Stink Bugs Have Returned to Indiana: Here’s How to Get Rid of Them

It's that time of year again when stink bugs begin to invade your home. Here are some tips and DIY home remedies to get rid of them.

It's officially fall season, and you know what that means: colder weather, bonfires, pumpkin spice, apple cider, and soups. However, it also means that it is the official return of the dreaded stink bugs. Knock on wood, I haven't seen one in my house yet, but I know that it's bound to happen. Sooner or later, these pests will sneak into your house and try to live rent-free. So now is a good time to review everything you need to know about stink bugs like how they got here, why they are invading your home, and most importantly, how to get rid of them.

Before we dive into how to get rid of stink bugs, it's important to know why they are in your house, what attracts them, and where they are commonly found inside.

How did they get here?

According to Orkin.com, the brown marmorated stink bugs (BMSBs) are actually native to Asian countries like China and Japan. Somehow, they were accidentally brought to the United States around 1998. Since then, they have spread all over the country, including Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois.

Why are they invading our homes?

Stink bugs tend to seek shelter during late summer and early fall to essentially keep warm. According to Orkin.com, they gain entry into structures through cracks, crevices, gaps, and holes in foundations, window and door frames, soffits, attics, and underneath siding. The insects will chill out in your house until the early spring months looking for a way to get back outdoors. It is during these cooler months that you might notice the nuisance in your house and might be looking for a way to get rid of them.

Don't crush them!!!

First things first. Your natural instinct when you see these insects in your home might be to crush them. These things are called "stink bugs" for a reason, folks. When you see them in your house, don't crush them. Whenever these insects are threatened or crushed, they give off this nasty odor as a defense mechanism to keep predators away...or in this case, to annoy homeowners.

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So how should you get rid of stink bugs if you can't crush them?

First off, if you don't want them in your house, don't let them in. Seal up any cracks or seams on your doors and windows to let the bugs know that they aren't welcome in your home!

According to Orkin.com, an easy way to get rid of them is by vacuuming them up. However, it would work best if you have one of those vacuums with a removable bag because if not, your vacuum will have that dreaded stink bug smell for quite some time. However, I have found some DIY home remedies to get rid of these pests inside your home.

Home Remedies For Stink Bugs

Garlic Spry Mix

Apparently, stink bugs HATE the smell of garlic. If you can stand the smell, this is said to work well:

• 4 teaspoons garlic
• 2 cups of water
• Spray bottle

Whole Cloves

Simply go to the grocery store and buy some whole cloves from the spice aisle. Place a few cloves inside windows and doorways throughout your house. Stink bugs will be turned off by the odor and find somewhere else to invade.

Soap Spry Mix

• Get yourself a spray bottle
• Pour in 2 tablespoons of blue Dawn dish soap
• Fill with water

Spray this mixture all over your outside doors and windows, or any cracks/holes you might have around the outside of your home. Stink bugs hate the smell! Repeat every two or three days for best results.

Mint Spray Mix

This is the same idea as the Garlic Spray Mix, it will just make your home smell more desirable for you and less for stink bugs.

• 2 cups of water
• 10 drops Mint Oil or 2 tsp ground mint leaves
• Spray bottle

Mothballs

Toss some mothballs in your attic and other areas where they might gather. The odor will make them think twice about entering your home uninvited.

Hopefully, these DIY home remedies will help you get rid of stink bugs in your home quickly. If the pests become too out of control, it's probably a good idea to contact your local exterminator to handle the situation.

Oh, and if you have a fruit fly or gnat problem, I found a pretty good home remedy to get rid of them too. You can check that out by clicking here.