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Stink Bug Control

Summary: Will there ever be a product developed for stink bug control? Eventually, but the development process will focus on crop protection long before you ever find a can of stink bug spray on retail shelves.

Everyone asks “Is someone developing a cure for keeping stink bugs out of my home?” and the answer is and always will be “No! No chemical manufacturer is developing a product for the urban pest control market.” However, do not despair! You need to better understand how new chemicals are developed and how this system of development will provide relief somewhere down the road.

When NASA sends our astronauts into space with the latest and greatest technology, how many times have we, the general public, benefited from these technological advances? Too many to count is the correct answer. The space program has introduced ideas and finished products that populate our everyday world such as technology for computers, cell phones, medicine, air pollution, water purification systems, scratch-resistant lens, trash compactors, flat panel televisions, smoke detectors, the Dustbuster, solar energy, fire resistant materials, noise abatement products, breast cancer detection, programmable pacemakers, air tanks for firemen, self-righting life rafts, improved aircraft engines and the list goes on and on.

It is doubtful that only a few of the aforementioned products would have come to pass had it not been for our space program. Individually, no manufacturing company could undertake the enormous costs involved in the development of most of these products. What entrepreneur would risk a fortune to try to develop a self-righting life raft? Even if the idea was in place the end market would be so limited that sales would never cover the costs of development and manufacturing. But, NASA needed this raft for returning spacecraft that landed in oceans. We needed to protect our astronauts at any cost, so the government funded the research and development and the final ideas were given or sold to manufacturers. With research and development costs paid for by our taxes, manufacturers were willing to step forward to bring this product to market.

This same principle holds true for the development of a product or method to fight stink bugs. Regardless of how many people are suffering from stink bug invasions, it does not present a large enough market for chemical manufacturers to make the huge investment required to develop a product and go through the environmental registration process. It takes tens of millions of dollars to bring a new pesticide to market and even if every man, woman and child suffering from stink bugs bought a case of the product it still would not come close to being profitable for the manufacturers.

Crop research

It is interesting to note that there is only one, single pest control product that has ever been specifically developed solely for the pest control industry. Sentricon, a product for termite control, was the only pesticide product ever developed and brought to market just for the urban pest control industry. All other pesticides have been developed for agricultural crop protection and were re-labeled sometime after they were introduced, for use in our homes and businesses.

So, where is the light at the end of the tunnel? Actually, several universities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are hard at work trying to discover the various weaknesses of the stink bug. Scientists are investigating the attractant pheromones of these bugs in the hopes of developing stink bug traps. Stink bugs are being screened for genes and proteins that can be engineered into crops that will suppress stink bugs, thus reducing the population explosion. There are some natural parasitic insects reachers are discovering that eat the eggs of the stink bug found in various field crops. The stink bugs are migrating from farm fields, so destroying the eggs at the source would help everyone.

All of this research will take time, but ultimately help will arrive and this plague, too, will pass.

Comments

Anne McCarthy
01 Mar 2010, 15:11

They're back. I'm in Potomac, MD and fall 2009 was the worst. I thought I would go mad. Hundreds and hundreds of them. And now it's started again. I don't know if I can take it. I realize they are now trying to leave the house but it doesn't help my psyche. I sprayed the entire house a few times last fall but may have begun too late. This year I plan to douse and douse starting in August. From what I read there's really no way to keep them at bay completely but if I have to relive the numbers this year I will go mad. I don't think moving is the answer since they seem to be invading all areas at a fast pace.

joe
02 Mar 2010, 18:57

they came over from the asia countries, we did nothing to stop them some years ago, now, the pest control company are having a field day with us,$$$ there is not much we can do just check for outside cranks along the foundation, window seal, attic. Just seal around the foundation, and windows and hope for the best! lol joe

Jake
03 Mar 2010, 00:21

I recently moved back home, and I am finding two or three stink bugs a day. The smell is awful, and it drives my mother crazy as well, but my dad doesn't notice (although it's possible this is just another method of his for making light of the problem). I keep a roll of toilet paper in my room and I just grab a few sheets, squish 'em and flush 'em. I'm relieved to learn that they can't breed indoors, but I would love a way to spray for them.

marg
04 Mar 2010, 00:18

Finally, I found somebody who is going through what I'm just now experiencing. My first episode was this morning. Sitting on my pillow was one of those creeping looking things. I squased it. Now I have it in a tissue and was going to take it to work to see if anybody knew what it was. Take a look at that armor it has. Geez! Please don't tell me that I'm now going to have a problem. How am I going to get some sleep?

Frank
04 Mar 2010, 22:22

Hi from western Loudoun County, VA. Fall 2008 was the first year they appeared. I though the numbers then were tremendous, but this past Fall we were so overwhelmed by these pests. They appear daily as soon as the afternoon sun hits our house. Our window screens literally get covered. They're everywhere searching for crevices on our house, shed, cars, RV. Outside I use a shop vac (dedicated to this task) to capture as many as I could reach. Inside, we capture them with tissues and flush them. We did our best to seal up, but I believe they still made it in, becuase they are increasingly appearing in our house. I thing they found entry through our attic. They have truly affect the quality of life we enjoyed here. I fear this season will be worse. Not enough is being done to stop these pests and it looks like they're here to stay. I've tested some pestisides, and the best I've found is ACE Indoor Fogger, whose active ingredient is Cypermethrin. This worked fairly well in my shed, garage, and RV... and I plan to use it in my attic, although I am not that keen on using such chemicals in my house. We need help.

Suzie
06 Mar 2010, 14:35

So glad I read this. These things are making me crazy. I live south of Pittsburgh. First started seeing them in the fall. I go a few day and don't see any and then they are back. Need to find a solution soon.

Kathi
07 Mar 2010, 11:03

I'm in Frederick County, MD, near Harper's Ferry/Loudoun County. I flushed 10 down the toilet last night from my bedroom. Last fall, they coated my screen door. How does one adjust to unwanted pets?

Marg
07 Mar 2010, 18:02

I live in Somerset, NJ. So far, I only saw one. My husband is taking the squashed bug to an exterminator. He's from Virginia and said that were there years ago.

Susanne
09 Mar 2010, 20:38

They are here in Southern New Jersey too. We find several each day, usually near windows or doors. Tonight we found 2 crawling on our living room floor. I am not usually creeped out by bugs, but these guys make me shutter. The noise they make when they buzz by your head is enough to make me scream, especially at night when I am in bed. Nothing has worked to get rid of them. We are totally creeped out by them and don't know what to do.....

Amaelia
11 Mar 2010, 04:27

let's be clear on one issue; the population of pennsylvania alone is pushing 13 million, and being that these little beasties seem to be popping up everywhere - and increasingly so - it would be a fallacy to state that even if every man, woman, and child (even just of pennsylvania) were to buy a can (not even a case!) of stinkbugicide, it would not cover the tens of millions of dollars it would cost to develop such a product. this is especially true considering stink bugs seem to be invading much of the eastern seaboard - and rapidly spreading elsewhere. in my opinion, manufacturers would be (*gasp!*) making an intelligent move by implementing such a product for commercial and/or residential use. as the stinkbug is (thus the name) stinky and likewise has no natural predators in these parts, it is highly, HIGHLY unlikely that this infestation will simply "pass." i first noticed them three years ago, and at this point in time (remember, it isn't even officially spring yet!) i can't even get out of bed, make a cup of coffee, or take a shower without encountering a stink bug.

Stinky Hater
17 Mar 2010, 22:52

The best way i have to deal with them is similar to a post above. I have HUNDREDS of these things in my house/room in the suburbs of Philadelphia. The best i can do is "damage control" i keep a beer bottle that is 1/3 full of 90% rubbing alcohol. when i see a stink bug on the wall i place the bottle just under the bug. 90% of the time they let go of the wall and fall right in. do not know if it is the alcohol fumes, or defense measure to drop from the wall when it senses something close. either way, they fall into the alcohol, i replace the screw off lid, and no smell, no fuse. well except for the fact that i can not find a more permanent solution. I think our problem is even worse due to the house being covered in ivy!

Susan
24 Mar 2010, 10:58

My friend developed a neat stink bug catcher - a broom handle with double-sided tape wrapped around one end. Just tap them with it - they stick to it and can't get off-then just set it outside until you need it again. They don't stink - it's beautiful, and so satisfying-we've gotten to the point where we make fun of them as we pass by! Just haven't figured out how to remove the tape ball full of stink bugs.

Julie
28 Mar 2010, 12:49

I live in the suburbs of Philadelphia also, and am having a huge problem. I thought they wouldn't have been a huge problem over the winter, but I was wrong. I have also heard they come from Asia, and I've read their only predator is the killer bee? To be honest, I'd take stink bugs over killer bees, but they are very annoying. I just flush them down the toilet when I see them. I also have a floor lamp with an upside down shade, and right now there are about 50 dead ones in there. I do keep that on a lot to lure them to the light, and it seems once they fall into the dome, the light bulb is too hot for them to get out. It's almost amusing to watch them try and climb out, and fall back in.

Co-jack
01 Apr 2010, 06:26

The best way to remove them is WD40 with a zippo taped to it... trust me. Wings don't like fire.

Kim
05 Apr 2010, 13:08

Another stink bug hater here from Loudoun County, Virginia. I have lived in northern VA my whole life and had never seen these awful pests until this past fall when they invaded our area like the plague. From July to October, the entire front of our house was covered in stink bugs. They were crawling and flying all over the siding, the screens, the doors, the garage. It was so bad that we could not even sit on our front porch and enjoy the beautiful weather or our gorgeous view. I looked like a mad woman running around with a broom trying to beat them off the house and beat them to death. It didn't work. They just came back. As careful as we were to keep doors and windows closed, they somehow got into the house. We would occasionally find a few of those devils during the winter near windows or the AC/heating vents. But in the last month, they have literally come out of the woodwork inside the house. I can't take it. I think they might just drive me officially bonkers. They are so gross and ugly. They look like something leftover from prehistoric times with their hard bodies. The way they fly around in their random dive bombing patterns is frightening. Someone, please help me. This war with the stink bugs has compromised my quality of life.

Pauline
05 Apr 2010, 18:48

Pauline: These are the comments I was referring to. Just like I said, if you look at these things closely, they look like they have armor on, like warriors. They are creepy looking things. I sure hope somebody does something, because I'm afraid, really afraid that there is going to be a real problem with these things.

Jennifer
05 Apr 2010, 21:00

I live in Tuscaroa right near Leesburg Va. and stink bugs invaded our home last year and stayed all winter. I kill upwards of 20 per day and find them in bed with me. It has ruined my life so much that there is no relaxing. Desparately need a break.

elizabeth
05 Apr 2010, 22:37

I also live in Loudoun County, Virginia and we are over-run with stink bugs on our farm. We kill at least dozens of them every day in the house. I've gotten to the point where I just catch them in my hand, throw them in the toilet and, when there are several in it, I flush them. Sometimes they stink, but not always. I read somewhere on the web that they leave their 'scent' on the outside of your house when they crawl on it and the scent attracts more of them to your home. Supposedly they can live for 2-3 years. They move outside in the summer but come back to your nice warm home when the weather starts to cool in the fall. I also read that there is something you can spray on the outside of your home to get rid of the scent. We stored our hammock on our screened porch over the winter and went to hang it up yesterday. When we unrolled it, there were hundreds of the beasts in it, a few dead but most still alive. We swept them into a dustpan and dumped them into the septic tank. God, I HATE them!

Pauline
06 Apr 2010, 10:38

I live in Plainfield, New Jersey and
I hate them too. I put one in a air-tight baggie, and that sucker is
still alive. I am going crazy behind these bugs and thought I was the
only one who had them until reading these comments. None of my neighbors
have mentioned anything about them - so I wonder if my house is the only
house that has them in our neighborhood in Plainfield. I'm sickened by
them.

Terrell
06 Apr 2010, 13:38

We live in Clarke County, VA--not too far from Loudoun where many of the previous posters are from. The stink bugs have been increasing in our house for a while now. I used to "relocate" them by catching them in something and releasing them outside. But after my experience last night, I am showing no mercy. I served myself a piece of ice cream pie, set it down on the coffee table for a moment, then came back and took my first bite. As you've probably guessed, it was my great misfortune to find that the peculiar texture in my mouth was stink bug! I spit it out, then proceeded to gargle and brush my teeth furiously. Still had the awful taste in my mouth. So I swirled a few shots of whiskey around. Then ate anything with lots of flavor--sour cream & onion chips, chocolate--and still could taste it. I am no longer treating these pests with any goodwill. They are the enemy--though it doesn't sound like we've developed good weapons to fight them. I guess the vaccuum is still the best defense, as long as we can put up with the odor. Ugh!

Nancy
06 Apr 2010, 15:30

I'm from Pittstown NJ & i kill at least 150 to 200 a DAY. I can't live like this anymore!!!!

shelly
07 Apr 2010, 09:58

I thought we were the only ones with it bad! We live in Arlington, VA - in a VERY URBAN area. We noticed these about a year ago, not sure of the season. I hate these things! We don't kill anywhere near the 150 - 200 a day - maybe 10 an evening. The clicking they make when they hit up against anything makes me jump and wakes me when sleeping. I received one of those pest control devices that is plugged into the wall, it seemed to work for about 2 or 3 days - I did not hear one stinkbug. Of course they have adapted - why wouldn't they? The only thing I have found that works is an antique iron - I just flatten them with it. I just clean it up and wait for the next one to land. I am either used to the odor or they don't have a chance to emit much of it. We do use a lot of scented candles. I notice them mainly at night when the lights or tv go on. I too feel like I am going crazy and feel very paranoid - just waiting for the next one to come fly by. Why can't they fly right? Also, my husband didn't notice them when I am away. Once I am back he notices them in our room again. I am breastfeeding my infant - does anyone think that I am emitting an "odor" that attacts them?

Stinks in South Jersey
07 Apr 2010, 15:23

Dude. Windows and attic vents arent the only place where they come from.. Have an air conditioner in your wall. thats where all of mine are coming from. Gotta get a new one soon or else im going to flip out and move.

Laura
07 Apr 2010, 16:21

I live in bedford, Va and I'm glad I found this website. At least I won't be the only one locked up in the looney bin for stink bug "madness". I collect them in old medicine bottles and dump in toilet. I'll have to try the alcohol spray. never encountered any in Pensacola, Fl. Might have to move back there.

Christina
07 Apr 2010, 17:24

I live in Bear, DE and we have them like CRAZY here! I noticed them about 2 years ago, but they are getting worse and worse each year. Where did they come from?? and why are they getting so bad? I don't remember having to deal with these things years ago, so why are they here now? My husband said whoever comes up with a way to get rid of these disgusting things is going to be rich! I had terminex treating my house on a regular basis b/c I can't stand any creepy crawly things and that's when I first started noticing them. The Terminex guy said there's nothing they can do about them. Because we live in a wooded area we're basically SOL! He just put himself out of a job. I cancelled my treatments after that news.

Sharon
07 Apr 2010, 17:37

I live in Hunterdon county and I can't stand these stink bugs anymore. It seems this year were getting more than last year. Me and my husbands bedroom we get more than any other room in our home. We are getting new thermal windows in all our rooms and maybe that will help. We haven't been able to sleep in our bed for the past couple of nights. Thank god we have another bedroom. I hope someone comes up with a solution soon. I'm going crazy with bugs. One got in my hair yesterday. ugh!

Gary
07 Apr 2010, 21:37

I'm in Columbia, MD and have been killing on average about one per day in my townhouse for a few weeks. Tonight I've killed 6... this is a disturbing trend. Odd that my next door neighbors are not having any trouble. Then again, they have cats so maybe the cats are eating the bugs. Anybody know if that's a solution?

Ginger
07 Apr 2010, 23:36

I'm going to the looney bin as well. There is no sense in this. Scientist have invented so many pesticides, medicines, etc, etc. But they can't figure out a way to kill a stink bug. Give me a break. At this rate they will outnumber us soon, if they don't already. I can just see these thing driving around and ruling the world soon. Maybe if you move to one of the colder states up north they won't bother you. But I live in Central Virginia and these things are out of control. I do believe they like white houses, my house is white and they are all over it. My papa's house is brick and tey do not bother it. Makes no sense. But I swear if I find one more of the thing crawling on me i will go ballistic.

David
08 Apr 2010, 00:45

i cant stand this. im a 15 year old living with my family outside of philidelphia. it seems like these things only go to my room. whether i hear them smacking into my walls, or feel one crawling on me at night, it is the scariest, and most disgusting thing i have going for me right now. i flush atleast 20 a day and i dont have any friends over anymore cause im embarrased. someone please help me!

jeremy and anlicia
08 Apr 2010, 01:23

me and my gf live in reading pa and we live in an apartment on the 3rd floor. there is also another floor in the apartment which is our bedroon is in the attic. i guess they hide in the winter inside our walls and celling.today it was 90 degrees out and i think they are trying to leave but the only way out is thru our home. today i broke the record i killed 22 stink bugs and flushed all them down the toillet. this is annoying and also tiring. everytime we go to another room theres a stink bug... some help us plz....

RArnold
08 Apr 2010, 08:23

What is needed is for a collection of information as to what attracts them so a lure a favorite item can be placed to capture the stinkers. With all the observations out there what lures them to an item? We have the mass of a team, all we need to do is organize it.

Help - What attracts them?

Monique
08 Apr 2010, 13:48

I have put both of my cats to work. They are on stink bug patrol all day but of course they get tired and take long siestas in the afternoon. Cats can help but not all the time. I am still looking for the solution.

Tired of El Stinko
09 Apr 2010, 06:42

Every day I am killing stink bugs. My husband flushed one the other day and the thing crawled back out, does their outside armor act as a scuba suit also???. The family cat will not even get near them. I am going to try the alcohol thing if this doesn't work guess I'll get myself some alcohol.

Gary
09 Apr 2010, 08:18

Tired said: "I am going to try the alcohol thing if this doesn't work guess I'll get myself some alcohol."

"Alcohol...now there's a temporary solution." - Homer Simpson.

:-)

Kelly
10 Apr 2010, 22:53

I live in Central NJ and have an investation of them. We have an annual contract with Pest Control and they come out and spray but it seems to bring more of them. We just keep flushing them down the toilet like they told us too. It is gross when you are trying to relax and watch tv and they are dive bombing you and landing on your face! No one seems to know what to do about these bugs. Our pest guy came out again today and said they DEP is working on something. What and for how long before we get it. I can not believe that they can not figure out how to kill this particular bug. I call them the dinosaur bug because of their hard armour shell and they have survived through everything.

Jennifer
10 Apr 2010, 23:16

Cold front came thru and for whatever reason a one day reprive. No stinks for 36 hours. where did they go and more importantly when will they return. I can't wait. I almost miss them. STINK BUGS RULE!

Jeff
12 Apr 2010, 06:28

Dawn dish soap and water mix works well for me, I have wiped the walls down, and keep a bottle to grab up the ones inside on the walls. They seem to die instantly upon hitting the water in the bottle, unlike flushing....

Miriam
12 Apr 2010, 09:57

OK. SO apparently we all have a similar issue but myself, like a poster above, have never noticed a smell of any kind. BUt, I sleep in the attic and that is where they seem to be found most of the time. I hear them flying around as I sit in bed reading. I let one out last night and immediately there was another smack against the attic walls. I get them in my kitchen too but mostly they are in the attic.
At this point I think they LIVE in my house. I have had so many this year I don't think they are coming from the outside. BUt, from what I have read sealing all the cracks I can find to prevent their re-entry come fall is what I should focus on. Vents, I can't do a thing with vents.
I am also hesitant to use soapy water. I have tried that approach on other invaders in the past with no luck at all.

linda
12 Apr 2010, 17:32

what a pain these things are. i live in south jersey and they're in every room of my house.
they sleep with us every nite. when i put my head down on the pillow i can smell them thru the pillow. then the hunt begins, cause i have lots of pillows on my bed. they dive bomb me in my bed, sounds like a tiny jet plane.
my grand son has 14 hess trucks around the window area, on shelves in his room, they love to live inside them. when i clean his room i bang the trucks on the dresser and they fall out, 5 or 6 per truck.
will nothing stop the infestation of these creeps? i grab them with a heavy paper towel, crush them and trash them. if the towel isn't heavy enough then my hands stink for hours no matter how well i wash them. eeeewww!! i hate these things.
i'm glad i read these notes tho cause now i know not to waste my money on an exterminator for these pests cause it dosn't work.

Gina
14 Apr 2010, 12:58

So glad I found this page !!! We live in
Sharpsburg, Maryland, in a wooded area. EEVERYONE we know here has them, including US !!! I HATE THEM !!! They appeared about 3 years ago. Every time I open a drawer, move a curtain, open a cupboard or closet, there they are ! We vaccuum them with a long wand attachment daily, usually dozens per day ! It is DISGUSTING !!!! It is enough to make a sane person go MAD !!!

Josephine
15 Apr 2010, 12:41

I'm from Central N.J. and I just found 7 alone in my living room (alive and dead). Also to those who squash them -- I heard this is not a good idea as the stink attracts their buddies so you'll have even more. Rutgers University is doing research on these stinkers and asks for specimens if anyone is interested (hopefully they'll find a solution).

J B
19 Apr 2010, 23:39

I'm from central MD and I just had my first one dive-bomb by my head. It freaked me out! Now I'm nervous to even sleep in my own room, which appears to be the only one where these disgusting things are in the house. Do they bite or just stink? Duct taping around my windows is looking really tempting right about now...

Joseph G. Hollman
20 Apr 2010, 22:05

What can I use to kill/terminate these stink bugs.

fefe
21 Apr 2010, 21:10

We're here in Woodbridge, and the suckers we come across don't make any smell when we sqoosh them. When I first saw my first few, I thought I'd followed the teachings of Buddha. I took them out and set 'em free. But years and almost hundreds found indoors, I am now the Ayatollah of stinkbugs.

Mysteriously, they continue to show up only in one bedroom. All the other adjacent bedrooms are free of it.

It's cold comfort to hear people who are normally not bothered by bugs creeped out by stinkbugs. I tried to analyze why this is so. I think it's their 1) silent presence 2) difficulty to kill 3) large armored, tank-like shell. Forgetting to turn off the light one night, I drifted off to sleep. I woke up in the middle of the night to see four of them hanging out like dudes at a bar staring at me. I almost broke my nose running and screaming straight into a closed door.

I like the double sided tape on a broomstick solution. Ultimately, the best defense is to be prepared to see them. Everytime I enter the room, my frame of mind is "here we go again." There's no way to live and I understand it degrades the quality to life.

A friend who is a bug lover, once brought them out of my house by hand. This year, even he is waxing philosophical with a brisk "KILL THEM ALL!"

Jen in Hamilton, NJ
24 Apr 2010, 21:56

You just can not make this stuff up. I spent the day away from my house for 3 hours so the exterminator could set off a fogger. 1 hour upon my return one stink bug flew into my hair. Another one was on the sink and then another in the hall. I paid $133 ($125 plus tax). The exterminator assured me that this would fix it. What a joke!! I am seriously considering selling my home. I cannot handle this at all and would be willing to pay a lot of money for a fix. Someone must help us!!

Jill
26 Apr 2010, 22:10

I am in Charlottesville VA. We are definitely infested. My observations are as follows. They are attracted to warm sunny spots. I find them in my laundry room where I store sheets and towels, hibernating in-between them. And in the bedroom that has a pull down attic door to the attic. This room is also a warm sunny room. It is getting to the point that it is hard to be in the room because there are so many of them, and they keep on coming. I think they are in the attic. I too am relieved to hear they do not breed in the house. I hope this is true.

Drew
27 Apr 2010, 15:02

I've found that flypaper works, if you don't mind having flypaper hanging from your ceiling with a bunch of these miserable bugs stuck to it.

Scot
01 May 2010, 22:38

Yep, we have the same problem in Germantown, MD. Killing 10-20 per day and could kill more.

Fly paper is creepy but it sounds like it works. The main point everyone is making is that the stink bugs are attracted to a scent. Sounds very similar to the June Bug. We need some Stink Bug scent - whatever that is - and a simple trap they can get stuck in. So, scientists, lets get to making some stink bug scent. We need help and it looks like there is a market.

Let me try June Bug scent....just on the off chance....

Rockmelon
01 May 2010, 23:30

I almost cried as I was reading your comments! I thought I was over reacting because they are literally ruining my life. I constantly feel like I have them crawling on me. Last night, in my bedroom I picked 35 of them off the walls and curtains. They also leave like a cigarette stain on the sheers. I can smell them all over the house and I'm afraid that maybe I have picked up this smell on my clothes. Or possibly the stink lives in my nostrils.

My husband said that there are thousands of them in our attic behind the insulation. Then he left town for a month and I have to deal with them.

I've been watching my vents to see if this is where they are entering my bedroom but haven't yet caught them. They just seem to 'appear'! I hear them hitting the screens and I'm praying that they are outside trying to get in.....

I don't think moving is a solution because they are all over Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, D.C. and Virginia and will eventually appear in every state of the union.

It's just like the movie, The Birds.

Laurie
02 May 2010, 10:33

I live in Loudoun County too and we've had stink bugs for several years now. Mostly ours come down the chimney! We have a double sided fireplace so last winter we actually had to tape it up completely! There were hundreds of them on the inside of the glass! (At the time the gas logs weren't working but we've since had that fixed). Now that it's warm they are still coming in that way, so I've been putting the fireplace on daily for a little while. Hate to do it when it's 90 degrees out! Watch your car door jams too! They love that little hiding place!

fgg
02 May 2010, 10:48

I live in Howard County MD and have had these nasty things in my condo since last fall. I've tried sealing cracks around windows and doors with no luck. I'm going to try that new Raid Bug Barrier spray around the outside of my place to see what it does. I absolutely REFUSE to get an exterminator ~ that means a day boarding my cat and me out of the house..I REFUSE TO LET THESE NASTY THINGS WIN!!!

Ask the Exterminator
02 May 2010, 12:09

Revisit your "sealing" work. I like using a new product called Xcluder. It's easy to use and inexpensive. Look it up on the web.

Diane
02 May 2010, 22:11

Use a Bugzooka to get them. Search it on line. It is a suction device that works great-even makes it fun. We bought a 2nd for our upstairs. They are driving me crazy too. I started seeing them over 15 years ago, maybe 1 or 2 during the winter. Now we catch 20-30 per day. Bombing our attic sort of helped, but we were bombing it every 2-3 weeks. Sincd we've stopped, they are going crazy again.

Bert
03 May 2010, 08:02

I too have never been bothered by bugs, except maybe cicada killers a few years ago. These little pests are freaky though.

Ronni
04 May 2010, 10:57

I've searched for Xcluder, but only come up with products for machines. I tried adding sealing product to it, but still no luck. Is this sold in Home Depot or Lowes?

Joyce
04 May 2010, 15:51

I live outside of Winston-Salem NC and they are awful. Had them last year, and now they are back with a vengance. I keep a spray bottle of dish det and water on hand at all time. This seems to penetrate their armor or something and they die. Then you have to sweep up the bodies, yuck!

David
06 May 2010, 11:35

I live in Rockville md and we are experiencing an epic infestation. This problem has been building for a few years at our house. This seems to be there "breakout" year. We vacuum approximately 50/day. We purchased bug lights to hang in the house, attic, and garage. We replaced the black light type bulb with a brighter standard flouresent bulb (they are attracted to light). We then removed 95% of the safety protective plastic grid (not safe if you have children) so the clumsily flying stinkers can have a direct flight path to the electric shock wire ( I call it the promise land). This kills them by the hundreds. It is too early to tell if we are making any headway. We won't know for probably a couple of years. Good-luck.

Jane
20 May 2010, 14:50

I will share with you what we have done to practically elimate them from our home. It takes some doing but there is no way around it. First, you MUST screen every possible point of entry inside the home (vents, fixtures, etc). Bathroom vents are a MUST - make sure that every hole on the sides of the vents (when the fixture is removed) in the bathroom are taped. These suckers are in your attic and inside your walls. They come in from the basement so make sure all of your floor vents are screened. We went from seeing several inside a day to almost ZERO - maybe one every couple of weeks. Also, if there is space between your screens and the and sides of the screen casing, that space must be taped with some sort of weatherproof tape. I also caulked the spaces in between my porch ceiling slats. If you have a porch attached to your home you have to figure out how they can get in there aside from the door and caulk caulk caulk. My husband told me I was nuts making him screen everything but he sure is happy now. Also, Home Depot sells a Hot Shot Product in little blue vials which contains "Cymethprene" - this stuff kills them. Be aware that they breathe through their belly so spraying them on their back is not as effective as spraying on their belly. I have used Dawn which will kill ME less quickly than the Hot Shot - but it kills them less quickly also - Hot Shot works better. There is also a substance that make the Hot Shot more sticky to surfaces so ask the folks at Home Depot for some of that as well and add it to the mixture. The vials are concentrated so you mix it with water. Second, these things come back to any place where the bugs have left a scent so DONT SQUASH THEM EVER - even vacumming is no good. I was flushing them but what a waste of water. Now I take them in a tissue and make sure they can't escape and light them and throw them in fireplace.
I will spray the outside of my house with Cymetheprene if they start showing up in droves. They will just go elsewhere... Hope this is helpful.

tracey
05 Jun 2010, 17:57

hot shot works wonderful home depot has it. You hang it up like an airfreshner
went from 10 or more a day to one maybe once a month it cost about 7 dollars I have them on each floor and garage too..

Jeff Monroe
27 Jun 2010, 13:12

I live in Westfield NY an I got them in my garden last year and they killed almost everything. I just noticed them this year also already. how do I get rid of them?

Ask the Exterminator
28 Jun 2010, 10:51

You need to be careful about stuff you spray on a garden. You can try a soap and water spray or you can try a product called Eco Exempt IC-2 sold at http://shop.asktheexterminator.com.

Thomas Luedeke
12 Aug 2010, 18:15

I live in Amherst County, VA. The stink bugs were unbelievable last year. At the end of September, there were hundred if not thousands on the side of my house. I killed probably no less than 20 per day inside from October through May (and maybe even June).

This year will be worse - everywhere I look there are young stinkbugs. I have two rhododendrons that have thousands on the plant - there are leaves with 5-6 per leaf.

God, what a nightmare.

Melanie
23 Aug 2010, 11:28

I, too, live in Western Loudoun Cty, VA. In a stone house, so the bugs can get in around the stones...it's impossible to completely seal. We get literally thousands of them on the outside of the house in Sept/Oct. Then we clean up hundreds inside the house almost every day all winter until April. It's just awful...I hate it. We do also manage to KILL thousands of them. We spray Cypermethrin (buy the concentrate online) on the exterior, around windows, porch, everywhere. Then we dust the attic spaces with Deltamethrin dust. It does kill alot of them, but there are so many that many survive. I've found that Adams Flea and Tick mist (blue bottle at the pet store) is good as a quick knock-down spray, but it's not good for large numbers.
MISERY LOVES COMPANY...glad we aren't the only ones suffering. argh

Laurie
23 Aug 2010, 11:30

They're baaaaaack!!!!

Ask the Exterminator
23 Aug 2010, 11:31

Please buy your stink bug products from my website at http://shop.asktheexterminator.com. I would appreciate your business.

Kara
26 Aug 2010, 00:28

We're in Jefferson Co., WV, and they are back with a vengeance. Having read some of these posts, I'm terrified of the coming fall when they try to get inside. We haven't found that many in the house this year, but I'm seeing more and more congregating on the outside of the house and windows, and they're all over the plants and trees. There seem to be a lot more of them this summer; does this mean there will be even more next year? They are ruining the quality of life in this area - someone help us!

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