Stink Bug
Easy DIY
Identification
Shield-shaped brown bugs that release a pungent odor when disturbed or crushed, and gather on sunny exterior walls in fall seeking a way indoors to overwinter.
Can I DIY this?
Easy DIYYou can handle this one yourself.
With the right product and a little patience, most homeowners take care of this pest on their own. Follow the treatment guide, read the product label, and you're set.
Recommended products
Syngenta Demand CS Insecticide, 8ozFall exterior barrier before they overwinterControl Solutions D-Fense Dust Insecticide, 1lbDust entry-point voidsSome links may be affiliate links. Buggsy may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Always follow the product label.
- Seal exterior gaps — caulk around windows, doors, and utility penetrations — before late summer/early fall when these bugs start looking for a way inside to overwinter.
- Apply a residual perimeter treatment to sunny exterior walls ahead of that fall push indoors.
- Vacuum up any that get inside rather than crushing them — they release a strong odor when squashed.
- If they're breeding on fruit trees or garden plants on the property, treating that host plant directly can reduce the population before it ever reaches the house.
- Repeat exterior treatment each fall, since this is an ongoing seasonal pattern rather than a one-time fix.
Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, closed-toe shoes with socks, chemical-resistant gloves, and goggles. Add a respirator if the label calls for it or ventilation is poor.