Since their arrival in the US in the 1990s, stink bugs have multiplied and spread rapidly to become one of the most common pests around.
This makes many people currently under infestation wonder: where do stink bugs lay eggs? Do they hide them indoors?
- If you’ve ever been unlucky enough to have squished one of these critters, you probably know what comes next!
- As temperatures begin to drop in the fall and intensify into the winter, stink bugs tend to become more visible as they search for warmer surroundings (in your home).
- Stink bugs lay their eggs outdoors.
If you’ve noticed these pests in your home and are wondering if they’re laying eggs, then you can take some comfort in the fact that stink bugs generally do not lay their eggs indoors.
Where Do Stink Bugs Lay Their Eggs?
Stink bugs prefer being outdoors, but seek indoor salvation for warmth. They may remain indoors for a while and may attack your houseplants. But fortunately, they won’t reproduce until they’re back to their natural habitats.
Stink bugs prefer being outdoors, but seek indoor salvation for warmth. They may remain indoors for a while and may attack your houseplants. But fortunately, they won’t reproduce until they’re back to their natural habitats.
The mating and reproduction period for stink bugs is generally during the spring when the temperature starts to increase again. Female stink bugs may be ready to lay eggs as soon as 5 days after mating and can lay anywhere between 20 – 30 eggs at a time.
Stink bugs’ eggs are usually barrel-shaped and roughly one millimeter in diameter. Females will only lay their eggs on the underside of leaves and can lay up to 400 eggs across their lifetime.
This reproduction quantity is in the range of the fearsomely speedy-spawning cockroach. It’s not surprising stink bugs have invaded the entire US so quickly.
Baby stink bugs are known as nymphs. They take just over a normal calendar month to grow into adults, during which time they go through five stages lasting about a week each.
When newly hatched, nymphs do not look much like their parents and tend to be rounder with black and orange coloring, almost like little ticks. During this phase, they can regrow their limbs if needed.
How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs From Your Home
Stink bugs are small and can squeeze through tiny gaps, openings, cracks, and vents to find warmer refuge in homes. The first and most important step to ridding your home of these and most bugs is to find and seal up all possible points of entry for the bug to get in. Once you’ve done that, use a pesticide or your preferred DIY method for bug removal.
This is the same for virtually all home-invading pests. They don’t generally come through the front door, they find a little crack that you missed.
The first and most important step to ridding your home of these and most bugs is to find and seal up all possible points of entry for the bug to get in. Once you’ve done that, use a pesticide or your preferred DIY method for bug removal.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when removing stink bugs from your home:
- Reduce light sources – Light causes warmth which is the primary attraction for most cold-blooded insects. Switching off the bright porch or boundary lights is a great way to reduce the likelihood of bugs entering your home.
- Remove attractions – Do not allow damp spot build-ups and store fruits and vegetables in the fridge or freezer when possible. Stink bugs love their fruits and veggies, after all.
- Install screens – Window and door screens are extremely effective in keeping creepy crawlies out of your home. Check to make sure your screens don’t have any little holes in them. There are several items available and are generally not very expensive to purchase.
Many people find cloves and clove oil to be effective natural stink bug repellant.
How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs From Your Yard
Getting rid of stink bugs is definitely possible if you’re only driving them away from your home. Due to their rapid reproduction rate over a short lifespan, stink bugs will very often return, albeit future generations of the original home invader.
But getting rid of stink bugs in your garden is a different sort of task, one you probably won’t be able to do completely.
But getting rid of stink bugs in your garden is a different sort of task, one you probably won’t be able to do completely.
Stink bugs are generally herbivores, meaning they can feed on a variety of plants and shrubs, including those that you may have been trying to grow for a while!
As a natural method of getting rid of stink bugs from your garden, you could consider planting trees that stink bugs are naturally repelled by. These include:
- Wintergreen mint
- Garlic
- Lavender
- Lemongrass
The scent emitted by these plants is often used in pesticides and repellents designed to kill a variety of bugs. Plus, you’ll be giving your garden a splash of diversity at the same time.
If you come across stink bug eggs or nymphs on leaves in your yard, they can be easily removed by scraping them off and drowning them in water and detergent.
Conclusion
Stink bugs are unfortunately now a common pest found in residential and remote areas alike. These bugs seek out warm conditions during fall and winter months and generally enter homes for cold-weather shelter.
Stink bugs do not generally lay their eggs indoors and tend to favor the underneath of leaves outdoors.
Getting rid of a significant stink bug infestation can be difficult, but there are worse home infestations out there! The more you can control them in your yard, the fewer you will have in your house.
Good luck!
