Meet the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

If you grew up not knowing what a stink bug was, congratulations — you remember a better time.

The brown marmorated stink bug is a relatively new American nuisance. It is believed to have arrived in a shipping container from Asia and was first identified in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the late 1990s. Since then, it has spread to more than 40 states.

The shield-shaped bug does not bite, sting, spread disease, damage your house or reproduce indoors. It does not even eat while inside your home.

What it does is hide.

As cooler weather arrives, stink bugs slip into walls, attics, baseboards, light fixtures and other quiet spaces to wait out winter. Then they appear indoors at the worst possible times, buzzing around lamps, windows and living rooms like confused little helicopters.

Crush one, and you will quickly understand the name. The smell is strong, unpleasant, and can attract more stink bugs to the same spot.

They usually enter homes in September and October through small gaps around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, vents and soffits. The best defense is prevention: seal cracks, replace worn weather stripping, and close openings before fall.

Once they are inside, experts generally advise against indoor pesticide sprays. Sprays often do little and may create another problem by leaving dead bugs that attract other pests.

The better method is simple: vacuum them up. A shop vac is best, since a regular vacuum may smell for weeks. Afterward, dump the bugs into soapy water.

The brown marmorated stink bug may not be dangerous, but it has perfected the art of being deeply annoying.