As temperatures start dropping in New Jersey, you might notice an unwelcome seasonal visitor: the brown marmorated stink bug. These insects become more noticeable in our area in the late summer and fall as they start searching for safe places to survive the winter.
So, what are stink bugs attracted to? The answer involves a combination of light, food, warmth, shelter, and plants. Understanding what attracts stink bugs can help you take measures to keep them outside where they belong.
Why Stink Bugs Want to Get Inside
Stink bugs spend most of their time outdoors in the warm months feeding on plants and crops. But when fall arrives, their priorities shift, and they also start searching for sheltered places to spend the winter.
Your New Jersey home can provide exactly what they need, so you’ll often find them gathering on sunny exterior walls before they find gaps or cracks in your home to enter through.
What Are Stink Bugs Attracted To?
Light
Stink bugs are attracted to light, which makes windows, doors, and outdoor lighting fixtures potential gathering spots. Even leaving a porch light on can draw these insects to your home’s exterior, where they can easily find an entry point.
Food
What do stink bugs eat? Outside, they eat various fruits from trees, vegetables, soybeans, seeds, and ornamental plants. If you have a garden near your home’s foundation, this can become a convenient environment for stink bugs to feed before they seek winter shelter.
Shelter and Warmth
Do stink bugs hibernate? Stink bugs enter a dormant state often described as hibernation, although “overwintering” is the more precise scientific term. During this time, they may stay hidden in attics, wall voids, and other protected areas until the weather warms up.
Does Color Matter?
Research shows that stink bugs may be attracted to light colors and reflective surfaces. Changing your home’s exterior color isn’t a practical solution; however, you can reduce attractants and seal potential entry points to keep them away.
Why Should You Never Squish a Stink Bug?
Squishing a stink bug might be your first instinct when you see one, but don’t do it. Stepping on one can release the unpleasant odor that gives the insect its name. Instead, vacuum them up or carefully remove them from your home or patio without squishing them.
How to Stop Attracting Stink Bugs to Your House
How do stink bugs get into houses? Stink bugs release aggregation pheromones that draw even more of their kind to the area. They take advantage of surprisingly tiny openings, especially around windows and doors, damaged screens, cracks around the foundation, and openings around utility lines.
One of the most effective preventative measures is to seal up these openings. You can also eliminate bright exterior lighting and keep vegetation trimmed away from your house.
When to Call an Exterminator for Stink Bugs
If you find yourself wondering, “Why do I suddenly have so many stink bugs?” it’s definitely time to call in professional help. Seeing just a few might be little more than a seasonal nuisance. But large numbers indoors indicate they’ve discovered convenient entry points for overwintering.
Why New Jersey Homeowners Choose Precise Pest Control
Precise Termite & Pest Control has over 35 years of experience serving Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Essex, and Sussex counties. Our Integrated Pest Management approach focuses on identifying and addressing the conditions allowing pests to enter, rather than simply treating the insects you can see.
Get Your Free, No-Obligation Stink Bug Inspection
Don’t wait until your home becomes a winter shelter for hundreds of stink bugs. We offer free, no-obligation stink bug inspections to identify potential entry points and recommend the best treatment plan.
Please contact us to request an assessment and take the first step towards keeping stink bugs (and other seasonal pests) outside where they belong.
