Are You Ready for Stink Bugs? How to Prepare and Remove Them

Stink bugs show up in South Florida mostly in fall and spring, when they crowd garden plants, gather on sunny walls and sometimes find their way indoors. Being ready means sealing the gaps they use before they arrive and knowing how to remove the ones that get in without filling the room with their smell.

Stink bugs are harmless to people and your home, but they are hard on tomatoes, beans and ornamentals, and a few dozen on the window screens can feel like an invasion. This guide covers which stink bugs live in Florida, when to expect them, how to keep them outside and the cleanest ways to get rid of them.

Which Stink Bugs Live in South Florida?

Stink bugs are shield-shaped true bugs with piercing-sucking mouthparts and scent glands that release a strong defensive odor. UF/IFAS Extension in Polk County notes that some species can spray this odor a few inches. Not all of them are pests.

The Southern Green Stink Bug

According to UF/IFAS, the southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula) feeds on a long list of crops, including beans, southern peas, tomatoes and soybeans, plus weeds such as beggarweed. Females lay barrel-shaped eggs in masses of 30 to 130 on the undersides of leaves, and one female can lay up to 260 eggs in her lifetime. The life cycle takes 65 to 70 days, and in warm climates the species can produce up to four generations a year.

Its feeding leaves hard brown or black spots on fruit, can make young fruit wither and drop, and can spread tomato bacterial spot.

What About the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug?

This is the invasive species behind news stories about houses covered in stink bugs. In one documented case, 26,205 adults were collected in a single home over 181 days. In Florida, it remains rare. A 2019 UF/IFAS publication reports that the only confirmed established population in the state was in Lake County, and that most earlier Florida finds were single bugs that likely hitchhiked from northern states. It also notes that parked recreational vehicles and cargo containers serve as overwintering sites that help it spread.

If you are moving to South Florida or bringing a car, RV or stored furniture from up north, check it before unloading.

When Are Stink Bugs Most Active in Florida?

The old saying that stink bugs come “in spring and fall” holds up in Florida. UF/IFAS Extension reports that the southern green stink bug is most prevalent from October to December and from March to April.

Adults spend the cooler months hiding in tree bark, leaf litter and other sheltered spots. When spring temperatures rise, they come out to feed and lay eggs. Fall brings a second surge as large late-season populations look for food and shelter.

Why Stink Bugs Get Into Your Home

Stink bugs do not come inside to eat or breed. They come in looking for a sheltered place to rest, and they are very good at finding gaps.

• Tiny cracks. NC State Extension notes that stink bugs can enter through cracks as small as 1/16 inch.
• Sunny walls. Oregon State University Extension reports that stink bugs gather on sunny walls, especially western and southern exposures and light-colored surfaces.
• Common entry points. Cracks around windows and doors, utility pipes, siding and the gap under fascia boards.
• Open doors and torn screens. On busy days, bugs simply walk or fly in.
• Host plants nearby. A vegetable garden, beans or weedy edges next to the house keep a steady supply of bugs close to your walls.

How to Prepare Your Home Before Stink Bug Season

The best time to act is September and February, just before the fall and spring peaks.

Seal the Outside

• Caulk around window and door frames, which NC State Extension calls the best way to prevent entry.
• Seal gaps where pipes, cables, dryer vents and AC lines enter the house.
• Close cracks along siding and under fascia boards. Oregon State suggests quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk, foam sealant or weather stripping.
• Repair or replace damaged window and door screens.
• Install door sweeps on exterior doors, including the garage.

Manage the Garden

• Inspect the undersides of leaves on beans, tomatoes and peppers for egg masses and pick them off.
• Keep weeds down along garden edges and fences.
• Leave the natural enemies alone. UF/IFAS lists a tachinid fly that parasitizes adult and young stink bugs and a tiny wasp that attacks their eggs.
• Learn to recognize the beneficial spined soldier bug so you do not remove a helper.

How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs Without Squashing Them

Your two basic choices are to leave them be or to remove them. Since stink bugs do not breed indoors, a few stragglers will eventually die or leave, but most people would rather not share the living room. These methods remove them without the smell.

1. Vacuum them up. A handheld or shop vacuum is the fastest method. NC State Extension warns that the vacuum may smell like stink bugs afterward, so use an older one. Oregon State suggests stuffing a nylon stocking into the vacuum tube to catch the bugs before they reach the bag, then emptying them into soapy water.
2. Use soapy water. Hold a jar or bucket of water with a little dish soap under the bug and tap it in. The bug cannot climb back out.
3. Set a light trap. Place a foil roasting pan with water and dish soap in a dark room and shine a lamp on it. Bugs drawn to the light fall in.
4. Scoop and flush. For a single bug, a tissue and the toilet is a simple, low-tech option.
5. Do not just toss them outside. NC State Extension points out that bugs released outside will often get right back in.

Commercial traps are available, but UF/IFAS notes that home traps have varying levels of success. Treat them as a backup, not a solution.

When to Call a Professional

Call a pest control professional when stink bugs keep turning up indoors every week despite sealing, when you cannot find where they are getting in, or when you are seeing several kinds of insects coming through the same gaps. A professional can identify the species, find entry points around the roofline, vents and utility openings, and recommend a plan that fits your property.

Toro Pest Management has served South Florida since 1969, with on-staff entomologists and technicians trained at the TORO Institute. A free inspection identifies what you are dealing with and how it is getting in, and Toro’s residential pest control services offer ongoing protection inside and outside the home. Backed by the 110% Satisfaction Guarantee, if the bugs come back, so will Toro, at no additional cost to you.

Keep Learning About Stink Bugs and Their Relatives

Stink bugs are part of a large group of true bugs, and several relatives cause trouble around South Florida homes:

• For the history, biology and odor defense of these insects, read everything you need to know about stink bugs.
• Red-and-black bugs on the walls may be boxelder bugs or their Florida look-alike, which are handled in a similar way.
• In the lawn, the sap-sucking chinch bug is a true bug that causes yellow patches in St. Augustine grass.
• Stink bugs are one of several insects that become active as the weather warms; see 7 spring insects that may move into your home and our spring pest control checklist.

Contact Toro today

A free inspection & $25 off your first service

A trained Toro technician inspects your home or business, explains what was found and gives you a clear plan and quote, backed by our 110% Satisfaction Guarantee.

305-594-4767

Schedule My Free InspectionCall Toro Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Educational content. This article is for general information about pests in South Florida and is not medical, legal or professional advice. If you have a bite, sting or allergic reaction, contact your doctor; in an emergency, call 911. Pest problems vary from home to home, so a licensed professional should inspect before treatment. When using any pesticide, always read and follow the product label.

Related articles

What Is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)? A Guide for South Florida5 Pests Probably Planning a Home Invasion From Your BackyardHow to Enjoy a Pest-Free Barbecue: A Host's Food and Guest Checklist