Stink Bug Control: How To Get Rid of Stink Bugs
Stinkbugs are an invasive pest that show up unannounced this time of year. Learn what to do about these creepy bugs invading your home or garden!
Quick Reference: How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs
- What it is: the brown marmorated stink bug, a shield-shaped invasive pest first found in Pennsylvania in the late 1990s, now in 40 states.
- In the house: vacuum them up with a shop vac, do not crush them, and seal cracks with silicone caulk.
- In the garden: traps, food-grade diatomaceous earth, mint, garlic, and a mild soapy-water spray to kill them.
- Worst months: late July and August for plant damage, then fall when they move indoors for winter.
- Good news: they are harmless to people, pets, fabrics, and your house. They do not bite and do not nest in colonies.
You are gazing out the window when you spot a creepy brown bug that looks like something out of a sci-fi thriller clinging to your screen. If the critter has a broad, shield-shaped body with stripes around the edges and on the antennae, long legs, and a comparatively tiny head, you very likely have a stink bug on your hands. The good news this 2026 season is that they are mostly a nuisance, not a danger, and a few plain steps will move them back outside where they belong. Here is how to get rid of stink bugs in the house and the garden, and how to tell a true stink bug from its lookalikes.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
The brown marmorated stink bug (Eocanthecona furcellata), or simply “stink bug” for short, is an invasive pest that is native to China. It was first discovered in the United States in the late 1990s, in the state of Pennsylvania. These critters have since spread to 40 states, as well as parts of Canada, though they are still most plentiful in the Mid-Atlantic region, including Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware.
Stink bugs range in size from half an inch to an inch, but their most notable trait is the one that gives them their name. When they are frightened, disturbed, or killed by crushing, they emit a pungent odor that some describe as skunk-like. Others say it smells like the foliage of tomato plants. Either way, it is a smell you do not want spreading through the house.
These bugs are becoming an increasingly troublesome agricultural pest. They inject their sharp, pointy mouths into fruit and other crops, leaving behind rotted areas that make the produce unviable for sale as fresh fruit and vegetables.
To the average homeowner, though, these bugs are mostly harmless. They do not cause structural or other damage, and unlike roaches, ants, and other common household pests, stink bugs are solitary creatures that do not travel in colonies. You may find a group of stink bugs together in a garden, but those are simply individuals drawn to the same food source, not a nest.
Spring and Fall Pests
Stink bugs emerge in the spring to feed and reproduce, but they have been seen at all times of year, in nearly all regions of the United States. Late July and August are the most common times to see damage to plants. Then in the fall, as the weather turns colder, the bugs start invading homes in search of a warm place to spend the winter. They typically gather on warm, west-facing walls and slip inside through cracks and crevices.
Knowing the calendar helps you stay ahead of them. Seal the house in late summer before the fall push begins, and keep an eye on the garden through the hottest weeks of the year, when the feeding damage shows up. Our Best Days guide can help you pick the right days to tend the garden and tackle pest control.
| Season | What Stink Bugs Are Doing | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Emerging to feed and reproduce after winter | Watch young plants, set out traps early |
| Summer (late July to August) | Peak feeding, most plant and fruit damage | Treat the garden, use deterrents and soapy spray |
| Fall | Gathering on warm walls, moving indoors for winter | Seal cracks, repair screens, caulk gaps |
| Winter | Sheltering quietly inside walls and attics | Vacuum any that wander into living space |
How To Get Rid Of Stink Bugs In Your Home
If you find a stink bug, or a few, in your home, do not panic. They are harmless to humans, structures, and fabrics. Whatever you do, do not crush them. As the name suggests, a threatened or crushed stink bug will release that unpleasant, skunky odor.
The easiest way to get rid of stink bugs is to vacuum them up. If you have a shop vac or a little-used spare vacuum out in the garage, use that one to keep the smell from getting into the house. Be sure to replace the bag right away, or clean out a bagless model with vinegar.
Some people like to catch them and flush them down the toilet. While that works, it also wastes a lot of water if you do it too often. A jar of soapy water makes a tidier trap: knock the bug in and the soap finishes the job.
Keeping Stink Bugs Out
The best defense is keeping them from getting inside in the first place. Do this work in late summer, before the cold weather sends them looking for shelter.
- Make sure the house is sealed up well. Fill in cracks around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, chimneys, and underneath the fascia with good-quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk. Repair or replace damaged screens on doors and windows.
- Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth both inside and outside, targeting the spots where they may be getting in, such as windows and doorways. It acts as a natural, abrasive barrier to crawling insects and is harmless to humans and pets.
- Stink bugs are repelled by garlic. Crush a few cloves and set them in a dish on a windowsill and at entryways.
Getting Them Out Of Your Garden
While stink bugs pose no real threat to homeowners, they can be destructive pests for farmers and gardeners. They feed on a wide range of tree fruits and seed pods, as well as many vegetables including tomatoes, peppers, beans, and sweet corn. Here is how to protect your beds.
- To keep them from devouring your garden, you can buy commercial stink bug traps. Planting sunflowers and marigolds also helps, since they draw in beneficial insects that eat stink bug eggs and larvae. For more pairings that work in your beds, see our companion planting guide.
- Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth beneath growing watermelon, cantaloupe, squash, and all fruits and vegetables resting on the ground, as well as on plant leaves.
- Stink bugs also dislike the smell of mint. Consider planting it in your garden, or crushing a few leaves and scattering them around the base of other plants.
- The remedies above are deterrents, but you can also kill the bugs directly. Make a solution of mild soapy water with dish soap and spray it right on them.
Is It A Stink Bug? Meet The Lookalikes
Squash bugs and Western Conifer Seed Bugs are often confused with stink bugs. Here is how to tell them apart, via Michigan State University. The quickest tell is the body shape: a true stink bug is broad and shield-shaped, while the Western Conifer Seed Bug is long and narrow and tends to fly.
Many people also report getting “bit” by stink bugs, but that is highly unlikely. A true brown marmorated stink bug’s mouth is not built for biting. The only food source it is interested in is plant material, and nothing related to mammals. If something bit you, look to another culprit.
How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to get rid of a stink bug indoors?
Vacuum it up. A shop vac or a spare vacuum kept in the garage is the easiest tool, since it removes the bug without crushing it and releasing the odor. Replace the bag right away, or clean out a bagless model with vinegar. Do not squash a stink bug indoors.
Why do stink bugs smell so bad?
When a stink bug is frightened, disturbed, or crushed, it emits a pungent odor as a defense. Some people describe it as skunk-like, while others say it smells like the foliage of tomato plants. That smell is exactly why you should vacuum them up rather than crush them.
Do stink bugs bite people?
No. A true brown marmorated stink bug’s mouth is not designed for biting, and the only food source it is interested in is plant material, nothing related to mammals. People sometimes report a “bite,” but a stink bug is highly unlikely to be the cause.
When are stink bugs the biggest problem?
Late July and August are the most common times to see damage to plants. Then in the fall, as the weather cools, stink bugs invade homes looking for a warm place to overwinter, often gathering on warm, west-facing walls before slipping inside through cracks.
How do I keep stink bugs out of my house?
Seal the house before fall. Fill cracks around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, chimneys, and under the fascia with silicone or silicone-latex caulk, and repair damaged screens. Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth at entry points, and set crushed garlic in a dish on the windowsill, since stink bugs are repelled by it.
How do I tell a stink bug from a lookalike?
Squash bugs and Western Conifer Seed Bugs are the usual lookalikes. A true brown marmorated stink bug is broad and shield-shaped with stripes on the antennae and along the edges, while the Western Conifer Seed Bug is long, narrow, and tends to fly. Michigan State University has a side-by-side comparison if you want to be sure.
Are stink bugs harmful to my home or pets?
No. Stink bugs are harmless to people, pets, structures, and fabrics. They cause no structural damage and do not travel in colonies the way roaches or ants do. Indoors they are a nuisance, not a threat. The real damage they do is in the garden and on farm crops.
Jaime McLeod
Jaime McLeod is a longtime journalist who has written for a wide variety of newspapers, magazines, and websites, including MTV.com. She enjoys the outdoors, growing and eating organic food, and is interested in all aspects of natural wellness.
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- Jaime McLeod
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- Jaime McLeod
During stink bug season, I keep little stacks of paper towel squares (a full sheet cut in quarters). When I see a stink bug, I wet the paper towel piece under the faucet, and place it over the bug. That contains any stink if it emits it. Then it’s easy to pick up and put in the trash. No smell. If it crawls out in the trash, it should be happy to stay there with the “snacks”.
What about neem oil spray ? it works against them darned Japanese beetles !
Can we stop with the hippy dippy safe-and-sane Racheal Carson approved remedies, what do farmers actually use? You know something with a chemical name the plebeians can’t pronounce and irrationally fear. Something with a chemical name so large you need to abbreviate it, like DDT. Something with warning labels, not “deterrents” that are food safe. Something that you have to dilute while wearing gloves. Something that is banned in Commiefornia but I can buy online anyway. That’s the kinda anti-stink bug poison I’m looking for. I have a serious NEW invasion over 4 acres of profitable crops.
Mark I concur 👍 these bugs are out of control and no predators to eat them
The issue is they punch through the fruit surface and drink the fruit much like a mosquito does a person. So you can’t put down a poison it’d need to be the whole plant poisons them, which would make them inedible to us too. The bugs nomadic rather than seasonally migrating so you dont retain a population to remember to leave you alone.
Baitings really the answer, feed them to the fish after.
Once the soapy water is sprayed on the plant, is it necessary to rinse the plant off? And can I add diatomaceous earth to the mix?
Diatomaceous earth needs to be dry to work
So what commercial poisons kill them in the garden?
I have tried many things on these little buggers since they invaded our area 10 ish years ago. Not much has worked very well till last year I started spraying my yard with cedar spray for earwigs, fleas, ticks, misquotes. Well guess what I now see very few stink bugs, it use to be you could hardly open the door without one coming in.
Oh thanks for sharing Judy! We will give it a try!
What is cedar spray. How do I get it. I have an invasion of earwigs
They are a pain, in both garden and house. What we found works best inside is a 14 oz. veggie can, rinsed clean, then add about a full teaspoon of cheap dish soap, then about 1/2 can fuilled with water. I use a stiff, plastic-coated piece of junk mail to scoot them into the can. They died within 15-30 secs., without stinking. Also works well for the Ladybug invasions. They die 10 – 20 secs. When there’s a good bunch collected, flush away. Other thing helping around doorways is store-bought Lemon-grass spray. And there’s always chickens, but can’t get past the thought of eating eats made by stinkbug-eating chickens.
It’s bad luck to kill ladybugs.
I believe Ed is referring to the uglier invasive & annoying Asian Lady Beetles
those brown ones are just bad luck in themselves…nasty buggers. Don’t kill the true red lady bugs.
Oh my goodness??? n
I live in the Caribbean and stinky bugs are eating the leaves to my black sage trees. Recently I noticed them on my pigeon pea trees this year. I sprayed them with some homemade lemon rind water, but that did not help. I will try the garlic and salt water. Garlic does not grow very well in my neck of the woods, but I will scatter the garlic skins around the plant. So far they have not found my tomato plants. Hope they never do. I have tried catching them to place them in a soapy liquid, they always fly away.
Rice water in a sprayer will knock them down and goop them too much to fly and be plant safe if you dont get it all off. Then you can dump the bug in soap bucket.
I sure would love to know suggestions for getting rid of the new and disgusting Aedes mosquito from Asia. (I live in So CA.) It is literally eating us alive!
Mosquitos easier, ask a local nature authority which dragonflies are native to you and order some. The larvae grow up on pond surfaces like mosqutos do and the adults are insect hunters.
That or grab some fish to keep in the standing water, less effective cause it assumes you have direct access to all water bodies, and that all of them are deep enough to support.
We had stink bugs since I was a kid in the 60s. You mentioned them coming from China in the 90s. Is that a different type? They look very similar except ours were gray.