause the bugs to become sexually aroused, leading to a congregation of bugs in one area. And thus, it is necessary to identify and remove these pheromones in order to decrease the number of stink bugs in your vicinity.
Cracks And Gaps On Your Walls
Stink bugs are attracted to your home by the warmth and light. They will enter your home through any cracks or gaps in the walls, foundation, window frames, and door frames. It is important to address these entry points and seal them up as best as possible. This will help keep the stink bugs out and prevent an infestation.
Lush And Green Vegetation Around Your Home
Stink bugs are attracted to green vegetation fields. The more lush and green the vegetation around your home is, the more likely you are to have stinkbugs. This is because they feed on these plants and fruit and use them as a food source.
Do Stink Bugs Bite?
Stink bugs are pests that feed on a variety of animal matter. They can be found in the garden, where they will eat fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
They can also make their way inside your home through cracks and crevices, where they will feed on stored food products. While they do not generally bite humans, they can release a foul-smelling liquid when disturbed.
Stink bugs only become a problem when they enter your home. They are not keen on biting or hurting humans and will generally try to avoid contact.
However, a bit by a stinkbug is unlikely to have any serious consequences.
Why Do We See Stink Bugs In Our Homes in Spring?
Stink bugs are a common sight in the springtime as they emerge from their overwintering locations. They are looking for a place to live and breed and often end up in people’s homes.
There are a number of reasons why stink bugs choose certain homes over others, but understanding their behavior can help you take steps to prevent them from entering your home.
How to get rid of stink bugs?
Stink bugs are attracted to light and tend to be found on the upper floors of a building or in tight spaces. They can be difficult to get to leave, but there are various methods that can be used to reduce their population.
National Pest Management Association provides certain guidelines to follow in order to get rid of a stink bug infestation. These are –
Use Essential Oil
One of the top ways to keep stink bugs out of your home is by using essential oils. Mix ten drops of mint essential oil with 16 ounces of water and spray at interior entry zones like windows and doors. This will help to deter them from entering your home.
Neem Oil
Neem oil is a plant-based natural insecticide that can be used to get rid of stink bugs. It may take some time to work, but it is a safe and effective way to get rid of these pests.
Spread Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a natural pesticide that is made from the fossilized remains of diatoms. These tiny creatures have a hard exterior shell that can be broken down by diatomaceous earth. This causes the stink bug to dehydrate and eventually die.
While it is an effective way to get rid of these pests, it is important to make sure that you use food-grade DE, as other types can be harmful to humans and pets.
Garlic Spray
There are various methods you can use to get rid of stink bugs in your home. One popular and effective method is to make a garlic spray. Combine two cups of water with four teaspoons of garlic powder or a handful of garlic cloves.
You can then spray this mixture on indoor windowsills where the stink bugs are likely to enter your home. The garlic will repel the stink bugs and keep them from entering your home.
Vacuum the Critters
There are a few ways to vacuum the critters or stink bugs out of your home. One way is to buy a small shop vacuum that is specifically dedicated to this use.
Another way is to use the vacuum you already have but be very careful – if you don’t dispose of the bag right away, it will create a stink bomb in your house!
Soapy Water
When threatened, stink bugs will drop straight down. This is because they release a smelly substance from their abdomen in order to deter predators. Combine equal parts hot water and dish soap in a spray bottle and spray on window entry points to kill them.
Fly Tape at Entryways
Fly tape is a sticky adhesive material that is used to trap flies. It can also be effective in trapping other types of insects. Fly tape should be placed in areas where fly populations are high.
Night Light
One way to attract stink bugs and get them to leave your home is by using a night light. The light will draw them in, and they will drown in the soapy water you have set up.
How long do stink bugs live in a house?
The brown marmorated stink bug is a common household pest in North America. They enter homes during the winter months to escape the cold and can live there for up to eight months.
While they do not cause any structural damage, they can be a nuisance due to their smell and tendency to congregate in large numbers.
They will typically stay in the home until the following spring, when they will start their breeding cycle. The amount of time they spend in a home varies depending on the climate and how hospitable the environment is.
Will stink bugs go away on their own?
When the weather warms up in the spring, stink bugs will leave your home on their own. They are looking for a place to hibernate, and as the weather gets warmer, they will start moving around more until they find a spot.
Summary
This content in this article has shown you the primary five reasons why you find stink bugs in your house in simple stages. The primary cause is the dip in temperatures throughout the winter months.
It’s not difficult to get rid of stink bugs in your home, and you may do it without hiring a pest control company by abiding by the steps we discussed.
So, if you have a stink bug infestation in your home, you now understand why it happened and how to deal with it.
