What Do Stink Bugs Look Like? And Other Facts About Stink Bugs

Stink bugs are large, shield-shaped insects with six legs, long antennae, and green, gray, dark brown, and black coloring. This is particularly true for brown marmorated stink bugs (BSMB), which is the nuisance species we deal with most in the US. That’s the cliff notes version, we’ll answer the question “what do stink bugs look like?” and more in this guide. 

What Stink Bugs Look Like

The most common species of stink bug in the US is the brown marmorated stink bug. These bugs are about 2 cm long and feature a shield-shaped body (similar to the shape of a knight’s shield). Their six legs extend out from the body rather than behind underneath it, which makes these already large bugs appear even bigger than they already are. They also have two sets of rough, hard wings that fold upon landing.

Immature stink bugs in the nymph stage look quite different. These bugs are very small and they’re mostly red with yellow stripes, with bright red eyes. After the nymphs molt, the yellow fades to white, and after the fifth molt, they are essentially adult stink bugs with fully developed wings.

In many regards, these bugs look very similar to beetles, which can make it difficult to identify adult stink bugs in some conditions. Unlike stink bugs, most beetles don’t release an unpleasant odor when threatened or killed. Knowing more about the BSMB will help.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug-BMSB

The brown marmorated stink bug (again, known as the BSMB) is an invasive species that was accidentally introduced to the US in the late 1990s. First discovered in Pennsylvania, these bugs spread quickly and are now common in 44 of the 50 US states.

Brown marmorated stink bugs feed on crops, and they can do quite a bit of damage. They feed on fruit and fruit trees, vegetables, and other garden favorites, causing lots of lost garden and farm yield.

While there are over 5,000 different types of stink bugs, the BSMB is by far the most common in the US. These bugs seemingly plague residents in the spring and fall, with brown stink bug dive bombers flying through the home and congregating on windows.

Are Stink Bugs Dangerous?

These bugs are generally not dangerous. They’re not known to spread disease or any particularly dangerous form of bacteria. They also don’t cause any structural damage in a home, though they can decimate tree fruits and other crops rather quickly.

Can stink bugs bite?

Stink bugs feed on fruits and vegetables, and they do so with their long mouthparts meant for piercing and sucking. However, these mouth parts are not capable of biting people or pets, even for adult stink bugs, so it’s highly unlikely that anyone would be bitten by these bugs.

Biting isn’t the BSMB’s main method of defense, anyway. These bugs emit a foul odor when threatened or attacked (or crushed). This odor is their defense mechanism and the reason for their namesake.

Stink Bugs Vs Kissing Bugs

Stink bugs are often mistaken for the kissing bug, but kissing bugs are dangerous. These bugs do feed on humans, and their poop contains parasites that can cause Chagas Disease. This disease is dangerous, causing anything from minor swelling and fever to eventual congestive heart failure.

What Do Stink Bugs Smell Like?

Stink bugs produce an unpleasant smell that’s reminiscent of rotting vegetables, cilantro, coriander, and other strong-smelling herbs. They use this odor as a defense mechanism against predators and attackers. The smell also emits when they’re crushed.

The smell itself can linger on skin and fabrics for several hours, so it’s best to avoid touching a stink bug and triggering this reaction.

Why Stink Bugs Enter Homes

The most common times to see a brownish stink bug (or droves of these little buggers) are the fall and early spring. And the reasons are easy to understand.

In the fall, BSMBS enter homes looking for overwintering sites. These bugs need to find a safe place to spend the long cold winter months, and the wall voids of a home are typically ideal. They may stay hidden all winter long, but residents may find stink bug congregation activity during warm spells, particularly around south-facing windows.

Stink bugs wake up in the spring, and their instinct tells them to feed and reproduce. At this point, they will try to get out of the home, again congregating around windows and other light sources. Once they get out, they’ll continue the stink bug life cycle.

How They Get In

Stink bugs typically enter homes like other bugs, through cracks and gaps in siding, around windows or doors, and holes in the foundation, wood fascia, damaged screens, or even exhaust fans. They’ll start looking for overwintering sites in the late summer to seek shelter for the upcoming winter. They’re also attracted to lights, which can play a role in why they come into the home but also how they get out.

Signs of a Stink Bug Infestation

Here are some signs of an infestation:

• Seeing multiple live or dead stink bugs throughout the home
• Wilted vegetables and damaged citrus fruits within the home
• Stink bug poop and liquid that can stain surfaces
• The smell of stink bugs

An infestation is technically when a bug species hatches multiple generations of bugs in the home. Since stink bugs can technically lay eggs on houseplants and ornamental plants inside the home, they can infest the space.

How do I get rid of stink bugs?

Getting rid of stink bugs can be tough work, especially if you want to avoid getting their liquid on your skin. Also, many experts believe that their odor attracts stink bugs, and that’s just not the goal. However, these tips should help with getting rid of individual stink bugs:

• Set up stink bug traps which consist of bowls of hot water, dish soap, and white vinegar. The bugs will land in the trap and die
• Use a similar solution in a spray bottle and spray the stink bugs directly
• Use a vacuum cleaner to suck up stink bugs and empty the canister right away
• Sweep stink bugs outside
• Call a pest control company

It’s better to actually prevent stink bug infestations. You can do so by caulking gaps and cracks with a good quality silicone latex caulk, repairing any holes in window screens, and using weather stripping around doors and windows. Be sure to fill gaps around utility pipes that enter the building, pay attention to eaves and fascia boards, and seal cracks in the foundation to reduce the entry points these pests can use.

Stink Bug FAQs

That’s a lot of information on these nuisance pests. However, there might still be some questions lingering around like a stink bug odor. Here are some of the most common questions on the topic.

What causes stink bugs in your house?

Generally speaking, nothing causes these insects to enter the home other than their need to find overwintering sites. They’re looking for shelter for the colder months.

Can stink bugs harm you?

No, these insects don’t carry diseases, bacteria, or parasites, and they don’t even damage the structure of the home. They can stain surfaces and eat produce, however.

What keeps stink bugs away?

Certain herbs have been shown to be effective at keeping these insects away. They include garlic, catnip, lavender, and thyme. It’s best to grow them around the home, but remember that these bugs are good fliers and can enter through gaps anywhere.

What do stink bugs do to humans?

Nothing but annoy them. They don’t carry diseases, bacteria, or parasites, and they don’t damage buildings. They simply overwinter in the home like many other insects and leave in the spring.

How do I get rid of stink bugs ASAP?

The best way to get rid of these insects is to vacuum them up and then immediately empty the canister in a garbage bag, tie it tight, and throw it in an outdoor garbage bin.

Do dry sheets keep stink bugs away?

A great hack for keeping these insects at bay is to take dryer sheets and rub them on window screens. This odor offends them and is likely to prevent them from coming in through windows.