Stink Bug Season Is Back In Colorado: How To Defend Your Home

The Centennial State is preparing for the upcoming winter, and if humans are getting ready for the cold, you know wildlife and insects are too. Some critters are so bold as to invite themselves into your home for the winter. Believe it or not, this is already happening around Grand Junction.

Insects are looking for ways to get inside your house right now. One of the worst culprits in Colorado is the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. If they get inside and invite their friends to join them, you're going be in for a very stinky winter.

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The Colorado Stink Bug

The Colorado Stink Bug (Brown Marmorated Stink Bug) loves the entire state of Colorado and can be found in any county. The Stink Bug is an Arthropod. It will bite and can cause red, itchy bumps on your skin. These bugs love finding a way inside and away from the cold. Do You know what they do next? They give off a stinky smell so that more of their stink bug friends find their way into your home, too.

If you or someone you know have had a stink bug problem, you know this is an awful thing to try and fix.

How Stinky Are Colorado Stink Bugs?

Several accounts say the stink bug smells like cooking herb cilantro. Others say it smells like rancid meat. Do you know what happens if you smash them? More stink! Yup, squashing them makes everything worse. You'll want to act now to make sure they don't come inside.

One of their favorite tricks is to gather on your firewood. Their odd shape and color make it easy for them to blend in with your fireplace logs. It ends up being you who carried them into your house, and you didn't even know it. Knock those logs together a few times before you bring them in.

How To Defend Your Home From Stink Bugs

A few tips to defend your home against stink bugs can be found online with the folks at Pest World. 

Release the Kraken: You can't squash stink bugs, so what can you do? Vacuum them up. Squashing the bugs only creates more stink. Empty the vacuum bag or canister right away.

Hit The Lights: Stink Bugs love it when you leave the lights on at night. Keeping the porch light off when you can goes a long way. It also helps to use yellow or sodium vapor bulbs as the bugs don't care for that type of light.

Check Your Screens: If there are no screens on your windows, stink bugs will find a way in. Mesh screens are often your first line of defense.

Check For Cracks: Stink Bugs can not get through weather stripping or caulk. Walk around the house and make sure you fill in any places they might be using to sneak inside.

Do Not Feed Them: Do not leave food out on the counters for stink bugs to feed off of. They will only want to stay longer and invite their friends. Make sure you do not leave them a food source on the kitchen table overnight.

Stay Dry: Stink Bugs and other insects love water. Check your home for leaking pipes and clogged drains so you don't create an environment pests like.

Help From the Garden: Plants like lavender, catnip, and garlic are all easy to keep in your garden, and they all help make stink bugs run the other way.