Brown marmorated stink bugs are a growing nuisance across Long Island and Westchester every fall. Here is what causes the annual invasion and how to prevent entry.
Every September and October, homeowners across Long Island and Westchester County notice large numbers of brown marmorated stink bugs congregating on the sunny sides of their homes. This predictable annual event is a behavioral response to shortening days and cooling temperatures as stink bugs seek warm protected sites to overwinter.
The brown marmorated stink bug arrived in New York in the mid-2000s after spreading from its initial introduction in Pennsylvania. It has no natural predators in North America and its numbers have grown substantially. In suburban communities throughout Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties, fall stink bug aggregations have become one of the most common homeowner complaints we receive.
Stink bugs can squeeze through gaps as small as 1/4 inch. They probe around window frames, door frames, utility penetrations, and soffit edges until they find a way in. Once one finds a successful entry point, it releases an aggregation pheromone that attracts others — which is why you might suddenly find dozens in a particular window area.
The most effective stink bug management is prevention — sealing exterior entry points in late August or September before the fall migration begins. Key areas to focus on: window and door frame gaps, foundation vents (install fine-mesh screen covers), soffit gaps, gaps around utility line penetrations, and the bottom of sliding glass doors.
A professional perimeter treatment applied in September covers the exterior walls, windows, and foundation and significantly reduces the number of stink bugs that successfully enter by creating a barrier that kills them as they probe the exterior surface.
The Bugs Stop Here provides stink bug prevention service across Long Island, Westchester County, The Bronx, and Rockland County. September is the ideal time to treat — call to schedule your fall perimeter treatment.
No. Stink bugs do not bite, sting, damage structures, or carry disease. They are a nuisance pest — their main impact is the odor they release when disturbed and their tendency to appear in large numbers in fall and early spring.
Vacuum them up using a vacuum with a bag — not a bagless model as the smell persists. Do not crush them. A light trap placed in an attic or basement captures large numbers passively.
Yes — stink bugs feed on fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. In home gardens they cause characteristic damage on tomatoes, peaches, and apples.
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