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How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs

Summary: Stink bugs are nuisances that will invade homes looking for shelter. Learn how to get rid of stink bugs by using the right products at the right time. Read more about these products here.

Have small, shield-shaped bugs flown into your house and emitted a gross odor? These insects are called stink bugs because they possess a gland that releases an odor as a means of self-defense. There's nothing like a good dose of “stink” to protect yourself from being eaten by a bird or lizard.

Exterior insecticide treatments applied to the west and south-facing sides of homes will provide some relief if used properly. The most popular professional product for stink bug control is Talstar Pro. Mix one (1) ounce of the concentrate to one gallon of water. Apply with a pump sprayer. Be sure to close down the nozzle so the material comes out in a fine, fan spray. You do not need to apply it to the point that it is running down the sides of the house. That's too much product. Treat the sides and pay special attention to window and door frames.

A more expensive product, but one that lasts longer in sun and rain and provides even more effective control, is Temprid SC. Only 1/4 to 1/2 ounce per gallon is the recommended mix, so a pint makes up to 64 gallons of finished spray.

Insecticides break down in direct sunlight, so a reapplication of the pesticide may be necessary every seven to ten days. Retreating exterior surfaces on a regular basis, especially during peak stink bug migration seasons, will make these prevention measures more effective.

Remember to always read the product label. If you are uncomfortable applying pesticides or lack the proper equipment you might consider having a licensed pest control operator apply the materials. When applied per label this product will not harm children or pets.

Exclusion is the key to avoiding stink bug invasions. Sealing your house by closing doors and windows will help keep them out of your home. If there are cracks in your siding, windows, doors, utility pipes, behind chimneys, or other openings, good quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk will help stop stink bug entry. I really like the exclusion product Xcluder. It is easy and inexpensive to use. It does a great job of stuffing cracks and crevices and it won't break down when exposed to rain or snow.

For stink bugs that have amassed on walls and ceilings you can just vacuum them up. If they are in the attic you can use foggers or "bombs", as they are popularly known. But, pesticide "bombs" work best on exposed insects, rather than insects hiding deep in cracks. Readily available aerosol-type pyrethrum foggers like PT 565 Plus XLO will knock them down, but the treatment will not prevent more stink bugs from emerging shortly afterwards. You would do a lot better simply doing a thorough inspection and using a vacuum to collect the bugs. Nuvan ProStrips are great for controlling stink bugs in enclosed attic spaces, slowly releasing a vapor over a four week period that keeps on killing them.

Replace ripped window and door screens and install screens on attic vents. Inspect entries to crawl spaces to make sure they are properly sealed.

Although stink bugs are primarily pests of crop fields, they can be found in meadows, fields, yards, or gardens and especially those with low shrubs. They are known to infest up to 70 different ornamental plants. Stink bugs are most active from spring through fall, but they usually become house invaders at the beginning of fall when temperatures start to drop. They sometimes hibernate on the outside of some south-facing buildings for warmth, but usually over winter in protected areas under dead weeds, stones, in the bark of trees or in your house.

Stink bug eggs

The stink bug's eggs are yellow, yellow-red, white, or pale green in color and can be found on the underside of leaves in clumps of 20 to 30 eggs. Eggs are only found outdoors on plants because stink bugs do not reproduce indoors. Thank goodness for small favors. Crop plants are the primary source of food for stink bugs. They typically feed on fruit crops, but they enjoy honeydew, tomatoes, beans, corn, squash, peppers, cabbage, and any type of fruit, using their beaks to pierce and suck plant juice. This activity can cause major damage to gardens. If you discover stink bugs on your plants you can scoop them up using a pill bottle or other small container. This is time consuming, but the containers help you avoid the smell they emit.

Here's the part I know you will hate hearing. You just spent a ton of money installing outdoor lighting to make your home look warm and inviting. Or, you added lighting as a security measure. Well, these the stink bug is attracted to light. So, now your house is a beacon that shouts “Come to me all ye bugs looking for a home.” They are drawn to lights coming from your windows, too. I can't ask you to shutter your windows at night, but closing the shades will help. You may want to consider placing sticky glue board traps along window sills. The glue traps won't trap all the stink bugs, but it may help.

When stink bugs get into your home they often hide in dark attic spaces. Placing an insect light trap in these spaces will attract and capture some of the bugs. It won't eliminate them totally, but anything that helps in the stink bug fight needs to be mentioned.

If your home becomes infested, be wary before sucking stink bugs into the vacuum cleaner. Squashing them or vacuuming them will usually make the smell worse. Wear gloves if you need to handle stink bugs because their unique beaks are fully capable of biting humans. Although stink bug bites are not harmful, you will feel something similar to a sharp pinprick if you are bitten. Not fun!

Once your home has been invaded by stink bugs it is very likely you will see the bugs during the winter months. As outside temperatures drop, stink bugs move away from cold exterior walls and towards warmer interior walls. Often, they emerge inside your living spaces. If that happens you should consider treating the attic rafters. You'll need a good flashlight and an extension mirror to locate all stink bug hiding places.

Okay! You are armed with just enough information to do battle. Go out and fight a good fight!

Comments

Ask the Exterminator
24 May 2011, 09:48

Just a reminder, please buy your Talstar Pro product right on this website. Your purchases help keep this blog online.

KB in Landenberg
24 May 2011, 18:51

I have to say that Talstar does work!!! I bought some last year in the fall and eliminated all that were around. I had no stink bugs all winter long and I have none now!!! If you have a stink bug problem...Talstar is the answer! I had someone come to my house and they were amazed I do not have a problem....I cannot say enough about how well Talstar works on these creatures....it saved my sanity!!! They were all over!!! Look into it before it gets bad!!

TimH
30 May 2011, 19:36

Again, for new readers, what has been said about the fireplace is true - even woodstoves - close all vents and doors for the summer season. We had many inside our woodstove last fall, had a funeral pyre using charcoal lighter and paper.
This year, I plan to pull the cleanout from the tee and spray Talstar all over inside that area of the tee, before the main SB season starts.

DawntheSBkiller
31 May 2011, 09:33

In Pittsburgh it has been hot and humid..last year about the beginning of July that when we really started seeing them...this year it is horrible, SB's seemed to have multiplied by the thousands...woke up this morning, tried to go my usual way of out the back door to get the car...opened the door and there were at least 100 dead and dying stink bugs attached to the screen...it was disgusting but I am so happy they are dead!!! I got my poor husband to go out the front door go around back to get them off the screen...the had to use a broom there were so many...when he opened the screen door to get back in there were about fifty more dead on the threshold (I guess they crawled under the door to die)...I guess the smell of SB's on the screen is whats attracting them overnight + the porch light...Thank you ATE for letting me know about Talstar-P...I have massive kills around my house, especially near bushes and trees...these bugs are out of hand, I've never seen anything like it. The fight continues....

Lefty
01 Jun 2011, 22:30

DIY stink bug trap http://www.wjactv.com/video/28028425/index.html

Ask the Exterminator
01 Jun 2011, 22:32

I like this trap idea for dark attic spaces. Anything that helps is a plus. Thanks for posting this link.

Brian
10 Jul 2011, 17:04

I've tried using regular dish detergent put it in a spray bottle with water and after about two pumps of this simple solution directly on the stinkbugs they die almost instantly, works like a charm

Deb outside DC
25 Jul 2011, 15:41

Someone earlier wrote that they have never noticed the smell of stink bugs, which made me feel a little "better" because even with all the stink bugs in and around our home, I have yet to smell one (knock on wood!).

I heard that spraying rubbing alcohol on them will do the trick. We tried it last spring when we opened our patio umbrella and the underside was *coated* 3-deep with them (gag).

Is Talstar safe for birds and other non-invasive insects? As much as I hate stink bugs, I would rather deal with them than endanger the wildlife out there. :o)

Ask the Exterminator
25 Jul 2011, 16:31

Talstar Pro is a liquid, so if sprayed on target it will have no affect on birds, but it will kill other non-invasive insects if it contacts them.

frank
28 Jul 2011, 09:51

I had a bad problem with SB's last summer, I bought TALSTAR and applied it and within days they were gone. I noticed some a few weeks later and reapplied and it worked really well. I had a Bradford Pear tree in my front yard and it had to be removed because it was in danger of splitting, well when I was cleaning up the debris there was the distinctive smell of SB's from every branch I was lifting. Ever since that tree was removed, I could count on two hands how many SB's I have seen this year, (knock on wood). but if they return in any force, I'll have the TALSTAR at the ready.

goingcrazy
01 Aug 2011, 23:38

This year, for the first time ever, a bug has gotten into my hostas and destroyed them! Do stinkbugs lay their eggs on them?

:-(

Ask the Exterminator
02 Aug 2011, 11:44

Stink bugs will lay their eggs on plants where they can find insects to feed upon. So, if your hostas have aphids or other small insects, you might expect to find stink bugs. Remove the food source and you will avoid the stink bugs.

Paul Jones
11 Aug 2011, 19:30

OK this solution is definitely for outside of the house, not recommended for indoors. Using a sprayer loaded with isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) quickly spray one or a group of stink bugs at a time. Don't over do it. Then using a fireplace lighter set them on fire. For safety watch the flame so it doesn't spread. It should go out in a few seconds and the stink bugs will be dead.

TimH
13 Aug 2011, 23:13

Paul - you are having too much fun! So last May when I started a redo of a room, which involved tearing out a bay window, I had one of those 12"long butane pistol lighters, and I would flick my bic, as I got closer to the bug on the window, and burn, bug, burn!
Last fall I was so mad at them, not responding immediate death to a zillion things, (obviously dont do this one inside) I poured like an ounce of gas on some that were in a wheelbarrow - and CRAP if they didnt keep walking for a bit! They are unreal in their immunities. Thankfully TALSTAR is still the best -

Paul Jones
17 Aug 2011, 18:40

Here's something worth a shot. I was in our local Giant Food and saw a product called Household Insect Control which had a recently added sticker on it that said "kills stink bugs". It is made by a company called Bonide and comes in a nice 32 oz. spray bottle for about 5 bucks (http://www.bonide.com/products/product.php?category_id=527).

I had tried the dish detergent solution and rubbing alcohol in a sprayer, which were fairly effective but not instant kill (unless I set the alcohol on fire which I suspect was not very safe). The Household Insect Control product ills them in about 15 seconds or less if hit directly. It is also supposed to have a residual killing effect of about 4 months but since I am using it outside on my deck I have been reapplying after each rain storm. So far, it seems that their numbers are decreasing.

Ask the Exterminator
18 Aug 2011, 09:49

Here's a simple math problem, Paul. The product you mention costs nearly $0.16 per ounce to use. The Talstar Pro product I recommend costs less than $0.05 per ounce. Your product is 3 times more expensive to use and the Talstar product provides, by far, the most effective stink bug control.

eileen
18 Aug 2011, 15:02

we put earth,not the one for swimming pools, the brown food-grade in our attic and garage and we found them all dead around it. when they walk on it, it dries them up and kills them. too bad it doesn't do anything for the flying ones.

DawntheSBKiller
18 Aug 2011, 15:52

They're back with a vengence...it's been moderately hot in Pittsburgh...today, I am seeing a lot of them flying around outside...guess my care free days of no stinkbugs are over...will be dealing with these things until Halloween...I wish they would come up with something to get rid of these things for good...one thing I notice though, I can tell when SB's are about to show up...all of the other bugs seem to disappear...or maybe I'm so paranoid about seeing stink bugs I dont notice anything else...After four years I am totally fed up with this!!!

KOSB (Killer of Stink Bugs)
19 Aug 2011, 11:56

I vacumed SBs off my porches and out of the basement twice a day last fall, and captured them in the house all winter. This year I'm using Talstar P, and I'm going to make the soda bottle traps with LED lights for the attic and basement, to capture those that make it in. BTW I sprang for a Rescue Stinkbug Trap at Lowes. I hung it in a butterfly bush loaded with SBs. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. 3 days bugs all around it, zero inside it.

DawntheSBKiller
19 Aug 2011, 19:11

This question is for ATE:

We just had a big storm in Pittsburgh...I applied the Talstar to my home 2 days ago...I know Talstar has great residual effects, but I'm worried about how well it held up (downpour of rain for over an hour)...should I wait 5 days to reapply?...also, I'm getting low on my stock of Talstar...can I get rush delivery from your site?..thanks for your help!!!

Ask the Exterminator
19 Aug 2011, 22:49

Heavy rain will wash the pesticide away. Reapply. It takes two days to get a delivery, not counting Saturday and Sunday.

Jen
21 Aug 2011, 18:44

Any suggestions for sealing recessed lighting that opens into the attic? Took a look today and seems almost impossible that they would get through all that really thick insulation that is over the lighting to find their way into the house.

Second question is my exterminator says they will only spray once every 2 weeks (their spray has 3x the active ingredient that talstar has). will it still wash away in the heavy rain?

TimH
22 Aug 2011, 15:51

Yes - they are starting in South Joisey as well. Only this time there are 1/4" size, full size, green ones, brown ones, and also - we are seeing wierdness here - there are brown style, with longer legs then what we remember, and with white patches on the mid-part of the legs.
So with cooler nites (50's tonite) I got out my new backpack unit, and hit the entire house, along with a couple sheds. Good thing - as they were already asembling on the southeast side of the house. The Talstar noticeably killed several shortly after the spray, faster than I saw last year. Here is hoping that nature will win out, and some natural cycle will wipe these things out soon.
Oh - i trimmed some of my Maple Tree - yikes and holy cow - there were tons of them all over the branches i cut down - cant imagine how many are in the trees!
REMEMBER - Keep your CAR/TRUCK windows CLOSED - they even try to hibernate inside the cars.
Also close off all woodstove vents or fireplace doors/dampers, as they come down the chimneys also.

Cheryl
24 Aug 2011, 12:39

With daytime temperatures in the low to high 80s, it is far too hot to remove our window air conditioners. So we are trying to seal them up the best we can. When we put the ACS in , my husband makes sure to put a double layer of plastic and heavy duty tape on both the outside and inside where the AC is. We then try to seal up all cracks. We also close the vents of the AC. We are trying to seal up all the areas around the windows that we can and still keep in the window AC. As much as we hate stinkbugs with a passion, both of us have health issues and need air conditioning for at least another month or so.

To the exterminator: Is there anything else we should be doing. As we have air conditioners in 4 windows in our house because the heat bothers us so much. ? The bedrooms are on the 3rd floor and he cannot get on a ladder to get up and spray the outside of the windows or around the air conditioners.

Ask the Exterminator
24 Aug 2011, 12:48

It sounds like you are doing all the right things. I would hang Nuvan ProStrip (http://shop.asktheexterminator.com/nuvan-prostrips.html) in the attic space and I also recommend using Xcluder to seal up cracks (http://shop.asktheexterminator.com/xcluder-outdoor-4-x10.html). I've provided links to both products.

TimH
25 Aug 2011, 17:03

Cheryl - I use Ductape all around the inside of my window AC. Since the chinese cant seem to make a 'slider' part that actually seals the AC into the window (left and right side pull-out things) I cover it all w/ductape. There are some brands that state they wont leave any residue, I also tape up underneath the AC, over the top of it, and make sure that the space between the 2 windows up top is sealed. Most new AC dont even vent to the outside anymore, so all this inside 'taping' should be good enough. You can now even find white ductape!

TCB
29 Aug 2011, 08:25

@Surrender is not an option

First and foremost, waving to fellow Eastern Panhandle neighbor. As I type this post I commiserate with your plight on the stink bug arrival earlier than per usual. That said, August 2011 seemed to show less, at least for the amount that we can see. We had our lawn service [incidentally full-service] spray our foundation, all trees,shrubs, and lawn with Talstar. *side note do not spray Colorado Blue Spruce, will actually kill them. We do note damage as well to forsythia post spraying.

Our lawn service did spray up the house about 5 feet, foundation, and out around the parameter approx. 5 feet.
So far we are seeing the numbers this year diminished, however, have noticed them all Summer...running over them with the lawn mower, etc. Significant reduction though from the previous two years. Perhaps, the fast tracking from local incumbents, via Maryland to the EPA last fall yielded the result too!

At any rate, per recommendation from our lawn service, and the knowledge I have acquired the best defense is a good offense. We plan to have another professional application mid-Sept. Here's the caveat, we have a walk up stair well, he sprayed the stairs, up the wall, around the door, we have an exterior light above the well, on a motion, the bugs that are showing up die within days, in fact the ones hanging on the screens die frozen on the screens.

Per the information, clean them out, discard.
The dead ones will attract mice. In comparison to previous years, the population or numbers are far less. Will post results as the temps continue to drop.

And one last insight, whomever posted the stink bug traps are worthless...you know the ones sold @ Costco, Lowes or other home or DIY retailers. They are correct, SAVE YOUR MONEY, worthless..we have used these since early August catching, assassin bugs, and two stink bugs.

BTW these are the same concept/design as June bug beetle bags, the difference the traps are hard plastic, and the entry is @ the bottom with lures inside. They don't work!

Ask the Exterminator
29 Aug 2011, 09:22

sthomab: If the furnace is drawing fresh air from the attic you cannot use the Nuvan ProStrips. Each strip covers 100 to 200 cubic feet of space.

DawntheSBkiller
30 Aug 2011, 20:36

I noticed the same thing TimH noticed...for some reason it seems as though the Talstar is killing them a lot faster than last year...YaY!!!...seeing more of the little creeps...but this year I am ready...temps are really cooling down at night, I see them trying to find shelter near my second floor screens...I love it...they walk right through the Talstar...it's a lovely sight to see SB's on their backs dead the next morning!!!

HateSBs
30 Aug 2011, 22:27

Regarding the stink bug traps, we have two at the edge of our back yard, hanging in trees, and they are both FULL of stink bugs. I'm not sure whether they are helpful, though, since I wonder if they're actually attracting more SBs. But they are leaving the nearby flower garden alone for the most part.

For the house exterior, we had great results with Talstar last year and have sprayed once so far this year...I find little carcasses every morning. And yes, it is a lovely sight!

Mike
31 Aug 2011, 01:14

We are all doing all we can to seal up all cracks and around windows and doors, ie exclusion. We can spray Talstar but only to the downstairs windows. But we cannot spray on the upper levels as the bedrooms are basically 3rd floor..we leave in an elevated house due to living next to a creek and river..any suggestions how to spray higher up if we do not feel secure on a high ladder due to health problems ? Anything we can do as when we get them, it is in the bedrooms on the upper floor...as I am so jealous of those who can spray the exterior of their houses as we cannot and our landlord refuses to do it and we cannot afford the extreminator.

Ask the Exterminator
31 Aug 2011, 09:04

The easiest method is to buy a garden hose sprayer attachment. The Talstar goes into a container on the attachment. Adjust the calibration dial. Turn on the water and spray the sides of the house. Hardware stores carry the devices for less than $10.

Eric S.
02 Sep 2011, 11:15

That garden hose sprayer attachment sounds like something i need as my pump sprayer doesn't reach the higher areas. Does the sprayer attachment allow the user to dial in the correct mixture of Talster P and water (i oz per gallon)? Thanks

Ask the Exterminator
02 Sep 2011, 11:17

The sprayer attachment device is not perfect for calibration, but it is close enough for the application on the sides of the house. The instructions on the sprayer tell you how many ounces per gallon of water will be in the mix.

Cheryl
02 Sep 2011, 12:52

For Indoor removal, what do you think of the Bugzooka for those of us who do not want to vacuum them up? As you pick them up, trap them, then you can drop them in a bucket of water or soap and water. As I am afraid to get near them and it has this long arm and vacuuming them either stinks up the vacuum or in our case, some drop out again as we do not have a good vacuum with good suction right now.

We will use Talstar outside and inside but for removal of a few here and there, is the Bugzooka good. I heard you do not need to land it right on the stink bug and for those getting hundreds per day, would not work, But for those of us who get a max of 15-30 per year, that might work for those of us too paranoid to tough them , kmock them into water or in my case, the spray just knocks then off the wall into corners and crevices or they crawl back into walls for safety.

We will use Talstar and the products here but sometimes a few land somewhere and hubby picks up and flushes but when he is not here, I go into panic mode. Spraying them makes them fly back in my face sometimes.

Ask the Exterminator
02 Sep 2011, 14:11

I like the Bugzooka. It's easy to use and has plenty of suction.

TimH
02 Sep 2011, 23:24

Hello again - IRENE - Did She take some SB's away??

So I noticed, the day I sprayed my first coat of Talstar about 2 weeks ago, that some Maple Tree branches that I trimmed off, were LOADED with SB's of all sizes, and the Tree had them all over the bark.
Next came - you know who - ole IRENE last weekend - umm - I dont seem to see them around that Maple Tree now - so did Irene do some of us a favor and pound them Stink-ing Bugs to death? Hmmnn - hope so - at this point in time, I have seen some around, but not many yet - time will tell

TCB
07 Sep 2011, 08:10

Wondering....SB numbers are no where near the levels of the previous two 2009
2010? Not complaining..lol

The area where we reside per my posts last year , we are in the NE btwn Maryland/Virginia. Would everyone please post the area or State where they have levels that increased/decreased? We are using both talstar P, and stinkbug traps. Per my posted results, we have caught very few SB, and more Assassin Bugs. The numbers are not anywhere or levels that we saw previously.

ATE guy, our Lawn Service [full service] stated they have received numerous calls for Assassin Bugs, unlike anything they have seen. Thousands, of them, and known areas where SB numbers were invading. Do you have any comment on the possibility that our ecosystem has found a way? Moreover, speculation on the AB fast becoming a predator? The SB traps have more AB than SB...so could the lures entice or attract? Waiting on a reply from Rutgers Entomology Dept...somehow if I had to guess, something other than the fast-tracking to EPA last fall in Maryland has impacted the numbers.

Many of our neighbors have stated they are gone or being decimated by something other than chemicals.

Would greatly appreciate people commenting on their State/area and the SB traps. If the traps are working for you....great. Mine are working, but the capture is low...we did place these @ the edge of property.

Another application of Talstar P is scheduled next week. * Irene/TS Lee moisture may be keeping them @ bay too? Temps are fluctuating~ October like this week.

Ask the Exterminator
07 Sep 2011, 11:15

Assassin bugs and stink bugs are from the same insect order, Hemiptera. I could find no specific information as to whether the stink bug is part of their diet.

DawntheSBkiller
07 Sep 2011, 21:43

To TCB:

I live in Pittsburgh, PA...I can only speak for myself, but have only had 4 days when SB's seemed to spike, meaning when I have seen clusters of them on walls of buildings and flying around...very, very odd...not complaining, but it's scary weird...I just looked up the assassin bug pictures...and this is an insect that I believe I have seen in near my home...live near wooded area..there are so many species, that I really can't be sure its what I have been seeing...rather large bug ranging in colors from black to brownish gray...and I've been seeing a lot of them...hopefully mother nature has joined forces with the Talstar...again, not seeing hardly any stink bugs is wonderful, but I am still bracing for an "attack"...I really don't relax until I see snow.

Lizzie
08 Sep 2011, 10:06

I live in southern Wash. Co. Md and also have not noticed much stink bug activity in my garden. So far, tomatoes have been left alone. However, I talked with a neighbor a half mile away and he has found about 15 stink bugs on each of his tomato plants and his corn was destroyed (backyard garden). I think it may be a bit too early to get our hopes up. For those who do not read the Hagerstown Herald Mail, recently there have been a couple of articles -- one about how farmers have less damage on their crops this season and the most recent from the stink bug expert indicating that these bugs are out there feasting and getting ready for the invasion. Anyway, I do remember last year it was late Sept. when the worst of the swarm happened. I think when the sun finally comes out in the Mid-Atlantic (maybe this weekend!), the stinkies will start to make their move. Let's just hope the amount will be manageable. But like many of you, we are preparing and will spray the outside of our house early next week.

TCB
08 Sep 2011, 10:44

ATE & DawntheSBkiller:

Thank you. ATE linking an article about stinkbugs and predators. Apparently, not new information, meaning the listed insects. Since I can not find data supporting the article, I will speculate that it seems plausible the AB is definitely impacting the numbers.

http://www.dailypuppy.com/articles/what-are-a-stink-bugs-predators/ea5f22df -4892-7798-64de-da10725a8ee2

Actually, still waiting on replies from two Entomology Dept, Rutgers/Va.Tech.

Post the first talstar p application by our lawn service, we noticed only a few flying around, many dead carcasses in our walk-up well. *see my August comment

Again, w/o concrete data from University study and/or confirmation that several events are happening in our ecosystem.

If the Research Dept. offer anything or support my theory, than perhaps the worst is over? At any rate, will continue to comment on the results via SB traps et al, as the season progresses.

Cheryl
08 Sep 2011, 15:04

I live in Central PA and we are in the midst of record breaking flooding. We have had 8 inches of rain in 24 hours and more expected. There is so much flooding and water everywhere ..that perhaps some stinkbugs drowned who were not high up on trees or houses. As we have not seen one bug ..too much muddy, stink creek water all around and in the streets and in our backyard and more.

I wonder how all of this rain and flooding affects stinkbugs.

Ask the Exterminator
08 Sep 2011, 15:14

The stink bugs are not gone, but they have not had the terrible migration experienced the past couple of years. Is it the end of stink bugs? Doubtful!

DawntheSBkiller
08 Sep 2011, 15:18

I think they are just biding their time...but one thing is certainly true..they are no where as bad as they were this time last year in Pittsburgh, at least in my area...it depends on who you talk with...some areas seem to have been infested since early July...some places nothing or very, very small numbers...just a fluke this year.

Cheryl
08 Sep 2011, 15:38

True plus the temperatures have been in the 70s during the day and low 60s at night, a few nights, high 50s. Besides last year, we did not see stink bugs until late September and mostly in October. I am sure they are hiding out from the heavy rain and heavy flooding.
And they will be seen later this month and into October.

TimH
08 Sep 2011, 23:58

Well - the appearence here in South Jersey is low so far. Thankfully we also can remember that many things in life run in cycles, and SB's could be on the wane, although I feel more the rain-small joke there.
While I have seen some on the bark of a tree on two, so far its quiet around the house. Hanging in there for the next ap' of Talstar.
We had 2 cold nights, now back in humid and warmish, maybe hotish if the sun makes it out again.
Hoping for the best this season, and prayers for those involved in floods and fires.

Philm
10 Sep 2011, 15:03

We are avid gardeners just north of Los Angeles and I just discovered both green and brown SB's on our tomato plants. I have noticed black splotchy deposits on some of the tomatoes and on the vines and I guess these might be from the SB's.

Bob
12 Sep 2011, 12:41

The invasion of my house is just starting, here in Baltimore county. I opened my window 10 minutes ago and already have several crawling around the screen. It's a few weeks ahead of last year.

Midge
12 Sep 2011, 21:06

we have just seen 3 In The House! today!I will have to get that talstar product..we live in Central VA;it was a nightmare last year-I feel i will go mad if repeated.They come right @ me!We have the attic & basement windows covered w/ plastic/duct taped on..which may rot the window wood,but it helped a bit last year..what is safe to use indoors?sprays hurt furniture!

Ask the Exterminator
13 Sep 2011, 11:43

The Talstar is labeled for indoor use, as well.

Min
13 Sep 2011, 12:43

They started here in Southern Frederick County 5 days ago. Yesterday I vacuumed over 800 from the patio & deck. This morning there are hundreds more on the deck & outside window sills.ALL DEAD! Thanks to talstar and all your advice. I actually started preparing in July using all the tools you have suggested. Talstar, Excluder, Weatherseal on all doors and windows and caulk. So far none have made it inside where last year they took over everything. I'd like to add a special note about Excluder. I think this stuff is terrific. It not only plugs cracks and spaces but I think it absorbs alot of Talstar offering a much longer residual effect since I've only sprayed once in the last 3 weeks and the stinkers are still dying. Thanks again everyone for your help!

DawntheSBkiller
14 Sep 2011, 19:50

Wow...Min...I love to hear about massive stink bug kills...I have only seen 4 stink bugs in the last week...I'm really hoping that maybe Pittsburgh has been spared this year..still keeping my fingers crossed. I love to hear it when people have success!!!

TimH
19 Sep 2011, 11:57

Interesting - So here in South Jersey (Glassboro area) we have had zero, compared to last year. I mean I have only seen a very few around, along with a few new dead ones, that the pre-irene applied Talstar is STILL killing! I really am beginning to think that the super pounding 11 inch rain on 8/14 or so, followed by Irenes wrath possibly nailed a lot of them - here is hoping!

cheryl
20 Sep 2011, 07:34

I was prepared for the invasion. Last year, only a dozen got inside. The last stink bugs I saw were in May, we killed 4 of them trying to get outside and crawling on the windows. For the past week, the temperatures have gone down into the 40s at night, so far I have seen none outside, inside, and I have checked the sides of the building during the day and all of the time. Crossing my fingers, I have not spotted one yet here in Central PA. Granted, my area was not hid hard compared to other parts of this state, MD, VA, WV and places like Pittsburgh and NJ.

But we are not getting our hopes up yet as it is early into fall. Last year, we were seeing them trying to get inside as late as early November. I hope we get an early First Frost and a hard Frost and I hate winter. LOL. But I hate stink bugs worse than winter. LOL

I wonder if these stink bugs we were seeing last year, if some perished in the record breaking floods we just had or are still hiding out as we have record rainfall too but the past week has been sunny and warm during the day and cold at night. Do their migration patterns change? Ie, just because we got them last year and maybe few this year, next year we could get hit again? Also, the fact my back yard is basically a creek, and the river is very near...and they spray for mosquitos a few times per year to control them...could that spraying have killed some stink bugs as well?

Lizzie
21 Sep 2011, 14:21

The sun has come out in Southern Wash Co. Md today (Tuesday) and there's definitely been an increase in stink bug activity this afternoon. Up until today, I've not seen many, but today there were a few dozen around the windows. Since the rest of the week is forecasted to be rainy, I suspect there won't be much activity until the sun comes out again. So, it's still a waiting game to see what the swarm of stink bugs will be like, but it's getting close.

Cheryl
21 Sep 2011, 18:08

Well, we had our first sighting today. I saw 2 on the outside of the window and at his job, my husband saw a few outdoors. So it begins, this is our first sighting since May when they were trying to get back outdoors. We saw none outside, none anywhere, now we are seeing them again. Let us just hope there are fewer this year. Of course, I seldom see them crawling on the outside of our townhouse , or in the trees, shrubs, porch or anywhere. It is just they suddenly appear on the windows.

Mira
21 Sep 2011, 19:18

I am freaking out a little. Last year, we only would see one stinkbug on the window once a day and got maybe 10 inside. Just now, we have a half dozen on one window. We have everything shut up tight but we are still worried. We cannot spray the Talstar until the weekend. It is 70 degrees outside and it is getting dark and still 70 degrees, I thought they started trying to get in when it was not so warm?
I am also in PA and I was more hopeful after talking to neighbors and reading posts online but I fear we are getting a swarm and we got off easy last year.

Is there a website where we can find out about their migration patterns and sighting for this year and what to expect. We are scared.

Benephanie
21 Sep 2011, 21:06

I'm in Pittsburgh and I can say today was the first BIG BAD day for SBs. It started this morning when the sun came out. I saw about 35 on my screen door on the southern side of my house. I sprayed them with hot water mixed with liquid soap detergent. It killed them within a few seconds. Later this afternoon, however, I noticed there were literally 100's on the back of my house (southern facing, with white siding). I live in a house that is surrounded on 3 sides by woods, and have a horse field in the back. Could this be contributing to why they are so bad? They found their way into my window air conditioning unit which is in my bedroom. This led to about 100 SBs in my bedroom. I vacuumed them up(which worked... but with a Dyson the cyclone power was a little too intense and obliterated them inside the canister AND hose attachment. Smelly!!) We removed the air conditioner and took it to the basement, where about 100 more SBs crawled out of it. This evening, I checked the curtains on the bedroom windows and killed another 50. I feel COMPLETELY overwhelmed by these Stinkers!! I'm going to try ordering the Talstar on this site. Please tell me it will help with my indoor AND outdoor problem?? Also, when can I expect these SBs to go into "hibernation"? THANKS!

Bob Loblaw
22 Sep 2011, 13:40

Michelle, next door in Lincoln and have noticed the same thing. Rain might be to blame along with the changing seasons.

Have noticed more Assassin Bugs this year, but stink bugs are still quite a problem.

Bug Repeller
23 Sep 2011, 12:02

If you want to get rid of the stink bugs for good all you have to do is get a 1 gallon sprayer. Put 4 Tablespoons of Vicks Vapo Steam in the sprayer. Then add 1 gallon of warm water to the sprayer. Then add 1/3C Ajax dish soap (the orange kind) and soak your house down. The stink bugs HATE the smell and won't be back. The Vicks Vapo Steam will run you about 8 bucks at Wal-Mart and makes several gallons. Try not to spray the windows unless you want to wash them and I am not sure what it does to plants, but when you have thousands of them on your house you can't worry about what it will do to a few plants.

Min
23 Sep 2011, 13:15

Bug Repeller, thanks for the idea, After vacuuming up thousands this morning befoe the rain started, I'm willing to try anything. I didn"t know I would retire to a full time job fighting stink buggers.The swarm in Fred.Co.MD. has been something like a horror movie, Thanks again!

TimH
23 Sep 2011, 17:07

And here in South Jersey, yesterday and today I had 'some' sightings - thankfully, still very few had 3 inside on one window - still amazed how they get in - the screens are stinking caulked!
Today after the rain let up i had little choice but to put down a coat of Talstar, as the last was 2 wks before irene.
I know they are randomly around, as my son said there were a lot of them a few miles away where he was working at the other day.

Swest
25 Sep 2011, 16:41

I haven't noticed anyone on here from South Carolina. We had a huge problem at our house last year with these nasty creatures. Just a few days ago, I noticed they are back. Found 20 to 30 on the back of my house just hanging out. Noticed my cat going nuts last night, he was trying to get 2 of them that had made it into the bathroom. Last year I was a contant "flusher" of them. I can not do this again this year. It's so annoying.

Cheryl
25 Sep 2011, 16:48

The War is one today. It is sunny and in the low 80s. We applied a good coating of Talstar. My husband killed some in mid air. They keep coming afterwards and landing on the treated windows. We suddenly got a ton after the spraying. Is that because we flushed them out from where their hiding places in the siding ?

I had 2 get inside and we used the bugzooka and got them and flushed them.

But wow, they are out in force today and trying to get inside. It is so warm, one would think they wanted to be ooutside as it is cool inside..guess they sense it is fall and time to get in.

I know the Talstar got them but it is not instant knockdown. My Question is: wwhen they hit the surfaces sprayed, do tthey move faster and in a frenzy? As after a treatment; they seem to move fast and try to get inside even more?

We have stinkbugs going nuts, moving very fast , is that common because they are fighting to stay alive and dying as they do not slow down, they speed up?

Mike
25 Sep 2011, 16:51

We have had some luck with the bugzooka. It sucks them up, then we flush them or put them in a bucket with soapy water.

Carrie
25 Sep 2011, 17:45

Stinkbug Repeller,

I tried your magic mix this afternoon because I haven't had enough courage to try using the Talstar (even though I have right next to me as I type this). Would your solution deter them? Right now they've become active because I've sprayed everywhere. And I need some affirmation that they aren't ATTRACTED to it!

Yikes! And thanks for the tip.

Carrie in central Ohio

Michelle in Glassport Pa.
25 Sep 2011, 18:12

Hi neighbor Rob. Today was ugly. Hundreds flying around bombarding the deck furniture and siding. Just sprayed tallstar around the window and door frames. Will post results.

DawntheSBkiller
26 Sep 2011, 09:58

Here in Pittsburgh it is starting to get bad...I wanted to ask the same question as Chery in my last post...I've been seeing them om my window sills, and even though I know Talstar works, it's always nice to see proof...I watched one yesterday for about 10 minutes (weird, huh?) but it was actually kind of fascinating...it landed, then after a minute started to rub it feet together, looked as though it was going a bit crazy...more frantic as the minutes passed...call me crazy but I almost, felt a bit sorry for it...then I thought about how they have ruined the summer and fall for me for the last three years and the feeling went away...my whole whole is coated with Talstar (thank Heavens!!!) that stuff is great...How long are we going to have to put up with these things...they are destroying crops, people are going crazy dealing with these bugs and it's just getting worse.

Cheryl
26 Sep 2011, 10:29

Dawn, I know exactly what you mean.
I was observing them as well. Later we found a bunch of dead stinkbugs on the ground underneath the windows.

Another thing that we did , exclusion wise, is that my husband taped some light screening ( that comes in a roll) to the vents of the air conditioner. As the two that got inside , we could hear them wiggling in through the air conditioner. Also, if you have a window AC with vents, close them but still some will try to get in from the outside anyway. We also have heavy duct tape and sticky packing tape all around the air conditioner.

Also we spray all around the inside window frames so if they do get in, they are getting some insect killer on them in order to get in. So we barricade, exclude, but if some get in , they are going to find themselves infected with Talstar as a Greeting, LOL.

Then I have a Bugzooka waiting for them as well for those who manage to escape all the traps we set for them.

JudyinPA
26 Sep 2011, 10:38

I was reading an article where last year, stinkbugs in PA destroyed 40 pct of the produce crop. Farmers are losing business and are very upset about this.
We heard rumors unconfirmed that they would spray for stinkbugs this year. But then there came the floods and we are declared a disaster area and that is the main concern around here. There was much damage so sadly, I think the SBs were put on backburner for what to do. But Penn State is still pushing ahead with research on what to do and working on inventions.

In the meantime, like all of you, I use the products advertised here and it gives me some piece of mind. Thanks for the ideas, everybody about keeping them out. It is just too warm now to take out air conditioners for those of us not fortunate enough to have central air. It is in the 80s daytime and still rather warm at night for those of us whose bedrooms are on the third floor of the house or apt bldg. The big thing with air conditioners is to seal them up around the window and love that idea of the screening as well.

I hate Stink bugs but I also refuse to lose sleep because of the heat....in a few weeks, I will remove all air conditioners...but it has been very warm for this late in September.

DawntheSBkiller
26 Sep 2011, 13:58

Well, thankfully we do have central air...I do not let anyone open the windows for a second...we had one nice cool breezy day and I thought the heck with it I need fresh air...within, I swear, 10 minutes here come the SB's trying to get in the screens...I know they probably can't get in, but I felt so uncomfortable I had to shut the windows...My electric bill is sky high...husband complaining...but I don't care...these bugs are ridiculous...I expect the next 30 days will be hell...the fight continues!!!

Carrie
26 Sep 2011, 14:49

Hi Cheryl,

Twice you mention a Bugzooka. What is this magical device?

Carrie in Ohio

Christine
26 Sep 2011, 14:54

Just sprayed with Talstar. Bugs are walking fast on sides of trees real fast and flipping upside down.

Christine
26 Sep 2011, 15:01

Had 300-500 last year in my office storage area. . They like plastic and do not like leather. Am in NC. They had been mating in a dark area (walls in storage area have that brown peg board on them rather than sheet rock) for awhile so bought a big shop vac and filled two giant bags with them!! It took two weeks to get the smell out.

The first ones showed up two weeks ago and are multiplying.

I have tried the Dawn liquid and the cider vinegar, but a few minutes ago when I was throwing a few strays (from inside) into my mason jar I found that straight cider vinegar kills them faster.

Last year I used Dawn and cider vinegar and sometimes they would even crawl out of that but I will keep you posted about the cider vinegar.

We have them mostly in my office building (separate from the house) but have noticed a few more on & in the house early this year, but still pickable and put in toilet but now am going to try jar in house with cider vinegar since it seemed to work in office.

Wait until you see two mating on the screen. That was Saturday 9 24 2011.

Luann of NW NJ
26 Sep 2011, 19:43

Here we go again!! Here it is late September and just a few stinkies compared to last year at this time. Last September/October, my husband vacuumed up about 6000 outside the house on the patio and deck. I am hoping that Irene washed away stinkie eggs and the stinkies themselves. I am trying to keep them at bay without using poisons that can get into ground water and food plants. The one thing I am really worried about is the next very cool evening and the following warm sunny day - they will be out aggressively seeking shelter in our houses! That seems to be a pattern with them. I'll keep using the dishwater, cider vinegar, chlorox bleach and picking them up with a tissue under running hot water, then pop in the garbage. PLEASE DON'T FLUSH1 THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS KILL THE STINKERS. Please don't be a victim of this one. Yikes!! Let's see what the next week brings us - more or less!
P.S. Has anyone tried liquid peppermint?

JD of SW CT
26 Sep 2011, 23:08

I live in SW Connecticut and never really knew about Stink Bugs. But yesterday one landed on my leg as I was walking in the house. I was able to get it off and out of the house. Then today I was sitting on my deck and one landed on my coffee cup! I told my husband about the weird bugs and he said he saw one on the outside of one of the window screens, which he knocked off from the inside. I immediately went online and investigated and am pretty sure they are SB's. They were black and shield shaped. I have no idea if we are going to get a lot like some people have posted, but I am going to make sure all screens are secure with no holes and outside lights stay off at night - just to be safe. They really creep me out and I have only seen a few!

Carlo from Northern NJ
27 Sep 2011, 02:37

Rutgers University in New Jersey is doing some fantastic work with studying these little bastards. Check out their webpage here (especially check out their FAQ section):

http://njaes.rutgers.edu/stinkbug/

A few things they've pointed out:

1. They do not mate in your home. Once there, they're just handing out. No nests are being built.

2. Here's the worst part when it comes to spraying to kill these guys: killing them doesn't actually mean you're killing them. In about 50% of stinkbugs, they appear to be dead after spraying, only to come back to life days later. Apparently they enter a weird sort of coma when their body breaks down the insecticide, then they come back to life. Also, there's evidence that they're building resistance. How horrible is that?

I just moved to a new apartment and have had one a day so far (moved from 15 minutes away, where we had none at all), but notice they love to hang out on our screens when we have the windows open. We live above a garage, so I'm sure they're finding lots of other fun ways to get in. Gonna be interesting.

Cheryl
27 Sep 2011, 09:50

It can be very discouraging as we just did a major Talstar application to the exterior of our house on Sunday. This morning, just 2 days later, major thunderstorm. So we will have to apply it again when the storms are over. It is a lot of work keeping up with the stinkbugs.

We spent months doing exclusion and tried everything. A few still manage to get in through the windown where we concentrated our exclusion efforts. The landlord believes that is because we live next door a creek on land that is constantly settling and changing. So the windows and well everything shifts position, he says.

So the daily battle goes on. Our only hope is an early first frost but it will probably be another 5 weeks before a good hard frost..or maybe 6. Last year, we fought this battle until mid November. I am hoping by Halloween this year that there is a frost bad enough to stop them trying to get in.

Mr. Exterminator: can you expand more on what Carlo said about how the insecticide might not be killing them but putting them into a coma and how resistance could be developing. What have you heard? As we see a few dead ones caught in the window area outside our upstairs window and we cannot get to it as it is a third story window. Other carcasses we discard.

Also, some are saying not to flush them as that does not kill them? Why is that as I heard they cannot swim and they cannot survive a drowning. ???

Mike
27 Sep 2011, 11:52

Carrie, here is the bugzooka website link.
http://www.bugzooka.com/home.html

The battle rages on, for us, this is far worse than last year. But we are finding them on fewer windows, they are interested only in the 2 back upstairs windows.

Deb
27 Sep 2011, 14:01

My husband just called, there are 100 on our front porch, have been finding 20 + in the house for the last 3 days, am losing my mind!
Central Virginia

TCB
27 Sep 2011, 23:27

Good Evening

@Carlo fromNJ thank you for posting Rutgers Data. Last Fall 2010 I personally spent a great deal of my spare time communicating via phone/email, with Dr. G. Hamilton Rutgers Head of Dept Etymology.

First and foremost, what I have heard, read, firsthand knowledge vis a vie dealing with the SB problem, is contrary to his data. Basically, arbitrary in that the study does not reflect variables. While Dr. H. is/was most helpful,the true agenda behind the research is federal grants, and the lack thereof.

Some folks I have been speaking with on a Political level, are reluctant to act because of the EPA. At any rate, enough noise was made in Maryland that the Governor fast tracked the issue. As a result, he may be the only pro active
politician to date. Additionally, I called many Universities spoken with the Dept Head on topic of SB. Result, they don't know as much as they think or state!

Okay the good news....the best defense is a pro active barrage to your state/local representative's. These are elected officials...call , email, fax , whatever necessary to be heard. If the numbers are high,[that's what they count] your officials are more likely to facilitate. Farmers were the main and the only reason the Maryland Governor pursued EPA. There are many articles online relating to this very topic. Another pro-active , petition the State that you live to act. There are online petitions you can goggle. Usually 5thousand signatures @ minimum.

Bad News: What I have read, communicated, just about every state has them. Chemicals work, but to what degree? Lab research IMO is inconclusive regardless of data. FYI local farmer[s] via PA, MD, VA, have stated this was a lab experiment gone wrong...imagine that. So this stink bug invasion could very well be created and perpetuated by our own Universities. At this juncture nothing would surprise me.

*side note Assassin Bugs are on the rise in and around our state, have personally witnessed them attacking/killing SB. Also Green SB showing up this year.

My war continues on the phone, email, to anyone that will listen. Petiton your Govenors, local pundits, etc.

Good Hunting!

TCB
28 Sep 2011, 06:21

*footnote* Fact

Stink bugs will/do bite humans, have felt the sting myself. Dr. Hamilton conceded that point, stated,"Of course they may test you".

The smell/bite has been reported to cause allergies, another aspect I suffered.

The SB numbers fluctuate contingent on environmental events.

SB Traps[available in Retail] do provide high capture rates. The negative how to change lures, and do they offer a calling card to more than what is around your home? Again variables, and insufficient data.

Folks there is simply not enough data to support or substantiate.

Believe the farmers, they have the most vested, and will pass the crop decrease in the grocery. Conjecture~ will OFFICIALS finally take notice when food or crops continue to be impacted? At what cost? Advocate for your right, make your State culpable.

Last year dairy farmers asserted SB in the feed/hay...will the smell permeate the milk?

DawntheSBkiller
28 Sep 2011, 12:19

I heard something about 3 months ago about stinkbugs lasping into a coma-like state after being sprayed with insecticides..this of course, alarmed me to the fullest...so I did an experiment...I always have a lot of dead(?) on my back porch in the mornings. I picked up one and placed it in a jar with lid (w/holes)...left under basement stairs for a week...I wash a load of clothes daily so i passed the jar daily...And I am happy to report...it does appear that Talstar completely kills SB's...my husband and kids thought I was a lunatic for doing this, but for my own piece of mind I needed to make sure all the efforts that go into treating my home are not in vain...I will visit the Rutgers site to see what their efforts has produced so far...I have a feeling BMSB's are here to stay despite their best efforts.

TCB
29 Sep 2011, 08:18

Good Morning:

Per my posts referencing the Maryland last fall 2010 and Spring 2011 please find the link below to help you facilitate constituency to local/state representatives. At the very least it will provide a jumping off point of reference.

http://bartlett.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=227631

My side note of interest for many of the contacts, including national news networks are ones of complacency, simply because our politicians are not briefed, and priorities are shifted.

@DawnSBkiller thank you for sharing your findings, this situation is not going away, I agree. The issue is not whether our Universities provide a solution, the problem is WHY has this not been addressed? The people giving answers on academic levels, are placating the problem.

Good Hunting

TCB
29 Sep 2011, 08:39

Press Release Sept 2010

http://bartlett.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=208815

TimH
30 Sep 2011, 09:32

Cheryl - and flusher people - What you need to remember is most toilets go from full water surroundings to a 6 inch pipe, to a 30" to who knows how large pipe in a street. The Pipe is now full of airspace, the bugs will hit a lull, and calmly walk on, living. Kill - dont flush should be the normal. Even with a cesspool/septic, once the flow of liquid has stopped, the little buggers can walk back up the pipe, to the air vent, and back out free again.

Oh the joy of walking up on the porch, just to have seen one SB fall DEAD from the Talstar up on the eaves - Yes!

I have seen a few 'new' liquid products on the market this year, but havent heard anything about them, nor would I want to try them since the Talstar is on hand and works. The traps are way too expensive. I did try the light and pop-bottle trap, home-made, but no takers so far, but then my place seems to be lower in quantity this year.
Cold spell just now 'rang in' last nite -shall see what that does.
Remember - keep your car windows closed while parked in your yard, and watch out that first time you open up your woodstove!

Cheryl
30 Sep 2011, 18:29

Thanks Tim for the information. Wow, we did not know that !

My husband took out the window ACS in the back bedrooms , the only place where the stinkbugs were gathering. He found a ton of them and flushed them and then followed that with bleach. I told him he should kill them first. Now when he went into the other bedroom which is the office, we had sprayed Talstar there inside and he flushed a bunch of all dead ones.

It has been raining too much for an outdoor treatment but dry weather is ahead starting Monday and we will do a treatment again and every few days. The trouble we have is we do a thorough outdoor treatment and then we have been getting a ton of rain in PA. So we do kill a bunch but then it is washed away.

Weather forecast is for dry weather for the next week so we should have better luck next week with the Talstar staying put.

One of the reasons hubby flushed as we were told they cannot swim and drown , perhaps that info is wrong and they are surviving a ton of water being flushed then?

TimH
01 Oct 2011, 01:07

I wont say I am an expert on the flush, I guess mostly what I have seen is that they had seemed to float around in plain water for quite some time alive, but the thing with toilets is like the water is only a gargantuan rush for a few minutes, and then down to bare pipe and then they could crawl away, knowing how difficult it is to kill them w/o squashing (EWWWW) them.
I have to admit, I did post some comments saying that in some areas, I thought that Irene had done them in, but then 80+ mph winds and typhoon rain would be a bit different :)
These things are like a secret weapon - I have even put some gasoline on a couple in the wheelbarrow, and they walked about 18" or so before death - yikes. And out in the workshop, I actually sprayed 2 with black paint once - they walked away, until the paint hardened! But then the funny part is that the plain dawn soap in a hose sprayer kills them almost instantly, but has absolutely no residual value to prevent the next wave.
South Jersey same-o with the rain - I think its rained some on what feels like the last 12 days - hoping that the forecast stays sunny this time, seems it changes to rain when the day that was forecasted to be sunny arrives.
I did apply Talstar earlier this week, as they were gathering round some. You know that when you see the little buggers at a 45 degree angle hanging outward on the screen by one leg or 2, the death throes have hit!

I REALLY would love to see someone actually catch on video, how these things can squeeze through cracks that seem impossible to get through.

Kat
01 Oct 2011, 15:11

DO NOT FLUSH!!! They can live underwater!!!

John B
01 Oct 2011, 17:59

To those who have removable screens that clip on to the inside frame, I was surprised to see one wedge its way through the lower end and into the house. The clips are only on the sides of the screen, and if the screen isn't perfectly flat (that one was ever so slightly bent inward), they can wedge their way right in. So now we keep all the windows closed!

Christian
03 Oct 2011, 00:13

I used windex on a screen door where they were huddling. It took around 10-15 minutes, depending on the bug, and seems to kills them. They are still all where they fell yesterday.
Question: at what temperature do they die, if they're exposed w/o cover?

anita behrle phillips
03 Oct 2011, 01:26

I live in Phila. Pa. and have had many thousands of SBs for the past three or so years. Last year I aggressively sprayed bromide around all window cracks, also outside house. Whereas previously I killed daily in my bedroom approximately 25 - 30 of them, ALL SUMMER, after spraying aggressively, my bedroom was reduced to one or two. What I would like to know is where they are this year, fall 2011?? I've seen only a few on my windows. I bought three rescue traps, a TOTAL waste of money. Even hooked up lights to them . Have caught NOTHING but a spider. Can it be possible that this year, 2011, will not replicate the previous three? I hope so. Will continue to post.

Cheryl
03 Oct 2011, 14:06

We have seen more this year than last.
We just went through a major flood where the Susquehanna River crested over flood stage as well as the creek behind our house. Then the stink bugs really began to come out and swarm.
But when it rains, they hide. When the sun comes out, so do the stinkbugs.

We also have disease carrying mosquitos out in force and they are going to spray near the river and creeks to prevent West Nile virus. That may be of help to getting rid of some of the stink bugs.

We killed more this year and saw more this year than last. I live north of Harrisburg, PA and this is the most we have seen. It does seem to fluctuate year by year. It probably has to do with their migration patterns but some areas are seeing more or less this year. We are seeing considerably more than last year but still nothing compared to some regions. We never have seen or killed hundreds or thousands as some report. We killed maybe a dozen last year that got inside. This year, we killed several dozen outside and inside.

Christian
03 Oct 2011, 18:09

Update: ProForce Floor Cleaner kills them much faster than Windex.CTDOG

Ruth Goebel
03 Oct 2011, 18:45

I am getting lots of stink bugs on my outdoor spider plants. Since I plan on bringing them inside soon, how can I keep them as stink-bug free as possible? Last year it seemed the SBs burrowed in the potting soil and came out in the warm house. The buggers were everywhere.

Ask the Exterminator
03 Oct 2011, 18:46

Update to update: ProFoce floor cleaner and Windex are not pesticides. Plus, they are about 15 times more expensive to use than Talstar, which is labeled for their control.

Ask the Exterminator
03 Oct 2011, 18:56

Ruth: Spray the plants with soapy water. Tops and bottoms of every leaf.

Christian
03 Oct 2011, 21:24

Hi Exterminator. I'll probably end up getting Talstar but in the meantime, I'm trying a few things. Your blog is a good place to exchange ideas. In the end, it'll pay off. Thanks.

Lefty
05 Oct 2011, 09:17

Just south of Harrisburg, PA and this year's stinkbug invasion on the house has been non-existent to this point. I started with the Talstar last fall and used it here and there this year. I sprayed just prior to vacation in mid-September, since PSU was estimating things to pickup right around the time we were set to return.

In previous years they were so bad that you had to run across the porch and scramble as fast as possible to get in the door or they were dropping and flying to land on you. This year, they're not bad. We have lots of dead ones, but it doesn't seem like their numbers are nearly as high as before. I don't know if its the Talstar to the house/shrubs/etc., if maybe it has to do with the brutal weather at our house this year, or perhaps just luck.

Anybody messing around with different concoctions to get rid of these things is just silly. Stop messing around and get a bottle of the Talstar and use it. It works. It's not just for stink bugs either. I spray the ground around the house perimeter and I hardly saw any spiders, centipedes or earwigs this year in the basement.

Cheryl
05 Oct 2011, 10:23

Because of Stink Bugs, I have started to dread those warmer, sunny, nice Autumn days that I used to just love.

For the past week, the weather has been cloudy, cool, or rainy and the stinkbugs are hiding out and not bothering us. Today and the rest of the week are supposed to be sunny, very nice nice, and warmer. Ugh! I always have hated winter but now I will welcome it or at least a good, hard frost.

It is a shame that I dread this beautiful day today and how I know the stinkbugs will gather on the windows and try to get in very shortly here. I actually liked the rainy, nasty, miserable weather we have been having as SBs stay away. Now we have Gorgeous weather but that means Stink bugs.

Now my day consists of spraying and worrying and dreading. Ugh!!! My life has changed due to these demons and where I used to love Fall, I now dread this season. I like the other 3 seasons more now because the stinkbugs are either trying to get outdoors or want to be outside...Fall is just awful on the nice sunny days.

Anyone else feel this way where before a warm, sunny Autumn day was cherished and now it is dreaded?

JudyinPA
05 Oct 2011, 10:26

We are having more than ever around Penn State and Central PA. But my friends in southern and eastern PA are getting fewer so far. Have they migrated further north this year? Of course, I hear it is still bad in VA, or are they just reproducing more in certain regions? This is the first year we have had a lot of then. I never saw one until last year ever.

I also now hate those nice sunny, warm Fall days and used to love them so yes, I can relate.

Christine
05 Oct 2011, 11:11

In my office I do not have a bathroom since it is so close to the house so the stray ones get thrown into cider vinegar in a mason jar and it wipes them out.

My husband sprayed the top of the dog houses, the trees, etc. in the area near my office (twice) with Talstar and it wiped them out.

But is isn't really cold out yet. In the 70's this week so we shall see.

I read an article recently and they are not in 30 states instead of 18 like last year.

Will update as weather gets colder.
I have been told that Talstar can be sprayed in the house if you dilute it down but I am not recommending it. Just a comment by someone.

Christine
05 Oct 2011, 11:12

Correction. They are in 30 states not 18 like last year. Sorry.

Christine
05 Oct 2011, 11:14

To Ruth. We live on 9 acres so it would be impossible to spray 9 acres of plants with soapy water. But thanks for the tip for the deck plants.

Lizzie
05 Oct 2011, 15:46

Cheryl, I too now dread these beautiful sunny fall days. I live in southern Wash. Co. MD and to date in my area there wasn't much stink bug activity. Last week during a brief sunny period they were some trying to get in the house. But today I'm seeing more and more stink bugs. As I walk around the house, they are everywhere. I hate that sound when they fly onto the vinyl siding. I would love to open the windows and hang clothes outside on these beautfiul days but from what I am seeing today, the windows and doors will stay closed. They are back and we'll wait to see if it will "only" be hundreds instead of the thousands that were around last year.

TCB
05 Oct 2011, 21:40

Stink Bug fighters:

Have a question for et al. WHY aren't you calling your local representative office[s]? From what I can glean from the posts here, situation/areas contingent upon variables.

Per many posts of mine own, I certainly commiserate with the nuisance and the tenacious foothold these insects continue to impact quality of life.

This is just a suggestion, if you would spend 20 minutes locating your local rep in respective State, trust me its what Politicians listen to, constituents. Having spent/logged many hours fighting the battle on the phones, emails, speaking with Dept Heads
@ both Rutgers, Va. Tech the worst case scenario is upon us, vis a vie your comments. This is about money, EPA, etc.

Please call your local reps and demand pro active solutions, culpable for the problem. Ask them what are they doing, and what press releases have they issued regarding the problem. Keep calling, they are elected officials!

Good Hunting~

TCB
05 Oct 2011, 21:48

@Christine Oct 5th 11:12

Per your post, Stink Bugs per Dr. George Hamilton Rutgers U, they are in ALL states. In fact green SB are now surfacing...even in California.

So its fair to say, the information is not accurate, atleast what is out there to date. Simply because the variables, and the changing migration, and Dr,H. stated the DNA is changing.

If you log on to Rutgers go to Etomology you can read some of the requests to mail your stink bug. My conversations with just about anyone that I can think or post,its the farmers that have forced solutions...aferall they feed us. :)

John
05 Oct 2011, 23:40

I'm in northern Baltimore County and I'm seeing far fewer SB's this year than last. The Baltimore Sun had an article a few weeks ago that said the EPA in June let farmers spray pesticides to kill them. So hopefully a lot of them died from that. I was getting 5-10 a day in my house last year, but now I'm getting about one a day at most.

TCB
06 Oct 2011, 06:10

@John Oct 05 23:40

Consider the variables, environmental, eco-system i.e. weather, migration, hibernation.

Just curious, since you posted reference to Baltimore Sun article...unfortunately post speaking with, and watching the situation unfold in my own backyard, this is not over by a long shot. Sorry to report the SB is rather adaptable. My locale both MD/VA.

Read up thread, many insecticides are only rendering a diapose state, they look dead but awaken within days. The listed pesticides the EPA so far, are effective, however, long term ?? changing DNA problematic. BTW have you read MD Rep. Roscoe Bartlett press releases? Moreover, are u interested what your local Rep solutions?

Good Hunting

TCB
06 Oct 2011, 06:14

****Diapause***** not diapose

Cheryl
06 Oct 2011, 09:47

Temperatures are supposed to reach the 80s or at least high 70s over the weekend with cooler nights. So we sprayed outside yesterday and we are spraying again over the weekend. We are seeing a ton of stinkbugs but after treatment, they seem to quickly die on the screens, siding, and windows.

I wish it were rainy and cloudy and I never used to like that at all. Now these sunny , warm days this time of year, I positively dread as it is just awful.

I am thinking we are going to get a late Frost at this rate as temperatures for the next week in PA are for warm , sunny days..ugh.

Cheryl
06 Oct 2011, 09:51

TCB: we have been contacting our local and state representatives. They said they are more concerned at the moment with the mosquito population as some are carrying the West Nile virus and due to the recent floods; several people have been bitten. It is making the headlines and it is a health hazard. So they are spraying for mosquitos and their hope is the spraying also kills Stinkbugs. Our reps have been telling us stinkbugs are a concern for the farmers and their concern is for the damaged crops and the losses the farmers are enduring due to stinkbugs. They are urging farmers to spray.

Lizzie
06 Oct 2011, 10:07

There was an article in today's Washington Post about the effects of stink bugs on a peach grower in MD -- one of the saddest stories I've read about the devastion stink bugs have caused.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home_garden/peach-growers-fight-aga inst-stink-bug-comes-to-an-end/2011/09/28/gIQA6Y2FOL_story.html

Deb
06 Oct 2011, 12:41

My husband became a SB Warrior last week, Bless Him!
He went to work on the front of our home, where he saw hundreds each day last week. He probably assinated 1000+, and would go back out and check every 15 - 20 minutes!
With a flyswatter!!!! Gross but Deadly! Now we are only seeing a handful each day, in the house, versus 30+ each day last fall.
We almost bought the light trap, glad i waited after reading your posts.
Central Virginia Area

DawntheSBKiller
06 Oct 2011, 21:08

I contacted my state reps and I heard the same thing...mosquitos high up on the agenda...with all of the rain...they have found several mosquitos in my area that tested positive for West Nile, so public health will always win over a public nuisance...Cheryl, I feel your pain...for the next 7 days in Pittsburgh near 80, so they are coming out in full force. This was the time of year I used to really enjoy, the last hurray before the cold winter settled in. Oh well, maybe (not) next year.

carol
09 Oct 2011, 03:22

I live in the Bronx near the Hudson River,and just today, I noticed them all over my terrace, and all over the spikes in my geraniums. I had three get past the screens and into my apartment. I have never seen them before today, and I'm freaking out. They're all over the west facing side of my co-op. Do I have to get rid of all my beautiful plants?

Michelle in Glassport Pa.
09 Oct 2011, 11:26

The best twenty five bucks I ever spent. Talstar works. Lightly sprayed window and door frames and have killed thousands. It takes a few minutes for them to pass out but they do die. A little bit goes a long way.

Serena in Rockville, MD
09 Oct 2011, 15:30

I am a bugaphobe. I hate bugs, they give me the creepy crawlies and SBs are the worst! I live in Rockville, MD (Northern DC suburbs). 2 years ago, they were pretty bad in the fall, so no more open windows (even though we have screens) or doors. So sad. I, like many of you, really miss the open windows of a beautiful Fall day. Last year, we didn't have them so bad, maybe 1 or 2 in the house a couple of times during the week. My in-laws, however, live in an old house up in the mountains in VA (near Front Royal) on about 300 wooded acres, and the infestation they had last year was of biblical proportions. The SBs were swarming outside by the millions (literally), you could not walk outside without being hit by them. They were all over inside the house (old, old house, so not sealed up well. Plus 2 window AC units poorly installed.), climbing the walls in the dining room, inside the bedsheets and pillow cases upstairs in the seldom used bedrooms, 20-30 behind each picture hanging on the wall, etc. It was horrific. I went up once to visit last year, and did not go back again until Spring. Now, they're beginning to reappear up there (they never went completely away), and I've seen quite a few in my backyard and on the back of my house today. Will be buying some Talstar for sure. I hate this -- something has to be found to control these nasty little creatures!

Kim in Cornwall NY
09 Oct 2011, 16:00

We have at least thousands of SB's on our house right now. We have casement windows, and they crawl into the cracks. Every morning, when still cold out, I open every window and take a toothbrush to sweep them out. They will not winter in my house this year.!! Has anyone tried the vicks treatment around the window tracks.? I will, and post next week.
We are prisoners in our own home - afraid to open doors - even garage doors - they come rushing in.!

Cheryl
10 Oct 2011, 09:03

I feel so badly for those of you dealing with thousands of stink bugs.
We have seen probably a hundred this year and killed dozens of them. We had maybe a dosen get indoors and we got out the bugzooka and caught them and they were killed with Talstar upon capture. We are seeing several dozen who have died since we did our last treatment on the sides of the house. The car is parked below the upstairs windows and my husband found a few dead ones who had fallen dead from the windows and ended up on the car.

These 8o degree sunny days bring them out in droves. I will be glad when the temperatures get colder and dream of the first frost. Then after the first frost, we do our hunt and search for those who might have gotten in without our noticing and are hiding. As once we turn on the heat , baseboard electric heat, they tend to show up as some always end up wintering in the heating unit. So before we have to turn on the heat, we are spraying just the tops of the heating units and on the shades, windows, other places where they may hide.

We do see an improvement from a month ago prior to doing treatments every few days outside and inside. I recommend using only Talstar or other insecticides listed here for both indoors and outdoors rather than other home remedies for killing them.,..as it works.

HateSBs
10 Oct 2011, 13:26

Here in the eastern panhandle of WV, we are seeing far less SBs than last year. I'm not sure why, but I'm not complaining. The outside perimeter of the house has been sprayed twice with Talstar, and I find one or two dead/dying on the deck and patio in the mornings, but it's nothing like last year when there would be dozens every day. We also have two traps set up at the edge of our backyard. The traps have been there since July and I still see live SBs in them - and they are half full of dead SBs.

Interestingly, we were in a neighboring town the other day and noticed them all over the place - clinging to houses, in restaurants, just buzzing around in the open.

Anyone who is dealing with a lot of SBs as we were last year this time, I highly recommend using Talstar. It will be the best $ you've spent in a long time.

kevin
13 Oct 2011, 04:44

Has anyone used Temprid SC? It is supposed to last longer than Talstar. I had viking here to spray and it cost me about $150 a treatment and i need 3 treatments supposedly. Looking for cheaper alternative and diy.

DawntheSBkiller
13 Oct 2011, 16:23

Well,well,well...it has been great so far...I don't know and I really don't care but in the past 7 days I have not seen one stink bug...dead or alive. I look at the post every several days to get updates on the 'war' against these hellish creatures. I really do feel bad for those who are still putting up with these things, I know last year they literally were driving me to the point of insanity..I thank the heavens for Talstar. I am going to enjoy this while it lasts...but I can't help but wonder "what is going on?".

Heather
15 Oct 2011, 12:44

I hate how news reporters always smile when they report on SB's, like they think the whole thing is funny!

John
21 Oct 2011, 01:12

@DawntheSBkiller I've only killed a couple over the last week, compared to last year when we had about five buzzing around inside every day!

Maybe the pesticides applied on farms this summer are having an effect. I sure hope so!

DawntheSBkiller
23 Oct 2011, 11:32

John--yes this year has been so much better than the last couple of years...I also believe that the efforts of many and the severe weather this summer has really put a dent in the numbers...but there are still many folks who have them in massive numbers-just the luck of the draw I guess.

Liz in MD
23 Oct 2011, 15:42

In my area of southern Wash Co. Md, the stink bug invasion/swarm has been minimal. I did see during some warm, sunny days maybe a couple hundred on various areas of the house (a lot of them eventually died since we sprayed), but I haven't seen many in the house. We have experienced thousands over the past couple of years,but this year it has been manageable. I remember one sunny afternoon last Sept. when I looked out my kitchen window and in the sunlight there were hundreds just swarming over the grass. This year they didn't even damage anything in my veggie garden, and I was able to hang laundry outside and not worry about the bugs attaching themselves to the laundry. There may be some in the attic (although I have yet not found many up there) and maybe some hiding in other areas of the house Perhaps it may be that this winter I won't see the half dozen or so I would see every day the past couple of years. Don't know what next year will bring, but I remember my nephew, the biologist, telling me this summer to expect a dieback sometime. I just hope next year the conditions won't be perfect for a comeback!

Annatjie
24 Oct 2011, 05:17

I think they are poison. My cat tried to eat one, or play with one, and was sting two places on her face. I tried to clean it but still she had two sores, and took a long time to heal.

TimH
25 Oct 2011, 00:49

Hello - OK - CATS its been reported last year at least that cats are allergic to SB's. They get to coughing and sneezing.
TALSTAR - WORKS period. Best stuff. I got a Backpack Sprayer, a Chapin, and its great - just only put in 2 gallons at a time, and the weight wont bother you.

Window Check at night - routine was to get the flashlight out, and check the bedroom windows before settling in for the night. Itsa peace of mind type of thing:)

Happiness=having a quart $2 spray bottle filled with Talstar mix in the house, and hitting the buggers in their undersides while on the screens, and seeing them DEAD later.
We have had, thankfully, a major decrease this year at our place compared to last year.

CHRISTMAS TREES - Oh also be aware - CHECK your 'fresh cut' Christmas Tree this year, regardless of what the weather has been by then, there were reports of people getting surprised once they brought the Tree inside last year.

Cheryl
25 Oct 2011, 10:18

We did a treatment one week ago and all we see are dead stinkbugs. We have been having cold nights but no frost yet.
I have not seen a stinkbug for about a week except dead ones. Now today and tomorrow will be a test as it is supposed to be sunny and warm during the day and quite cold at night.

We have more this year than we ever did but more means we have killed maybe a hundred total in the last year and only about a dozen got inside this fall. For this region, that is a lot. Are they perphaps migrating more north as we are seeing more than last year and my friends who live north of us have had this first sighting and invasion this year?

Cheryl
26 Oct 2011, 17:01

Well it is 59 to 62 degrees the past 2 days and some sun and they are back. But the good news is there are fewer and the ones who do manage to make progress getting in between the storm windows and the inside windows have died on their way in due to treatments applied to inside and outside of windows.

But after not seeing any for over a week, they are back. Night time temps are supposed to dip around 32 degrees this week so here is hoping for a frost. As although it is cold at night, it is not quite a frost and the daytime temps are between 50 and 60 but if the sun comes out for more than an hour ..chilly or not, they are back. Ugh!

Anyone else seeing them and so close to Halloween? Last year, we saw none after mid october except the ones who got inside and we saw them in the middle of winter.

Lairy
27 Oct 2011, 06:28

They are driving me nuts, I did not even know what they were until recently. I never actually had to deal with bugs and never even saw them until I moved to the east side of scranton PA.

I've never smelled one and I have actually been just crashing them with shoes not knowing that they release a smell until now. it is 6am and I cant sleep because I hear them inside my walls. What can I do if they are already inside my walls? I see about 1 and sometimes 2 inside the house a day. I have a 3 year old and he hates them! I need a safe solution that I can use inside and that will not harm my toddler.. PLEASE HELP!!

DawntheSBkiller
28 Oct 2011, 09:48

Cheryl...in Pittsburgh experiencing the same weather you are...but, knock on wood, I am still not seeing any...I still refuse to let anyone open the windows during the day even though it has been quite chilly and I know there are stink bugs out there just waiting to find a way in to a nice warm place for the winter. I know several people that went into their attics for Halloween decorations and the attics were infested with stink bugs and oddly orange lady bugs. I still treat the house every ten days outside with Talstar. This year the Talstar seemed to really work well. I just hope that the stink bugs do not build up a resistance to Talstar in the coming years.

Cheryl
28 Oct 2011, 10:13

Lairy, check out the products on this page. Talstar, I do believe, is both safe for pets and children. And you can spray that indoors plus there are other products listed here that might help you with the bugs in the walls.

The Excluder is really great for keeping them out and sealing cracks, crevices and around windows to keep them out.

We do outdoor and indoor treatments once a week and it really helps a great deal.

Jen
29 Oct 2011, 10:54

Well it looks like we are getting a snowstorm here in northern new jersey later - in fact it is already snowing.

This year I was seeing them on the outside of my windows starting the last week of July - since we have a contract with an exterminator we had them spray every other week. We did try to kill the ones just sitting on the outside of our screens. Weird part was I would only see them on my screens on cloudy days in the late morning.

We did all the weatherstripping around all the doors and sealed up any cracks we could find- our house isn't that old.

Fireplaces--Also we put airtight doors on 2 fireplaces. For those of you who are skeptical like me about them coming down the fireplace- well they do. We actually had one get caught in a spider web in the fireplace - we had never closed either of the dampers last year or this year so I believe that is how the 10 -12 or so got in last year. oh and the spider did not want to eat it.

We also put the nuvan pro strips in the attic - just in case since we were unable to seal up the recess lighting in our family room.

I also agree, I used to love the nice fall days and now I am so happy it is going to snow! I think if we have a warm long dry summer like last year we are going to see them come back next year.

Lastly, I did contact my representative about doing something to control these bugs!

Cheryl
03 Nov 2011, 09:03

We had a big snowstorm over the weekend followed by a few frosts. Most nights the temperatures are 32 or below. But then it warms up during the day to the upper 40s ,low 50s and it starts up again. We see them on the outside of our screen and I can hear a few hitting the window. Granted, it is not a lot, maybe 4 or 5 trying to get in. I have 2 on the inside of the screen but not yet inside the main window and we got the closed up and taped up and shut up the best we can.

My question is when does it stop as far as those new stinkbugs on the windows trying to get in even a hard frost and snowstorm? Is it because we are getting sunny days and temps reaching the low 50s or high 40s? I am so tired of seeing them moving around and not that slowly on the outside of our screens just because it reaches 49 degrees when we are having below freezing temps at night? I mean we never got hundreds this year but we got more than we have ever seen before. I wonder if they are migrating north?

I just want the invasion attempts from the outside to end for the year. We have done a good exclusion job and we are willing to hunt and kill the ones who got in for the winter but this is ridiculous that we still have ones on the outside of the screen moving around and trying to get in? When does it end for the year? Last year, it all ended after the first frost, not this year..guess too much daytime sun?

I am just so fatigued with this and I thought the snowstorm and would end but it has not ended for the season ..they keep trying to get in and hitting the windows. I guess we need to do a few more treatgents but wow it is getting cold.

Sheila
03 Nov 2011, 11:54

Cheryl, you are not alone. We are still seeing them in north central PA. We had a snowstorm too and flooding earlier too. That did not stop them from swarming on the sunny days. They are still active and I am shocked as last night, it was 30 degrees and cold every night for a week. Then the snow did not stop it. It is about 55 and sunny and they are active and flying around and trying to get in. It is awful. We need to do another spray and that has never happened before in November. When will this be over? Not even frosts and snow are stopping them...first day in the high 40s,like Cheryl said, back they are again trying to get in and there are a lot of them very active still.

Jaime
06 Nov 2011, 16:14

Hi I got two stink bugs stuck in my television and they seem to be mating..... crap....

DawntheSBkiller
10 Nov 2011, 09:44

ok..I know this forum is about stink bugs..watching the news last night and now people in Pittsburgh are seeing a giant and scary looking bugs called a Wheel Bug..this question is for ATE: what is this? will Talstar keep this thing away from my house? it looks like a big, giant stink bug with a big stinger attached to it, and I understand it also releases a foul odor when threatened...oh no, now we've got to deal with this...any info on how to kill it would be great...these things are too big to stomp and they are saying if the wheel bug does bite a person takes up to six months for the wound to heal...but one good thing-haven't seen any stink bugs in about a month...dead or alive.

Cheryl
10 Nov 2011, 12:21

Finally the stinkbugs must be hibernating. We are having some unusually warm days in PA for the Fall but I think we finally had enough of low nighttime temps and frosts to keep them in hibernation although the temps have been nearly 70 a few days this time.

Dawn, I will have to research the Wheel Bug, hopefully it is native to this country and has natural predators that these brown stink bugs do not because stinkbugs are not native to this country.

My husband thinks he has seen one or two of those as they are strange looking and we have never seen this one bug before.

Cheryl
10 Nov 2011, 12:24

PS about stinkbugs. We were seeing them on our windows until about November 7th, a new record for Central PA. It is probably because we had some warm sunny days and the nights were not consistently cold enough..now they are in hiberation finally !! It took long enough. We had more stinkbugs this year than ever before where most people did not get hard this year but were hit hard last year..we are the opposite.

DawntheSBkiller
10 Nov 2011, 13:07

Cheryl-I have been trying to find out information about the wheelbug..there are many different varieties of this bug unable to find a picture of the specific one they showed on the news (WTAE-4 Pittsburgh, PA) they have a photo on their Facebook page from yesterday..this thing looks wicked..I just need to know how to kill them, today per the same news station, they reported we should start seeing many more of them because this is the time of year the females lay eggs which will survive through the winter, the adults die off though...some are speculating on Facebook, that they have heard these things kill stinkbugs...when you weigh the pros and cons I think these may be a worse because of the size of the wheel bugs...as for the stinkbugs, this year was really weird, again, some got hit really hard (I really feel sorry for those who did-it's a nightmare) and some, like us, got really, really lucky..no rest for the weary, now I've got to be on alert for this newest pest...I hope I do not see a wheel bug on, near or in my house.

Ask the Exterminator
13 Nov 2011, 09:49

Wheel bugs and stink bugs are cousins. Talstar Pro will have the same effect on both types of bugs.

DawntheSBkiller
13 Nov 2011, 13:30

I just found out the large, scary bug now being spotted in and near Pittsburgh is an assassin bug. I don't know if true or not but apparently this form of assassin insect is attracted to the BMSB...again, due to the large size of this bug the jury is still out on whether or not this is a good thing...thanks for the info anyway!!!

TCB
17 Nov 2011, 06:56

Dawn:

Per some earlier posts, actually last month. Our lawn service [full service] told us that they had received numerous calls from customers both business/residential for "Assassin Bugs", incidentally known areas where the SB activity was off the charts.

NE btwn Maryland/Va/WV. ATE guy commented,family insects are listed related. Additionally, the SB traps caught about as many SB as Assassin.
You should speak with Rutgers, Dr. G. Hamilton, share your findings. Basically, speaking with et al research has yielded little. However, the advantage is that we learn how complacent the solution or research levels progress.

Personally over the course of the Summer 2011 witnessed many Assassin Bugs in and around our home/yard. We definitely are privy to the eco event[s] that have leveled the SB numbers.
We shall see if the AB will decimate or will be the next nuisance.

Cheryl
17 Nov 2011, 09:26

Interestingly, we saw a big increase in stinkbugs this year from last year. Most had the opposite experience.

We did not see any of the assassin bugs or maybe we did and thought they were stinkbugs. Even with the floods and rainy summer and strange weather; we saw a big increased in stinkbugs.

John
06 Jan 2012, 23:40

Another way in: they get in the attic (which is hard to seal up completely), but then I found they got in my main house through the recessed ceiling lights on the second floor (the 'cans' go up into the attic, and aren't airtight because the the wire runs through the can, so the stinkbugs see the bright bulbs leaking through the wire holes and that's how they get in...).

I found this because they were getting in the rooms that had the recessed lights.

So I sealed up those lights with paper and painting tape, and put in lamps in the rooms instead, and haven't seen any since!

BEV
16 Jan 2012, 19:23

I live in Ohio and I had never seen these things before until I moved in a more rural area a couple of years ago. I have devised what I call a fool-proof method of getting rid of them since I only see them occasionally in my house. I keep an empty water bottle handy and when I see one I just scoop it up in the bottle and put the lid back on it. It's amazing that they can live for a few days in the bottle but eventually they die and deteriorate. I have a bottle right now in my bedroom with 5 dead ones in it and I just captured another one last night. No stink and no additional expense.

cheryl
17 Jan 2012, 01:22

Bev; We do something similar only we capture them with a bugzooka, then we do not have to scoop them or get close to them or touch them. But then we put them in large can or bottle of soapy water where they drown. No stink, no mess, and then we toss them out in the closed bottles. Or sometimes My husband will flush them but be sure to flush them with some either some bleach or be sure they are dead first before flushing. But we find tossing them into soapy water when we find them inside works as they will not live for sure.

ScareDkat
24 Jan 2012, 22:08

Why is it these critters are coming out at the end of January? My husband and I have nabbed about 5 or 6 in the past couple of days. We also had a small problem with them at the end of summer. Do they just hide out in the walls for a couple of months? What do they survive on indoors? I'm from Ontario Canada, so I'm not sure this Talstar product is available here. We live in an urban neighborhood, and we've never had this problem in the almost 7 years we've lived here. Why???????

Ask the Exterminator
26 Jan 2012, 10:54

The stink bugs are already in your attic. They are moving towards the heat coming from below, which is your living space. You can use Nuvan ProStrips to kill off some of the insects hiding in the attic. Here's a link to the product: http://shop.asktheexterminator.com/nuvan-prostrips.html.

Dawnthe SBKiller
26 Jan 2012, 20:52

Now they're in Canada??? Wow...SB's are really on the move...I love the winter, haven't seen any stink bugs for months...my heart goes out for those who are still seeing them...if you can get Talstar (from this site of course!!!) do so..it really works wonders.

ScareDkat
27 Jan 2012, 14:14

We don't have access to the "crawl space" or Attic, is there somewhere we can put those strips where they might be entering? Are the strips harmful for children? We were dealing with the bugs in our bedrooms. Yuck. Luckily they haven't appeared in the past couple of days. Would a drastic change in climate make them move in , like rain or warmer temperatures? Thanks for answering my questions before!

kevin
29 Jan 2012, 07:31

Sbs are in my fireplace. I bought talstar. Is it flamable? Can I spray it in the fireplace and light a fire? I was thinking about spraying it and lighting a fire and burning the rest of those pain in the but SBs.

Bridgette
29 Jan 2012, 08:31

They are all over my attic, just realized it when I was moving stuff around up there. Is there anything I can do that will kill them all? If an Exterminator comes, can they spray something to kill them all then i can hang the strips???

Ask the Exterminator
29 Jan 2012, 10:21

Kevin: Read the label!!!!

Ask the Exterminator
29 Jan 2012, 10:22

Bridgette: Why do both? Do one or the other.

Ask the Exterminator
29 Jan 2012, 10:24

ScareDkat: I will not have a running conversation in this comment section. Follow the instuctions in "red", please.

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How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs

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