What's all the Stink about?

 

I caught this guy running across the desk in my office. Unfortunately in the past several years, the end of September has become the time that the Stinkbugs begin to get into the house. The first US sighting of Halyomorpha halys (Stål), the "Brown Marmorated Stink Bug," was in Allentown PA in 1996. It has since moved east, and every year there seems to be more in the fall.

They spend the Summer feeding on plants in the garden, and as opposed to other species of Stink Bugs that hide out in dried leaves in the garden. These stinkers want to move inside to where its warm. The best way to keep them out is to keep your screens closed. Also they tend to find an easy path past the window mounted air conditioners.

When you piss off a stink bug (squishing them is one way, but startling them is another) they tend to give off a stinky odor. Once they are inside, the best way to remove them from the house is to vacuum them away.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension has more information here.