Stink Bugs in Your House? How to Get Rid of Them

Short answer: you seal the gaps they squeeze through, and you treat the perimeter before they pick your house. It's mid-August across the WV/KY/OH Tri-State, and brown marmorated stink bugs are already starting to gather on warm siding in Huntington, Barboursville, Ashland, and Ironton. By October they're inside attics and wall voids all over the region. The good news: they're one of the most preventable fall pests we see. Here's what actually works.

Why stink bugs pick your house

Brown marmorated stink bugs (Halyomorpha halys) are shield-shaped, mottled brown, and about the size of a nickel. They don't breed inside your home, they don't chew wood, and they don't bite people or pets. They're looking for one thing: a warm, dry place to wait out the winter.

In late summer they fly to sun-warmed walls, usually the south or west side, then squeeze through the gaps in siding, window frames, vents, soffits, and around AC lines. Get a few hundred in and you'll know it: they gather on curtains, light fixtures, and ceilings, and they release a lingering, defensive odor when disturbed. That smell is the reason nobody just ignores them.

The prevention checklist to do before October

Walk the outside of your home once, before the weather turns, and knock out the entry points:

• Caulk and seal. Gaps where siding meets the foundation, around windows and doors, and anywhere utility lines (cable, AC, gas) enter the house.
• Screen the vents. Attic vents, ridge vents, and soffits need fine mesh, not just a loose cover. Stink bugs can work through surprisingly small openings.
• Fix door sweeps and garage seals. The bottom of the garage door is a favorite highway.
• Cut back the yard. Trim branches touching the roofline and move firewood away from the foundation. Bugs use vegetation as a bridge to your siding.
• Check what you carry in. They hitch rides on firewood, patio cushions, and boxes stored in the garage. A quick look before you bring things inside saves you a cleanup later.

What to do if stink bugs are already inside

First: don't squish them. The odor they release is defensive, it lingers, and it can stain. Vacuum them up and empty the bag outside. That's the safest DIY removal.

Second, skip the indoor bug spray for a handful of bugs. You'll be smelling the spray longer than you'd have smelled them.

Third, know what a handful means. If you're seeing stink bugs indoors in the fall, the entry points are already open. That's the sign that a perimeter treatment and a sealing pass are worth doing now, before the real cold sets in.

Why a perimeter treatment beats a DIY spray

Store-bought sprays dry up in a few weeks, and you have to hit every gap yourself, which means climbing ladders to reach the exact spots stink bugs use. A professional exterior perimeter treatment covers the zones where they actually gather, with products that hold up through the season, and it comes with a warranty. If they come back, we do too.

What Ultra's fall treatment includes

Through September 30 we're running our Fall Special: a full exterior perimeter treatment for stink bugs and Asian lady beetles, the two pests that show up together every fall, at 10% off with a 90-day warranty instead of the standard 60 days. Wasps and spiders are included at no extra cost. One visit covers five zones: a foundation band, soffits and vents (the #1 entry point for both pests), attic access, plus overwintering wasp activity and spider webbing around the exterior. See the Fall Special page for the full offer.

What it costs

A one-time treatment for stink bugs and occasional invaders starts around $225 with a 60-day warranty. This fall, the same perimeter treatment is 10% off with an extended 90-day warranty through the Fall Special, and it ends September 30. Already a customer? Call us and we'll tell you exactly what your plan covers. Not sure which way to go? A free estimate is free for a reason. Get yours here.

We're family-owned and we don't run a call center. When you call (304) 521-1174 or (606) 385-2056, you get a person who can actually schedule you. We're the local exterminator for Huntington, WV, Ashland, KY, and Ironton, OH, covering 14 communities across the tri-state.

FAQ

Do stink bugs bite? No. They don't bite people or pets, and they don't damage the home. They're a nuisance pest. The problems are the numbers and the smell.

Why am I suddenly finding stink bugs in my house in fall? They're an overwintering pest. When temperatures drop, they look for warm, dry shelter, and your siding is the first stop. Once a few find a way in, the rest follow.

How much does stink bug treatment cost? A one-time treatment starts around $225 with a 60-day warranty. Through September 30, the Fall Special is 10% off with an extended 90-day warranty. Details are on our Fall Special page.

Does Ultra Pest Control guarantee the work? Yes. The Fall Special carries a 90-day warranty, and every job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee. We're not done until you're happy.