Stink Bugs in New Jersey: How to Keep Them Out of Your Home

Brown marmorated stink bugs have become one of New Jersey's most frustrating fall pests. Every September and October, they appear by the hundreds on exterior walls, around windows, and inside homes. Essex County is firmly in the core of their range.

What Are Stink Bugs?

The brown marmorated stink bug is an invasive species from Asia first detected in the US in Allentown, PA in the late 1990s. New Jersey now has one of the heaviest infestations in the country.

Adult stink bugs are approximately 3/4 inch long with a distinctive shield shape and mottled brown coloring. When threatened or crushed, they release a pungent odor from glands on their abdomen — giving them their common name.

Why They Invade Homes

Stink bugs do not feed, breed, or cause structural damage inside your home. They enter for one reason: warmth. As temperatures drop in September, stink bugs search for sheltered overwintering sites. The walls, attics, and crawl spaces of heated homes are ideal.

Once inside wall voids, they become dormant. Warm days or the consistent heat inside a heated home can trigger them to emerge indoors, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.

When to Expect Stink Bugs in Essex County

• - August: Adults feeding on garden plants; occasional indoor incursions begin
• September and October: Peak aggregation on south-facing exterior walls; heavy entry attempts
• November through March: Dormant inside wall voids; occasional warm-day emergence
• April and May: Emergence from overwintering sites through windows and light fixtures

The worst entry period is typically the second half of September through mid-October.

Prevention: How to Keep Stink Bugs Out

Prevention is far more effective than dealing with stink bugs once inside. Seal all entry points before they begin aggregating in September.

• Seal these entry points — do this in August:
• Gaps around window frames and exterior trim
• Gaps around door frames — including the top and sides
• Around any pipe, conduit, or utility line entering the building
• Gaps in siding, particularly at corners and where siding meets foundation or soffit
• Attic vents — replace damaged screens with finer mesh
• Chimney caps — open chimneys are major entry points

Use quality exterior caulk for gaps around frames. For larger openings, use weather stripping, foam backer rod, or hardware cloth backed by caulk.

Reduce attractants: Exterior lighting attracts stink bugs. Switching to yellow or sodium vapor bulbs reduces attraction. Consider motion-activated rather than dusk-to-dawn exterior lights during September and October.

If They Are Already Inside

Do not crush stink bugs. The odor stains fabrics and can trigger other stink bugs.

For bugs found indoors: 1. Collect them with a tissue or gloved hand and drop into soapy water 2. Use a vacuum with a bag, then immediately remove the bag outdoors 3. Flush them down the toilet

Professional Treatment

Essex County Pest Control provides exterior perimeter treatments in early September that significantly reduce the number of stink bugs entering your home. Combined with proper sealing, professional exterior treatment is the most effective approach for heavily infested properties.

[Contact us](/contact) in August or early September to schedule treatment before peak aggregation season.