Stink Bug FAQs For Phoenix Area Residents

What do stink bugs look like?

Stink bugs are shield-shaped insects, but they are not the only insects in Arizona with a shape that resembles a shield. How can you tell if you are looking at a stink bug? The shield shape of a stink bug is pointed at the bottom and only twice as high as it is wide. Other insects are longer or lack a pointed bottom.

You may also distinguish stink bugs from other insects by considering their brown and gray mottled coloration. Most stink bugs in Arizona are this color, with a lower rim of pale and brown spots. We also have some stink bugs that are mottled black and gray or leafy green.

Stink bugs are between ½ and ¾ of an inch long with two antennae and six legs. They scale walls and walk across ceilings. Indoors, they often perch on light fixtures and flutter down from their high hiding places.

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What do stink bugs eat?

Stink bugs are herbivores. They feed on a wide variety of vegetation. Here are a few favorites:

Certain fruits like citrus, tomatoes, and peaches
Certain vegetables like peppers and beans
Leaves and stems of a variety of crops and ornamental plants

While they prefer to eat plants, some stink bug species feed on other insects, such as weevils. Indoors, they don’t easily find suitable food for survival and are prone to die off quickly.

Why do stink bugs release an unpleasant odor?

Scientists believe stink bugs' bad smell is a defensive measure to ward off predators, similar to how a skunk defends itself. When disturbed, stink bugs release the smell from body glands. The scent may smell similar to cilantro. Outdoors, the smell dissipates quickly, but in enclosed spaces, it can linger for quite a while. To avoid the smell, avoid handling or crushing these insects.

Are stink bugs harmful?

These pests are not harmful to humans, dogs, or cats. They are just stinky houseguests. Here are a few facts to know:

Stink bugs don’t bite or sting, don’t carry diseases, and don’t have venom.
Some individuals are sensitive to the excretion of these pests and may have a mild allergic reaction.
A dog or cat can consume a stink bug without serious repercussions. But they aren’t likely to do it twice.
Stink bugs don’t readily release their stinky scent. It is possible to catch many of them by lightly scraping them from curtains, walls, and other surfaces into a trap made from a plastic soda bottle without incident.

Stink bugs caught in a soda bottle trap will crawl around inside and not release their protective scent—not even before they die. You may also sweep stink bugs up without causing them to release their scent. However, handling them will surely produce a defensive response.

How do stink bugs get into houses?

In Phoenix and surrounding areas, stink bugs often enter homes in the fall as temperatures drop. They use the same entry points other pests use. Here are a few to consider:

Openings in weatherstripping or door sweeps on exterior doors
Openings around utility lines
Gaps in structural materials
Damaged screens and open doors or windows
Gaps above foundation slabs
Structural gaps around exterior light fixtures
Unprotected gable vents and other vents

Stink bugs are drawn to homes with lots of exterior lighting or bright-colored exterior walls and will slip through tiny openings. Replacing white lights with yellow lights at night can help address both issues, as yellow lighting adds color to bright surfaces.

Do stink bugs cause property damage?

Stink bugs do not damage property like carpenter ants, termites, carpenter bees, and other wood-damaging pests do. They don’t tunnel in wood. They use openings that are already available. Unfortunately, when stink bugs find their way indoors, they can stain curtains, furniture, and other things with excrement.

If you have fruit trees in your yard, stink bugs can present problems. They can mar and discolor fruit when they use their sucking mouthparts to feed on the flesh. They may also damage vegetables in your garden.

What attracts stink bugs?

There are only a few factors that attract stink bugs.

When temperatures drop, stink bugs look to sun themselves on the sunny sides of buildings. As they congregate for warmth, they sometimes find their way indoors.
Stink bugs and other insects are attracted to white exterior lighting.
Fruits and vegetables. When stink bugs leave the crop fields, they may gravitate to properties that provide food.

Stink bugs don’t need a reason to come onto a property. Every year, they seek shelter when temperatures drop.

How do I handle a stink bug problem?

If you notice stink bugs on your property, contact Termio Pest Control before they can move indoors. Serving Tempe and the Phoenix area, our locally owned and operated pest control company offers effective pest treatments to keep bugs out.