Stink Bugs in Minnesota

The stink bug we see here in Minnesota is called the brown marmorated stink bug, or BMSB, for short. The stink bug is an invasive species from eastern Asia. They were brought over to North America most likely inside packing crates or on different types of machinery, such as cars or trucks. They were first spotted in 1998 in Pennsylvania, but were first spotted in Minnesota in 2010.

Once stink bugs arrived in North America, they quickly became an agricultural pest. They started eating vegetables, fruits, and field crops. Some of the produce they damage includes corn, cherries, lima beans, apples, peppers, and tomatoes. Stink bugs can also damage plants by eating leaves,s which can compromise the plant, making it easier for them to catch diseases. Since their arrival, they have damaged hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of products in the U.S. alone. Similar activity has been seen in Europe, as well. It is currently still very challenging to manage their population as researchers are still finding and designing a pesticide that is effective against them.

For most people, the main issue with stink bugs is that they overwinter inside homes. In early fall, stink bugs start looking for places to stay warm. They can be found sitting on the siding of homes, around windows and doors, as well as living inside leaf litter and vegetation near the home. The most effective way to keep them from entering inside is by raking away any edible vegetation and leaves and sealing up any possible entry points. Caulking around windows, replacing any old weather stripping with visible gaps, sealing around any exterior pipes, and installing a fireplace screen or cap that won’t allow any stink bugs to crawl through can be quite helpful in keeping these critters out of a home. If this ends up being too large a task, the next best option is to call BOGO to spray the outside of your home in the fall, providing a layer of protection that kills insects before they make their way inside. Once inside, it’s important to know that the insects will not be laying eggs or reproducing during the winter. The best way to remove insects from your home is with a vacuum. Pesticides are only effective in killing them if they are sprayed on the home’s exterior in the fall, not the interior.

BOGO, like the rest of the industry, is testing out new products and applications to find the most effective ways to maintain the population of stink bugs here in Minnesota.