As a homeowner in East Stroudsburg, PA, you’ve probably experienced stink bug activity in your home during the fall or spring. Their distinctive odor may have you running for cover, but you don’t have to surrender your home to the winter infestations. There are a few things you can do to ensure you get your stink bug issues under control. If you have issues with stink bugs every year in your home, it’s time to start taking proactive steps to stop future infestations from happening.

Although stink bugs are an agricultural pest, they often invade homes seeking shelter in the fall as cold winter weather approaches. Because of the cold winter weather we experience every year, your nice, cozy home could be a beacon for these pests. Adult stink bugs are triangle-shaped and measure 3/4 of an inch. They’re greyish brown and frequently gather at thresholds and near windows where sunlight reaches. Disturbing them can cause issues with odors, leaving many homeowners at a loss for how to get rid of them.

What are stink bugs?

Stink bugs are small, brown, shield-shaped bugs originally from Asia. They settled quickly in the country and now wreak havoc on farmland and infest human-made structures such as residential homes in the East Stroudsburg area. They’re known for their distinctive cilantro odor when stressed or crushed, leading many homeowners to wonder how to get rid of them.

The presence of one or two stink bugs in your home doesn’t necessarily mean your home is infested. They often come into houses in the fall, seeking warmth and shelter for the winter, and many times, you may not even know they’re there. Stink bugs migrate in large groups, living in chimneys and wall voids until spring, when they leave and live outdoors. You may think you have an infestation when they come out in droves during early spring, but this is just their natural way of escaping to go back outside.

They aren’t a bite risk and don’t carry any known diseases, so there’s no cause for alarm in terms of possible health complications. Stink bugs do not eat wood or cause damage to your home like carpenter ants and termites do. However, if you’re swarmed with them and find them dead in corners, fireplaces, or window sills, that could be a different story.

How can I prevent stink bugs?

Unfortunately, once stink bugs have infested your home, there is little that you can do to get rid of them. The best way to avoid an infestation is to prevent them from coming indoors before the fall arrives and stink bug season begins. To avoid the presence of a stink bugs in your home, you can:

Carefully inspect doors and windows for ways stink bugs can get in. Reseal doors and windows and install door sweeps to exterior doors.
Caulk and seal any cracks you find on the foundation and other spaces on the exterior of your home.
Cover vents, HVAC units, ducts, and other entrances with grates or mesh to help reduce the chance that stink bugs could get in. If you already have these measures in place, double check that they are not torn or broken.
Install chimney caps to prevent stink bugs from entering your home through your fireplace.
Vacuum up any single stink bugs you see and dispose of the vacuum canister or bag immediately in an outdoor garbage receptacle.

If you’re getting swarmed by stink bugs even after taking time to inspect your home for entrances, it’s time to call in the professionals at Seitz Bros. Our stink bug specialists can inspect your home for hidden openings, helping reduce your vulnerability to all sorts of other infestations.

Why do I have stink bugs in my home?

Stink bugs aren’t looking for food or water, making them a very different issue than nearly every other type of common household pest. Your home is one of convenience. Their natural food source is outside, and in the fall, they’re looking for shelter to survive the cold winter.

During warmer months, you may not see any stink bugs in your home at all. As temperatures drop, a simple crack under a doorway could bring in stink bugs looking to spend wintertime sheltering in your cozy home. A quick vacuum can handle individuals, and many times, a solid winter-proofing of your home reduces the bugs themselves. Checking your home at least once a year for possible stink bug entry points can go a long way to ensuring you don’t have to deal with them.

How can Seitz Bros. get rid of the stink bugs in my home?

A professional exterminator can determine if you have an infestation and how to handle proper prevention. Taking steps to prevent a stink bug infestation on your own can reduce the likelihood of a stink bug infestation, but only professional pest control can provide guaranteed protection. The professionals at Seitz Bros. have the expertise to help you identify infestation issues and find solutions to your stink bug problems. Call us or fill out the contact form on this page to get started!