Stink bugs were named for their distinct ability to emit an unpleasant odor when they are threatened or disturbed by predators like lizards or birds. This also means that if stink bugs enter your home and feel threatened, you’ll be faced with their strong smell in your house.

Are stink bugs dangerous to humans? Not at all—but they are considered a nuisance. Find out more about stink bug season and how to avoid an infestation in your home.

When do stink bugs come out?

Stink bugs can live year-round, and their activity varies based on the climate of where they’re living. However, fall is often seen as stink bug season because that is when brown marmorated stink bugs become particularly active in homes.

In the summer, the temperature is warm enough for stink bugs to live comfortably outdoors. But the fall means that winter is rapidly approaching, and temperatures are about to start dropping—so stink bugs need to search for a place to spend the colder months.

As soon as you notice stink bugs in the house, it’s time to investigate how they are entering and what to do to prevent them.

Brown marmorated stink bug

How long is the stink bug season?

Official stink bug season is considered the end of summer through the fall until it gets too cold for the bugs to survive outside. The exact number of weeks can vary based on the climate in your area and the fluctuating temperatures in a given year.

A stink bug’s total lifespan can vary depending on the species, the weather, and other environmental conditions.

Where do stink bugs come from?

Considering how common they’ve become, some people are surprised to learn that the brown marmorated stink bug is not native to the United States. It was originally found in China, Japan, and other East Asian countries sometime in the late 1990s.

To get to the U.S., it most likely hitched a ride in shipping containers and made itself at home in northern states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Since then, the stink bug’s adaptability and ability to breed in a range of climates means it has spread across the country, and it has been spotted in almost all 50 states.

How stink bugs can enter your home

Just like most insects, stink bugs can sneak inside your home through cracks, crevices, holes, and gaps in the foundation, door, screens, and window frames. They can also find a way underneath siding and through chimneys and attics.

Their main goal in entering your home is to find a warm place to overwinter. If they can’t find a way in, they’ll move on.

Prepare for stink bug season

To prevent a stink bug infestation and keep your home from becoming a stink bug’s next overwintering site, check the exterior of your house for places where they can enter, including door gaps and window cracks, and make sure these are properly sealed. If infested, it can be difficult to get rid of stink bugs for good.

If you suspect a stink bug problem, don’t wait—contact the pros. A Terminix pest control expert can help you find and remove any stink bugs that may have found their way into your home.

Need help with stink bugs? We can help with pest control strategies that are tailored to your needs.