Stink Bug Poop: What This Nasty Stuff Is and What You Can Do About It

Stink bugs. The name alone conjures thoughts of smelly, oily critters waiting for the right moment to pounce on you and spray like 6-legged skunks. Absolutely no one likes them, and they have a tendency to infest homes, leaving stink bug poop in their wake. But if you’re not sure what the poop looks like, you might mistake it for just another stain.

This guide will explain what the poop looks like, how to clean it, and offer a few pest control methods for getting rid of stink bugs altogether.

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What Are Stink Bugs?

Before we cover what their poop looks like, it’s important to understand what stink bugs are.

The insect that most folks recognize as a stink bug is officially known as the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. This is an invasive pest species that was accidentally introduced from Asia to the US in the mid-1990s. These days, brown marmorated stink bugs can be found in large numbers throughout most of the continental US and Canada. 

What do they look like?

The adult brown marmorated stink bug’s color ranges from grayish-brown to green. They have six legs, and their backs resemble a knight’s shield. They have a hard shell that protects their wings. They’re slow crawlers and fast flyers and often make landings that are audible to human ears. 

These nuisance pests are often found in areas with lots of fruit trees, and they can destroy crops entirely due to their appetites. Also, these bugs can be attracted to certain houseplants as they’re an excellent source of food for them. So, if you’ve seen a lot of these bugs in your home, it might be those house plants causing it.

What do they smell like?

The brown marmorated stink bug gets its name from the fact that it emits an odor when threatened or crushed. The odor smells similar to burning tires, cilantro, and even a skunk-like smell. The smell will linger on skin or on other surfaces, and it can attract other stink bugs. This is a completely different smell to the odorous house sugar ant, though they both emit their odors when crushed.

Do Stink Bugs Poop?

Yes, stink bugs poop. Just about every creature that eats also poops in some form or another. And, in the case of stink bugs (who eat leaves, flowers, fruit, and even other insects), they digest their meals and then poop them out. 

In fact, stink bug feces is very important to the species. When a female stink bug lays its eggs, it coats them with its poop. That poop contains beneficial bacteria (beneficial for the stink bugs, that is). As the nymphs hatch from the eggs, they then eat the poop and receive a dose of beneficial bacteria. This is similar to how a house fly lays eggs in garbage cans so the maggots can emerge to their first stinky, slimy meal.

It’s gross, we know. That’s pest species for you.

What Does Stink Bug Poop Look Like?

Stinkbug poop images are pretty scarce, but the poop itself is a yellowish to dark brown liquid. It may appear as drops or streaks. The drops occur if the bug defecated sitting still or flying. The streaks occur if the brown marmorated stink bug is pooping while it walks. This liquid can soak into fabric and curtains (I guess it’s better than eating them like carpet beetles do), or into the pores of wood surfaces it lands on, causing stains, making them a serious nuisance pest. They can even leave a stink bug stain on wall surfaces.

This is a totally different type of waste than frass, which are pellets left behind by termites or carpenter ants, but it is slightly similar to spider poop.

How To Clean Stink Bug Poop

It’s important to clean the poo right away. Not only is having streaks of bug poop on curtains, window sills, and furniture gross, but it can also attract other stink bugs. For these reasons, clean up poo right away. Luckily, doing so is relatively easy.

First, remove any fabrics or curtains and pretreat the stain. Use an oxygen-based bleach such as Nellie’s All Natural Oxygen Brightener or OxiClean. Use the brightener and a laundry brush to loosen the proteins in the poops. Then, simply wash the fabric through the appropriate wash cycle. If the stains remain, repeat the process.

Couches and chairs don’t exactly fit in the washing machine, so cleaning stains from furniture is a little more involved. In this case, mix two tablespoons of dishwashing soap with two cups of warm water in a spray bottle. Spray the soiled furniture with the solution and scrub with a sponge or brush. Then, use a clean towel to blot up any excess solution. Finally, use a clean cloth dipped in water to rinse the spot. Repeat as necessary.

When it comes to removing stains from hard surfaces like tabletops, flooring, or window sills, the dishwashing soap solution works just as well. Simply spray the surface and scrub the stain with a sponge until it’s removed. Our favorite soap is Dawn, as it can be handy for so many purposes around the house.   

How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs: 6 Options

The poop is just a sign of a bigger problem: Just like ant poop on window sill can be a sign of an ant problem, termite droppings can be a sign of a termite infestation, and winged carpenter ants are a sign of a mature nest. You may have a stink bug infestation starting. It’s important to take action before the problem gets out of hand. The following pest control methods for getting rid of stink bugs will help. 

Hot Water, Dish Soap, White Vinegar

One of the easiest pest control options to get rid of stink bugs is to use products you probably already have in your home. A mixture of hot water, dishwashing soap, and white vinegar is an effective way to not only trap stink bugs, but also kill them without crunching them. As an added benefit, this solution may catch some drain flies, too.

For this solution, mix two cups of hot water, four tablespoons of dishwashing soap, and two cups of white vinegar in a bowl and place it on a counter or table. Stink bugs will land in the solution, get trapped, and drown.

Also, you can mix this solution and pour it into a spray bottle. This will allow you to spray stink bugs directly and kill them without having to crunch them and experience their odor. 

Essential Oil and Water 

Using essential oils for sink bugs can be a smart and safe way to get rid of them. Stink bugs do not like peppermint, so peppermint oil can be a big help when getting rid of these smelly insects. The smell confuses and repels them, while the oil itself can kill them on contact, making them an excellent choice for pest control (it even works on other bugs, as well). 

Mix a few drops of peppermint essential oil in a spray bottle. Spray carpets, window sills, walls, and other areas where stink bugs like to hang out in your home. The added benefit of this method is it makes the house smell great and peppermint is effective for repelling spiders, ants, and other bugs as well. 

Neem Oil 

There are a ton of benefits to neem oil, but one of the most important (in our opinion) is its ability to repel stink bugs and provide natural pest control. This substance is an extract from the neem tree, and it’s safe for most folks (except for those with skin disorders or those that may be allergic to it). 

To use neem oil, mix a teaspoon in a spray bottle of water. Spray window sills, walls, and other areas where stink bugs frequent. Like mint essential oil, neem oil will keep other bugs at bay, as well. 

Dryer Sheets 

Here’s another cool pest control tip for getting rid of stink bugs with something you probably already have at home. Dryer sheet odors are offensive to stink bugs, and using them couldn’t be any easier.

First, be sure to use dryer sheets any time you’re washing curtains and other fabrics that stink bugs might come in contact with (if you’re using a dryer, of course). Also, rub dryer sheets directly onto window screens, furniture, fabric, and even carpets. As the smell of the dryer sheet rubs off on the fabrics, these insects will be less likely to hang out on them. 

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth, or DE, is one of our favorite insect killers. This naturally-occurring powder is made up of crystallized sea organisms, and users can apply a layer of dust to areas where stink bugs are likely to frequent. As the bugs crawl over the powder, the crystallized organisms scratch their bodies, causing stink bugs (and other insects) to die from dehydration over time—talk about effective pest control!

Also, food-grade diatomaceous earth is relatively harmless for humans and pets, and offers the least environmental impact among most pest control methods, though inhaling the powder can cause irritation. 

To use diatomaceous earth to get rid of stink bugs and other pest control situations, spread a thin layer on surfaces like window sills, doorways, and other surfaces. It’s even a good idea to spread the powder under appliances and furniture, if possible. You can use a DE spreader, a duster dipped in the powder, or simply sprinkle the powder with a spoon or other tool. Just keep in mind that the idea is to create a thin, non-visible layer. Bugs won’t walk over thick layers of diatomaceous earth if they see it.

Stink Bug Spray (Insecticide)

Our final pest control option is to use an insecticide product. While we prefer more natural, safer alternatives, we also recognize that some folks need fast results, and insecticides are usually the best option. 

In this case, we suggest Harris Stink Bug Killer. This product contains deltamethrin, which disrupts the bugs’ central nervous systems and causes them to die. It has a long-lasting, residual effect after application, and it’s easy to use. Simply attach the spray handle to 1-gallon bottle and spray areas like windows, doors, vents, and other places these annoying bugs might frequent.  

Do keep in mind that insecticides are equally as effective at killing beneficial insects like pollinators. Also, it’s important to use these products safely and according to the manufacturer’s instructions to limit their impact on other organisms and animals. For this reason, it’s better to call a professional pest control company than handle it yourself.

FAQs

That’s a lot of information on stink bugs, how to get rid of their nasty secretions, and general pest control for these annoying insects. However, there may be some other questions we haven’t answered yet. The following consists of some of the most frequently asked questions about the topic.

Do stink bugs leave droppings?

These bugs don’t leave droppings in the traditional sense of solid waste. However, they do leave trails and drops of excrement around. These substances are usually yellowish or brown and can be found in the form of drips or streaks.

What color is stink bug poop?

Their poop is generally dark yellow or brown, but as will all creatures that eat and poop, the color will depend on what the bug has been eating. Don’t mistake blood smears on mattresses and sheets for bed bug poop, however, as that is more likely the sign of bed bugs (check out the best bed bug sprays to help solve this problem).

What happens if you pick up a stink bug?

These bugs get their name because they emit an odor when threatened. If you pick up a stink bug, it will likely go into an alarm mode and release its odor. This odor can linger, though it isn’t poisonous or dangerous for humans. It just stinks. 

Why should you not flush stink bugs down the toilet?

Flushing stink bugs down the toilet is an effective option for getting rid of them, but it’s not a perfect approach. It’s actually a big waste of water and, in the process of carrying them to the toilet, they may spray. A homemade stink bug killer spray like the one listed above would be a better option.

Do stinkbugs poop?

Yes, stinkbugs poop. This yellowish-brown liquid can usually be found in drips or streaks near window sills and on curtains.