How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs Using Natural Methods

Stink bugs can be quite an eyesore and their distinctive foul odor can make you wrinkle your nose. While they don't typically cause significant harm in the garden, they can quickly become a nuisance when they invade your home. Chemical insecticides may have harmful side effects, but fortunately, there are natural ways to eliminate stink bugs. Here are some suggestions to help you deal with them.

Spread Diatomaceous Earth. Sprinkle this powder both indoors and outdoors, focusing on entrances such as windows, doors, and areas where stink bugs tend to gather.

• Diatomaceous earth is a natural sedimentary rock. It contains components such as silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, and iron oxide.
• This powder is effective in killing many types of insects, including stink bugs. It works by breaking down the protective wax coating on the exoskeleton of insects, which leads to dehydration.
• Choose diatomaceous earth that hasn't been heat-treated, as the heat treatment process can reduce its insect-killing effectiveness.
• In addition to spreading diatomaceous earth in areas where stink bugs frequent, you can also apply the powder directly onto the bugs when you spot them.

Make Garlic Spray. Mix 2 cups (500 ml) of water with 4 teaspoons (20 ml) of garlic powder in a spray bottle. Apply this solution to plant leaves, window sills, and other areas where stink bugs frequent.

• Stink bugs dislike the strong odor of garlic and tend to avoid areas with its scent. Garlic acts as a repellent rather than a killer.
• You can also chop up several garlic cloves and scatter them around stink bug hiding spots.

Repel Stink Bugs with Peppermint. Combine 10 drops of peppermint oil with 2 cups (500 ml) of water in a spray bottle. Spray this solution on entryways and areas where stink bugs typically hide.

• Like garlic, peppermint serves as a repellent, not a toxic agent. The strong scent can make stink bugs steer clear of the area.
• Instead of peppermint oil, you can use 1 teaspoon (10 ml) of peppermint leaf powder.

Use Catnip Leaves. Sprinkle catnip leaf powder around your garden and home, focusing on areas prone to stink bug infestation.

• Catnip also acts as a repellent, keeping stink bugs away without killing them.
• Catnip is a herb you can grow in your garden if you have the time and interest in long-term stink bug prevention.

Spray Soapy Water on Stink Bugs. Mix 1 liter of hot water with 3/4 cup (180 ml) of mild dish soap. Directly spray the solution onto stink bugs or areas where they gather.

• Soap kills stink bugs by breaking down their outer protective layer, causing dehydration.
• Antibacterial soap can also work, though it contains more chemicals than regular dish soap. Mild dish soap is generally considered the safest and most natural option.

Use Neem Oil. Mix 1 liter of warm water with 1-2 teaspoons (5-10 ml) of neem oil in a spray bottle. Apply the solution to plant leaves, window sills, entryways, and places where stink bugs hide.

• It may take about a week before you see results with neem oil. Neem oil works by disrupting the feeding and mating instincts of insects, eventually causing stink bugs to starve and become unable to lay eggs.

Use a Vacuum Cleaner to Suck Up Stink Bugs. Use either an industrial vacuum cleaner or a household vacuum with a dustbag to suck up stink bugs. Remove the dustbag and dispose of it immediately.

• After vacuuming, the vacuum cleaner may retain the stink bug odor for weeks or months. Therefore, you should avoid using bagless vacuums for this method.
• Transfer the vacuum bag into a larger trash bag and seal it tightly.
• Another option is to cover the vacuum nozzle with a nylon stocking. Secure it with a rubber band and stuff it into the vacuum tube. When the stocking is secured, stink bugs will get trapped inside rather than entering the vacuum filter. You can then remove the stocking, tie it up, and dispose of it.

Submerge Stink Bugs in Soapy Water. Fill a 4-liter bucket one-quarter full with water and add 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of dish soap or liquid soap. Place the bucket beneath the stink bugs climbing up and use gloves to swipe them into the soapy water.

• The soap will make the bugs unable to move, ultimately drowning them in the solution.
• Among the stink bug elimination methods, this one is probably the “least smelly,” as the bugs are killed fairly quickly.

Electrocute Stink Bugs Using an Insect Trap. Set up the device in an attic or other dark spaces following the manufacturer's instructions. Turn the trap on at night, and in the morning, sweep or vacuum up the dead stink bugs.

• The insect trap attracts stink bugs and other insects by luring them toward bright light. Upon entering the trap, they are electrocuted instantly.

Place Flypaper Traps Along Entryways. Set up flypaper traps along window sills, cracks, vents, and other entry points where stink bugs might be entering. Check the traps daily, dispose of them when they are covered with stink bugs, and replace them as needed.

• Since this method doesn’t kill stink bugs immediately, the bugs stuck on the traps may emit their distinctive odor after being caught.
• If you don’t have flypaper traps, you can use double-sided tape instead.

Knock Stink Bugs into an Empty Water Bottle. Take an empty water bottle, open the cap, and place it near the stink bug.

• Use the bottle to collect stink bugs and other insects.
• Seal the bottle tightly with the cap.
• Place the bottle with the stink bugs in the freezer (preferably a compartment that doesn't store food). A single night in the freezer will be enough to kill the stink bugs.
• Once the stink bugs are frozen to death, you can dispose of them in the trash or throw them outside and reuse the bottle.
• Alternatively, pour a bit of dish soap into the bottle and continue using it to trap as many stink bugs as possible. Trapping stink bugs on flat surfaces is often more successful when the bottle is placed open-side-down beneath the bug. The soap will suffocate them on contact.

Seal Windows and Doors Tight. Close off any cracks and gaps around windows and door frames using caulk.

• The most common entry points for stink bugs are windows, doors, baseboards, and ceiling lights. Sealing or repairing these openings will significantly reduce the number of stink bugs crawling around your house.

Install Protective Mesh on Vents. Use mesh to cover vents, chimney openings, and other areas leading to the outside.

Seal Any Gaps. Gaps larger than 2.5 cm need to be sealed properly.

• Fast-drying adhesives are often sufficient to seal smaller holes in mesh screens. Specially designed patch kits often come with instructions on how to use them.

Lau lưới chắn cửa sổ bằng giấy thơm làm mềm vải. Dùng một miếng giấy thơm thông thường và chà xát lên các tấm lưới chắn cửa sổ và cửa ra vào mỗi ngày cho đến khi vấn đề bọ xít được giải quyết.

• Giấy thơm làm mềm vải có mùi hương đặc biệt nồng đậm có thể công hiệu hơn loại giấy thơm không có nước hoa hoặc chỉ thơm nhẹ. Mục tiêu ở đây là xua đuổi bọ xít bằng cách tấn công khứu giác của chúng với mùi hương mạnh.
• Cách này được cho là có thể giảm số lượng bọ xít đến 80% trong vòng một hoặc hai tuần.

Gom lũ bọ vào khăn ẩm ngoài trời. Treo một chiếc khăn ướt lên băng ghế ngoài trời vào buổi chiều muộn. Sáng ra, một số lượng lớn bọ xít từ sân nhà bạn sẽ tụ tập trên chiếc khăn.

• Bạn có thể vắt khăn lên lan can, chậu trồng cây rỗng, cành cây hoặc bất cứ bề mặt nào trong sân. Treo dọc tốt hơn là treo ngang.
• Kết liễu lũ bọ xít trên khăn bằng cách nhanh tay nhúng toàn bộ khăn cùng với lũ bọ vào xô nước xà phòng.

Giết một số con bọ bên ngoài. Đi giày cũ và giẫm lên bọ xít hoặc nghiền nát chúng bằng một hòn đá.

• Biết rằng sẽ có mùi hôi của bọ xít. Khi bị giết, bọ xít sẽ tiết ra mùi hôi rất nồng nặc.
• Mùi của bọ xít tiết ra khi chết sẽ cảnh báo cho những con bọ xít khác trong vùng và chúng sẽ tránh xa.
• Bạn chỉ nên giết bọ xít bên ngoài, vì mùi bọ xít sẽ dễ tan trong không khí hơn là ở trong nhà.

Kiểm soát có dại. Loại bỏ hoặc nhổ bớt cỏ dại trong vườn.

• Cỏ dại thường thu hút bọ xít. Việc giảm có dại trong sân hoặc trên các luống hoa sẽ giúp vườn nhà bạn bớt hấp dẫn đối với bọ xít, do đó chúng sẽ ít đến hơn. Trong vườn có ít bọ xít hơn cũng có nghĩa là sẽ ít bọ xít vào nhà hơn.

Thu hút động vật săn bọ xít. Các loài động vật săn bọ xít tự nhiên bao gồm ruồi ký sinh, ong bắp cày, chim, cóc, nhện và bọ ngựa.

• Trồng hoa dại và thảo mộc. Những loài cây này thu hút ruồi ký sinh và ong bắp cày.
• Thu hút chim, cóc, nhện và bọ ngựa bằng các loài hoa và cây thảo mộc lâu năm.
• Bạn cũng có thể đặt mua bọ ngựa qua các ấn phẩm quảng cáo. Bọ xít bắt mồi, một loài thiên địch ăn trứng của bọ xít, cũng có thể mua được bằng cách này.

• Do not crush stink bugs inside the house. The odor they release will linger for quite some time, and you will soon regret this action.

• Diatomaceous Earth
• Garlic or Clove Powder
• Water
• Spray Bottle
• Peppermint Oil or Crushed Peppermint Leaves
• Catnip
• Dish Soap
• Neem Oil
• Vacuum Cleaner
• Knee-High Stockings
• Rubber Bands
• Bucket
• Electric Insect Trap
• Flypaper Traps
• Adhesive Paste
• Door Screens
• Fast-Drying Adhesive
• Scented Paper
• Cloth