They might be on your curtains, in corners in your home, and just blatantly scurrying around. If you are unlucky enough to disturb one accidentally, you are hit with an odor that can only be described as stink. The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, or its shortened title, stink bug, is a common household pest Long Islanders encounter each fall.
So What Does a Stink Bug Smell Like?
This is the million-dollar question that isn’t so quickly answered. If you ask ten different people what the odor that stink bugs emit smells like, you will likely receive ten different answers. The pungent odor emitted by this bug has been described as smelling like:
- cilantro
- woody
- oily
- burnt tires
- ammonia-like
- familiar to that of a skunk
Interestingly, one of the compounds present in cilantro is also present in the stink bug’s chemical makeup. Some people don’t recognize any odors at all. It all depends on the person’s olfactory glands and what species of stink bug they encounter.
However, this odor is a part of how the pest protects itself. Stink bugs effuse their odor as a defense mechanism for real or perceived threats. Nymphs or baby stink bugs have glands on the underside of their abdomen while adults have these glands on their thoraxes. These glands are responsible for housing the concoction of chemicals that is to be blamed for the notoriously foul odors. They also have the ability to spray this liquid a few feet away from themselves. This is why people are still affected by the scent even after moving away.
How Long Does Stink Bug Smell Last?
Whether it’s herbaceous cilantro or the fetor of skunk, the odor diffused by the stink bug will only last for a few hours. If the unfortunate scenario occurs where you have crushed it, or it happened to have disbursed its odiferous smell onto your household surfaces, a mixture of warm soapy water combined with hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar will rid you of the stench.
Why Are Stink Bugs In My Long Island Home?
Essentially, stink bugs are just a nuisance to humans and are in no way harmful. However, they do pose a severe threat to your backyard garden as they will feast on your fruits and vegetable plants. Brown marmorated stink bugs seek refuge in your home to hibernate as the temperature drops. The good news? They don’t procreate during this season, so no need to worry that you will have baby stinkers scampering about.
There is also, however, the not-so-good news. Even though they don’t turn your home into a breeding ground, they disperse a pheromone that attracts other stink bugs. Unfortunately, you will still end up with a nasty infestation.
How to You Get Rid Of Stink Bugs in New York?
The best way to combat stink bugs is to prevent them from the start. Unlike a lot of other pests we see on Long Island, in order for a stink bug treatment to be most effective, it actually needs to be applied BEFORE the pests show up!
In addition to preventative treatment, as fall approaches, thoroughly inspect your home for cracks, openings, and breaks and seal them as soon as possible. Shut your windows at the first sign of dusk and limit outside lighting. However, insects are known for their persistence and may still thwart your best efforts.
If you don’t want to lose the fight against stink bugs this fall, and currently reside in Nassau or Suffolk County, you have no need to worry. Suburban Exterminating is a premier full-service pest management company focused on keeping your home pest-free*.
