It's Stink Bug Season In Illinois: How To Get Rid Of Them

ILLINOIS — 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 all across the country, including right here in Illinois.

According to the Morton Arboretum, "The brown marmorated stink bug or BMSB (Halyomorpha halys) is a relatively new pest for the Chicago area. It has been a serious crop pest in many Eastern states for a number of years. In the Chicago area it is mostly a nuisance pest, showing up in homes in fall."

The bugs are flat, with a shield-shaped body and antennae. 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.

The bugs, which can be as big as three-quarters of an inch long, typically head indoors when the weather gets cool in Chicagoland. A few years back, 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 points 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.

It's fall in Illinois! Here's what you need to know:

• Fall Foliage Peak Map 2019: When Autumn Leaves Are Best In IL
• Apple Orchards, Corn Mazes: Chicago-Area 2019 Guide
• Spirit Halloween Stores Opening In IL: Here's Where They Are
• Best Chicago-Area Pumpkin Patches 2019

Includes reporting by Patch Editor Kara Seymour