As fall temperatures drop, stink bugs start showing up around windows, doors, and sunny exterior walls. You might spot one crawling across your ceiling or find several gathered near a window, searching for a sheltered place to spend the winter.
Why Stink Bugs Are Trying to Get Inside
Stink bugs spend much of the warmer months outdoors, but cooler weather drives them to seek protected places to hide until spring. Tiny openings around windows, doors, siding, pipes, and vents can let them easily into your home.
They’re often most noticeable in September and October, when they gather on buildings and look for places to settle. Once indoors, they may hide in attics, wall spaces, and other quiet spots until warmer weather returns.
Related: 12 Simple Fixes to Prevent Bugs From Invading Your Home
What to Do When You Find One Indoors
Resist the urge to squash a stink bug, since crushing or disturbing it can release the unpleasant odor that gives it its name. Instead, trap it in a container and release it outside, or use a vacuum and empty it soon afterward if the smell lingers.
Stink bugs generally don’t bite or sting people, and they aren’t known for damaging a home’s structure. Their biggest nuisance is turning up in living spaces or hiding around the house throughout the colder months.
Related: 15 Good Bugs You’ll Be Happy to See in Your Yard
How to Keep Stink Bugs From Moving In
Walk around your home and check for gaps around window frames, exterior doors, utility pipes, and other openings. Seal small cracks with caulk, replace worn weatherstripping, and repair damaged window screens before more bugs find their way inside.
Check attic vents and other openings for gaps that may need properly fitted screens. Keep ventilation paths clear while blocking the spaces insects could use to enter.
For more tips, read our guide on keeping stink bugs out of your home.
What About Natural Stink Bug Deterrents?
Some people try peppermint oil, neem oil, or homemade sprays around doors and windows to discourage stink bugs. These remedies shouldn’t replace sealing entry points, one of the most effective ways to keep insects outside.
If stink bugs are already inside, remove the ones you find and inspect nearby windows, doors, and vents for possible openings. Spraying around won’t stop new bugs from entering if the gaps remain open.
Related: These U.S. Cities Have a Bed Bug Problem, and Tourists May Be Surprised
An Unwelcome Sign of Fall
Finding stink bugs around your home can be frustrating, especially when they appear in rooms you rarely see insects in. Their search for a place to spend the winter is a normal seasonal behavior and doesn’t automatically mean your home is dirty or poorly maintained.
Spend some time sealing gaps and repairing screens before the weather gets colder. A few small fixes now can help keep more stink bugs outside, where you’d rather have them.
Related: 12 Household Items That Come Out Cleaner When You Wash Them in Hot Water
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