The Stink Bugs Are Back!


In the mountain environment, stink bugs herald the onset of fall.

Despite our best efforts, having our log home re-sealed and replacing screens, the little SOBs still find a way to intrude.


Who are the Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs (BMSB)? They are immigrants from Asia, first noted in Allentown, PA, in 1998, with an initial appearance in North Carolina, in Forsyth County, in 2009. In the interim, the bugs have become invasive pests in the Piedmont and Mountain region. Currently, they reside in 80 of the 100 NC counties as well as in 47 US states.

The native stink bugs have natural enemies that keep them in check; the BMSB have few, making them a destructive pest. Their early fall invasion is unpleasant to homeowners and can be devastating to vegetable crops.

Pesticides have actually caused secondary pest outbreaks and a greater risk to non-targeted creatures. Scientists are continuing to work on the issue. There is currently hope that another insect, the Samurai Wasp Trissolcus japonicus, may be an answer to the problem. Still, as we know, sometimes the new solution may have greater consequences.

They are a nuisance. It’s imperative to keep all food and drinks covered, or one may find an unpleasant swimmer in a table-side beverage.

A temporizing solution is to keep a lidded jar of soapy water next to the kitchen sink. An interloper is quickly snatched by a leg and dispatched to a watery grave.

However, one must take care, because true to their nickname, if mishandled, they will emit a noxious odor. Therefore, we also maintain a lemon hand wash nearby to neutralize the nasty scent.

Do you experience this annual event at your location? If not, do you have another bothersome annoyance?

You can follow the Author on her Website or X.




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