Comments on: The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug: What You Need to Know

By: JC

JC — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:59:33 +0000

Hello Brian, It has been suggested that sbs don’t bite – they may not bite but they do pierce and many others reported the extended itching and pain as well. They also spray at will and whatever it is they release can be very irritating to the skin and some compare it to a minor chemical burn that can last a week or more. There are many types of caulking available. The standard type you install with a caulk gun; you can hire someone to do a spray foam insulation for major voids……there is fingertip rope caulk that is easy to apply……Liquid Nails makes a clear acrylic caulk that comes in a squeese tube…….Lowes sells minimally (and maximally) expanding caulk in a can that is easy to use. Screening of the attic ridge vent and gable end vents is important. If they have settled into the attic, you may want to set off a fogger once a month for several months. Be sure to gather up the dead stink bugs. If you any rooms that they favor in your home, those are the rooms to begin with. Screening in exhaust vents (bathroom and kitchen), a/c return vents -removing window a/c s (stink bug motels) over the winter. Caulk around windows and doors, attic entry points. Painters tape is a quick and temporary fix. Caulking outside around chimneys, where the porches or garages are attached to the house, etc. Observe the sbs to determine where they are most problematic for you. Best of luck!!

By: JC

JC — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:47:54 +0000

Regarding foggers – several have used the brand ‘Hot Shot’ and said they work well…..a pyrethrum or pyrethrin fogger is good…not sure if that is what is Hot Shot….just check the ingredients. Dominion PC did an outside spraying for me this week and set off a pyrethrum fogger in the attic (I asked what was in it. I’ve got my sb armour on!!

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:20:48 +0000

I live in the suburban Philadelphia area and many of my neighbors are experiencing the same infestation. I did not give my geographic location in the previous post. It is certainly worse in older homes as they are far more difficult to seal up. There also have been mixed results with efforts to seal a home. The BMSB can squeeze under roof shingles and take advantage of any open door or window .

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:06:24 +0000

Great information. I have been battling stink bugs in my home and garden for the last two years. I have noticed small versions of the larger stink bug in my home. I do not know if this is a young member of the same species or not. I have also read that stink bugs do not bite. On two separate occasions, I have been bitten when putting on pants with a stink bug in the pant leg. This bite or stick left a mark that itched for a short time. I am working on a trap or attractant for inside the home in hopes that it will consolidate the insects making disposal easier. Any thoughts?

By: SBs can sting, PA

SBs can sting, PA — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:05:23 +0000

I too was woken up by the awful stinging that a SB left. It must have been caught inbetween my hand and my temple while I was sleeping. The buring sensation woke me up and then I notice the all familiar smell…I put my head up and there it was! I tried putting bee sting medicine on site, but it did not help. I did not think they were capable of inflicting any pain, boy was I wrong, it still is buring a bit the next day and left an orange stain on my skin. The problem is, not may people think this is possible so it was very difficult to research what exactly had happened to my hand a face. I can DEF say they CAN hurt, I don’t know exactly what they do, but it’s something not pleasent.

By: JC

JC — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:32:31 +0000

Hi FSBK…..You’re welcome. I agree about the snow, and I’m a winter person! I do a quarterly spraying with Demand CS (due again in a few weeks) and also have my attic treated. If you haven’t seen any sbs over the winter, you may be okay. Several of us (JT, Neil, Nikki, Jane, Gracie and I) have had great success with quarterly sprayings (most of us use Demand CS) and with screening, caulking and taping. We are each waiting to see how the spring season goes and we hope to remain sb free. I have spoken with some folks who have done nothing but set off foggers in the attic (they used Hot Shot) and they said they found thousands of dead sbs after the fogging (which they vacuumed up). They said this at least cut way back on the sb visitors. Some folks have set foggers in the whole house (leaving for the day; returning and opening windows for a period of time) and also report success. I intend to continue with my quarterly sprayings – if you were to do only one spraying with Demand CS, I would say the early September is most important. This is power sprayed on the outside of the house. I don’t know of any other product except Demand CS that really works at keeping them OUT of the home. JT has also found a product at Buggslayer.com that can be sprayed on bushes (using a garden hose and water) that will kill them in the bushes where they like to live, eat (and reproduce) in the summer. I intend to add this to my efforts. I really dread the spring season when the are on the move again. I am sure that even if my home is sb free for now, I will have visitors from my neighbors homes. The thing that gives me peace is knowing they will expire a few hours after sitting on my treated home. The proof is in the dead little carcases that you find everywhere. Best of luck to you and all stink bug warriors!

By: Fanatic SB Killer, Lebanon, NJ

Fanatic SB Killer, Lebanon, NJ — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:00:27 +0000

JC, thanks for being so helpful.

I didn’t know that I would have to exterminate again before the spring (although with all the snow we’ve been haveing I’m kinda doubtful that we will ever see spring). Will any fogger do or are some better than others?

By: JC

JC — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Hi Jessica,
It would be helpful to set off an insect fogger in the attic before the Spring exodus when they will become very active (meaning they will be very happy to make their exodus through your living spaces below.)

Best!

By: JC

JC — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:44:21 +0000

Hi Stephani……I appreciated your response to jp……it’s the old ‘walk a mile in my shoes’ sentiment and I totally agree…he is a relative ’stink bug virgin’ and really doesn’t know what to expect, but I imagine he will soon find out….did you know there is another link to cold climate gardening with very helpful info on how to control stinkbugs? There is a product that DOES kill them…….a number of us on the other link have had great success with a product called Demand CS. If your exterminator won’t use it, you can google and find out where to purchase it and how to use it. It is to be power sprayed on the outside of your house. It is also helpful to use Delta dust or Tempo dust in the attic and crawls spaces. For now, it would be helpful to use an insect fogger in the attic/crawl space to kill them before they come out of the rest phase and migrate outward from the walls and attics, etc. What’s great about the Demand CS is that it is microencapsulated and lasts for three months (in all types of weather) I am due for my fourth spraying in a few weeks. During the fall swarm (there is not getting away from that) they walked on my house and in a few hours I found dead little carcasses all over the place (outside) and continued to do so for a number of weeks. I also found dead sbs and (baby sbs) all summer from the June spraying. JT, who comments on the other link informed us about Buggslayer.com where you can purchase a product to spray on bushes using your garden hose. This helps to reduce the population before they reproduce. Don’t let anyone tell you there is nothing to control them. It is also helpful to caulk around doors and windows, attic entrances, screen exhaust fans, dryer vents, areas where cable & electric enter the house, etc. Mend screens in doors and windows; remove window a/c units and store in plastic bags, sealed with tape. Tape or caulk closet attic entrys. Dawn dishwashing liquid mixed 50/50 with water also kills them. You can fill a container with this and add sbs until it is full and dispose of them. You won’t need to do this once you start spraying with Demand CS. This combined with the caulking, screening and taping seems to work. Deep Wood Off on window screens deters them. I hired a professional caulker to caulk my house(and I did additional caulking.) The outward swarming/migration should begin in a few weeks and that will be the telling time for those of us who have had a stink bug free winter! Good luck and please visit us on the other link for additional info. There are over 1000 entries on that link. Best!

By: Stephani

Stephani — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:32:01 +0000

Seriously – you are feeding stink bugs?!?!? First off, they were brought to the states by irresponsible people and are NOT native to the ecosystem in the U.S. THAT MEANS THERE IS NOTHING THAT KILLS THEM HERE IN THE US. Second, they are destroying crops – they prey on vegetation (tomatoes, raspberries, etc.). This means farmers are going to use more insecticides to try to kill them. They are annoying (that is an understatement) when you are killing 45-65 a day in your home. My poor neighbors had to rent scaffolding in order to seal the highest point of their living room ceiling, just one of the many places they were coming in. So perhaps you can come live in our homes where they are out of control and let’s see if you will be feeding them. There is NO natural known predator here in the states nor is there any insecticide that will kill them. I have had my house sprayed time and time again on the exterior. They say it will not kill them, but it will control them. Do you consider killing 45-65 a day controlling them?? In September, I want to move because they are so bad that they cover the windows and siding of my home. When you walk out the door, they fall on you. It is horrible! I would ask that you educate yourself before you start contributing to the problem.