Stink Bugs

- Shield‑shaped brown bug about 1/2 inch long that emits a pungent odor when crushed. - Clusters of bugs aggregating on sunny, south‑facing walls or inside attics in fall. - White banding on the antennae and a mottled brown appearance. - Small beetle‑like movement near windows and eaves during cool autumn days.

Perimeter seal and exclusion (primary strategy); residual insecticide treatment of exterior walls in fall before entry season; vacuum removal of overwintering clusters inside without crushing. Primary control is exclusion—sealing gaps and applying a targeted exterior residual in early fall—plus careful vacuum removal of indoor clusters rather than squashing them.

• Seal all gaps around windows, doors, soffits, and utility penetrations before September.
• Install tight-fitting door sweeps and replace damaged window screens.
• Use a vacuum to collect interior invaders; empty bag immediately outdoors.
• Turn off exterior lights at night during fall aggregation season to reduce attraction.
• Inspect firewood and outdoor furniture for hitchhiking bugs before bringing inside.
• Seal cracks around windows, doors, soffits and utility penetrations before September.
• Install tight‑fitting door sweeps and repair torn window screens.
• Turn off or reduce exterior lighting at night during aggregation season to lower attraction.
• Inspect and shake out firewood and outdoor furniture before bringing indoors from creekside yards.
• Use a vacuum to remove indoor stink bugs and empty the contents outdoors immediately.

Overwinters in large aggregations inside wall voids, attics, and crawlspaces; invasive agricultural pest feeding on a wide range of fruits and vegetables; enters structures in fall seeking warmth.

Brown marmorated stink bugs commonly appear in Asheville in the fall as they seek warm overwintering spots on sunny walls, attics and crawlspaces of homes across the city.