Stink bugs: tips on how to fight them indoors

Stink bugs creep into the house, especially when the temperature drops. What you can and can do about it, as well as more about the stink bug, can be found here.

Especially after particularly warm and long summers, stink bugs (Petatomidae) become a real nuisance. When the temperatures then slowly drop, the bugs look for warm quarters for the winter months, which they often find in our apartments. We have put together for you what stink bugs exactly, whether they are dangerous and how best to fight them indoors.

Stink bugs: a fact sheet

Worldwide there are an estimated 40,000 different types of bugs (Heteroptera) and of these around 3,000 live here in Europe. The stink bugs are a subfamily of these bugs and actually look relatively clumsy. The bugs can be from 5 mm to 35 mm in size and have stinging and sucking mouthparts. They eat (or suckle) their host plants and thereby cause growth disorders and cripples. Unfortunately, by sucking on the plants, the bugs can also transmit pathogens and thus cause additional damage to the plants. Bugs can be recognized relatively easily by their triangular shape and their unpleasantness Ability to smell bad because the bedbugs can secrete a liquid that is anything but smells pleasant. If you've ever crushed a bug with your finger, you probably know what we're talking about.

The bug that plagued many cities in autumn 2018 is the marbled stink bug (Halyomorpha halys), which is native to Asia and was introduced to Europe. These marbled stink bugs are approximately 15 mm tall and brownish-gray in color. They have a black and white pattern on the sides and their antennae are also striped in black and white.

Stink bug life cycle

Bedbugs feed on sap, but there are also a few predatory species that can be nourished by tiny insects or arachnids. Some of the bugs that feed on plants with their stinging, sucking mouthparts can do one give off toxic saliva, which leads to deformation and necrosis - i.e. the death of cells - in the plants can.

The adult bedbugs become active again in spring at a temperature of over 10 ° C and look for their strength to recharge their batteries after the winter. The bug prefers rose plants (Rosales), Trumpet trees (Catalpa), Rowan berries (Sorbus aucuparia) or ash (Fraxinus), but also Buddleia (Buddleja) is on their menu. When they have soaked themselves in plant juices for a few weeks, the females begin to lay eggs. You will find these eggs on the leaves in groups of 20 to 30 pieces. A female can lay over 200 eggs in her lifetime. After a few days, the larvae hatch out of these and after the five larval stages they develop into adult stink bugs. This development from egg to adult animal takes up to two months. In autumn the bugs look for a wintering quarters and in spring this cycle starts all over again.

Are stink bugs dangerous or poisonous?

What many have already noticed is the smell of bedbugs that takes getting used to. But don't worry - the bugs just stink, but they're not dangerous. This smell is particularly noticeable when trying to get rid of the bugs with a fly swatter. This foul smell is produced in so-called stink glands, which are located in the chest area. These bugs can also secrete contact poisons as a defense, and they are also able to form alarm and aggregation pheromones. With these pheromones, the bugs can attract other conspecifics, but also alert and keep them away if danger threatens a place. So this bad smell ultimately has an advantage - other bed bugs are deterred.

Stink bug: plant pest or not?

Bedbugs can be both harmful and beneficial. Their eating and sucking on the plants can lead to growth disorders and also cripples. Another harmful property of bedbugs is the transmission of pathogens - such as viruses, fungi or bacteria - to our cultures. By sucking on the plants, these pathogens can invade the plants and cause damage, but there are also beneficial bed bugs.

Predatory bedbugs are even used as beneficial insects in the greenhouse against pests such as Spider mites (Tetranychidae), Aphids (Aphidoidea) or leaf fleas (Psylloidea) used. These bugs are not harmful to our plants, they are even useful to us. Such bugs can be encouraged by having natural spots in the garden and offering them winter opportunities in hedges or trees.

Stink bug in the house and apartment: ways to fight it

If the bugs invade our living spaces in large numbers, it can be quite annoying. Especially the aforementioned unpleasant smell emanating from crushed bedbugs can really spoil your appetite. The simplest method to ward off these animals is to prevent them from entering the living space, because the bugs like to look for warm winter quarters and thus find their way into our four walls. First of all, you can attach insect screens so that you can still ventilate in peace. This not only keeps the annoying bugs out, but also keeps other insects out of your living space. In addition, you should check to see if there are other entry routes for the bugs - such as cracks and crevices around the windows. Seal it carefully.

If the bugs are already in your apartment, you can attach glue traps, which are otherwise used for flies, around the windows. The pests get stuck on these and you can easily remove them from the living rooms. The vacuum cleaner offers another method: Simply suck in the bugs. This way you get rid of the bed bugs and you don't have to worry about the stench.

You may be dealing with predatory bugs, not stink bugs. As Recognize and get rid of predatory bugs can be found in our special article.