Stink Bug Season Returns To Illinois: How To Get Rid Of Them

Rotting cherries. That's the comparison many use to describe the stench of the stink bug, a pest that first made its way into the United States from Asia in the mid- to late-1990s. Today, the bugs — which give off a foul odor as a defense mechanism to keep from being eaten by birds and lizards — can be found across the country, including right here in Illinois.

Chicago-area residents should be aware that just handling the pests can trigger them to release the nasty stench, so if you spot one, whatever you do, don't squash it.

There is a DIY way to get rid of the yucky bug. A group of researchers from Virginia Tech University conducted a study that found that instead of a fancy contraption, all you need is a pan of water and a light to attract the bugs to their doom.

While store-bought stink bug traps can cost up to $50, the homemade trap is easy and cheap. This is all you need:

• A large pan (an aluminum foil one if you want to toss it, because honestly, who wants to reuse a pan that’s had bugs floating in it?)
• Water and dish soap
• A light to attract the bugs

Researchers from Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences found the best way to get rid of the little buggers: Just fill a foil roasting pan with water and dish soap, and put a light over the pan to attract the bugs in a dark room. The trap eliminated 14 times more stink bugs than store-bought traps, the study found.

Homeowners can use a vacuum to suck up sting bugs from their walls and windows, but doing so could leave your vacuum with an unpleasant smell. (For more events and local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Plainfield Patch, and click here to find your local Illinois Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

The bugs, which can be as big as three-quarters of an inch long, typically head indoors when the weather gets cool in Chicagoland. Field Museum insect collections manager Crystal Maier told DNAInfo the best way to keep them from getting inside is to seal cracks, doors, windows and any other point of entry. If you see one in your house, there's a good chance there are many more.

Aside from the unpleasantness of their foul stench, there's not much to fear from the pesky pests. According to Orkin, "Stink bugs do not prefer to bite people. In fact, most species of stink bugs feed on plants. They suck the juice from leaves, stems, and roots of plants." They tend to attack seeds, nuts and fruit, including peaches, apples, tomatoes, green peppers, soybeans and pecans. Some stink bug species are predators, but they eat other bugs.

Photo via Pixabay

Includes reporting by Patch Editor Kara Seymour