Brown Marmorated Stinkbug

Gradually, the winter season is coming to a close. The weather pattern is still unpredictable; cycles of warm and cold will taunt us for a while longer. The days have become longer, and the sun is stronger warming things in its path, even though it can still get quite chilly. One unforeseen consequence of this solar heating is it causes some insects to start coming out of hibernation, especially the brown marmorated stinkbug, or BMSB. You may have been alarmed by the site of this triangular-shield shaped bug crawling around your home.

Accidently introduced in the late 1990’s the BMSB is originally from Asia. It has become a nuisance pest because it has no natural enemies in the states, and it has a very wide variety of host plants on which it can live. A homeowner often can see large gatherings of them around the landscape, especially in the fall. More than likely then, they are looking for a place to hibernate. Stink bugs have the unique ability to give off a scent, alerting other BMSB’s that there is a suitable site for the winter. So, you will see large groups of them before the cold sets in. You may notice them on occasion in your home as their slumber is coming to an end. It is important to know, though, there is no cause for alarm, if you see them.

Unlike carpenter ants or termites, the BMSB, does not do any structural damage to the home. They do not sting or bite either. The only defense they have is their offensive odor. In addition,, the stink bug does not reproduce indoors, nor does it eat this time of year. Basically, your home is a rest stop for this pest. In the fall they often enter through holes in screens, exhaust fans, and especially window air conditioners. It is important to check those areas to prevent an infestation.

This time of year, controlling the BMSB is on the mind of anyone who has seen this pest in their home. The use of pesticides indoors is not effective in controlling stink bugs. The use of aerosol-type foggers, "bug bombs," or other insecticides may kill stink bugs but will not prevent more from entering a structure. These materials are also not labeled for this purpose and therefore not legally allowed. Their use may also create a hazard to people using the structure. Plus, leaving large numbers of dead BMSB’s  in hard to reach places like attics may attract other pests such as carpet beetles and mice. Manually ridding your home of these bugs is the best way to manage them. You can use a shop vac to gather them, but that may cause your vacuum to smell like the stink bug for a while.

Stink bugs are nothing more than a unwelcome guest in your home this time of year. Using more than manual control on them will do much more damage than good.  For more information on the BMSB, contact the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County at 570-963-6842 or email: LackawannaMG@psu.edu. We can send you a free publication on the stink bug.


Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State e Extension
   Lackawanna County