Stinkbugs
Don’t let them make themselves at home.
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The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug has become one of the most widespread overwintering pests in the Northeast, invading homes by the hundreds — or thousands — each fall as temperatures drop. While stink bugs don’t bite, sting, or damage structures, they release a pungent defensive odor when disturbed or crushed that permeates fabrics, carpets, and indoor air. A large indoor population can make your home genuinely unpleasant to live in for months.
Stink bug control is almost entirely a prevention story. Once they’re inside your walls, treatment options are limited. Select Exterminating specializes in pre-season exterior treatments and exclusion services that stop stink bugs before they enter — so you’re not spending all winter finding them on your curtains, your ceiling, and in your light fixtures.
Understanding stink bug infestations
Stink bugs follow a predictable seasonal pattern — and knowing what to watch for gives you the window you need to act before they get inside. These are the key warning signs that stink bug pressure is building on your property:
Large numbers of bugs congregating on exterior walls in fall
As days shorten and temperatures cool in September and October, stink bugs mass on south- and west-facing exterior walls to absorb heat before seeking overwintering sites. If you're seeing dozens or hundreds of stink bugs on your home's exterior in fall, an interior infestation is imminent without preventive action.
Bugs emerging inside your home in late winter and early spring
Stink bugs that successfully entered your home in the fall remain dormant inside wall voids and attic spaces during winter. As indoor temperatures warm in late winter and early spring, they become active again and emerge into living spaces, often in large numbers. Indoor emergence in February or March confirms they successfully overwintered inside.
Our stink bug treatment process
The window for effective stink bug treatment is narrow — and timing is everything. Our program is built around getting ahead of the fall invasion before it starts:
Detailed Inspection
Our technicians conduct a thorough exterior inspection in late summer or early fall, identifying entry points around windows, doors, utility penetrations, and siding gaps that stink bugs will exploit when they begin seeking overwintering sites.
Treatment Plan
We apply a perimeter residual treatment to the exterior of your home — including the roofline, eaves, windows, and foundation — in late summer before stink bugs begin their seasonal aggregation. Exclusion sealing of identified entry points is recommended alongside chemical treatment for maximum effectiveness.
Follow-Up
We schedule a follow-up treatment if fall pressure continues and a spring inspection to assess how many bugs successfully overwintered inside. Ongoing exclusion work and annual exterior treatment form the foundation of a long-term stink bug management program.
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Why choose our stink bug treatment
Our bed bug treatment utilizes the latest advances in technology and eco-friendly methods. With years of experience and thousands of successful treatments, we aim to deliver complete prevention.
Pre-season exterior treatments timed to stop overwintering before it begins
Exclusion sealing of entry points for maximum barrier effectiveness
Annual treatment program that builds long-term protection year over year
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I just kill the stink bugs I find inside?
Crushing or disturbing stink bugs indoors releases their defensive odor, which is difficult to remove from fabrics and surfaces. It can also attract more stink bugs, as the chemical they release (an aggregation pheromone) can draw additional individuals to the same location. The best approach indoors is careful removal with a vacuum or by trapping — or better yet, preventing entry in the first place.
Do stink bugs cause structural damage?
Stink bugs do not bite, chew wood, or damage structures. Their primary impact is as a nuisance pest. However, large overwintering populations inside walls can attract other predatory pests, and the odor they release — particularly from large numbers dying in inaccessible areas — can be persistent and unpleasant.
When is the best time to treat for stink bugs?
The most effective treatment window is late August through September, before stink bugs begin actively seeking overwintering sites. Treating after they’ve already entered wall voids is significantly less effective. Annual pre-season exterior treatment is the single most impactful step you can take.
Can I seal my home well enough to keep them out myself?
Thorough exclusion work — sealing gaps around windows, doors, utility penetrations, and siding — can significantly reduce entry. However, stink bugs are persistent and capable of finding very small openings. Professional exclusion combined with exterior chemical treatment provides the most effective barrier. We can assess your home’s specific vulnerabilities.
Will stink bugs hurt my garden or plants?
Yes — outside the home, stink bugs are serious agricultural pests. They use a piercing mouthpart to feed on fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants, leaving behind sunken, discolored feeding damage. Orchards, vegetable gardens, and fruit trees near the home can suffer meaningful damage during late summer stink bug season.