Stink Bugs and Kudzu Bugs: The Smelly Side of Fall in the Tennessee Valley

Some fall pests are just annoying. Others are annoying and they stink. Stink bugs and kudzu bugs fall firmly in the second group. Both are moving toward homes right now as nights turn cool and afternoons stay warm, and both can leave behind an odor you won't forget.

Here's what Chattanooga and North Georgia homeowners need to know about these two smelly invaders.



Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs

The brown marmorated stink bug isn't native to the U.S. It arrived from Asia and has since spread across much of the country, including Tennessee and Georgia. Outdoors, it feeds on fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. In the fall, it heads for shelter, and your house is the perfect spot.

How to identify them:

• About 5/8 inch long, shaped like a shield
• Mottled brown or grayish-brown color
• Light-and-dark bands along the outer edges of the body
• White bands on the antennae

Why they're a problem:

• The smell. When disturbed or crushed, stink bugs release a strong odor that many people compare to cilantro or dirty socks. It can linger in a room and on your hands.
• They move in by the hundreds. Stink bugs squeeze into attics, wall voids, and behind siding and trim. A single home can shelter large numbers of them.
• They keep showing up. On warm winter days, stink bugs inside your walls wake up and wander into living spaces. You may find them on windows, lamps, and ceilings well into spring.

Stink bugs don't bite people, don't damage your home's structure, and don't reproduce indoors during the winter. But they are one of the most common fall pest complaints we hear about.

Kudzu Bugs: A Southern Problem

If there's kudzu near your home, and in the Tennessee Valley there usually is, you've probably met the kudzu bug. These pests were first found in the U.S. near Atlanta in 2009 and quickly spread across the Southeast, following the kudzu (and soybean fields) wherever it grows.

How to identify them:

• Small, about 1/4 inch long
• Olive-green to brownish, speckled body
• Squarish, almost round shape, a bit like a tiny beetle
• Often found in large clusters

Why they're a problem:

• They swarm light-colored surfaces. In the fall, kudzu bugs leave the kudzu and gather on white and light-colored siding, cars, and even people wearing light clothing.
• They smell and stain. Like stink bugs, they release an odor when disturbed. The fluid can also leave yellowish-orange stains on surfaces.
• Skin irritation. Some people get red marks or irritation after handling or crushing kudzu bugs.
• They get inside. Kudzu bugs find their way through gaps around windows, doors, and siding to spend the winter indoors.

Why You Should Never Squash Them

It's tempting to grab a shoe or a tissue, but crushing stink bugs or kudzu bugs releases their odor and can stain walls, floors, and fabrics. Instead:

• Vacuum them up. Use a vacuum you can empty right away, or slip an old knee-high stocking into the vacuum hose to trap them, then tie it off and toss it in an outdoor trash can.
• Use soapy water. Knock bugs into a container of water with a little dish soap. They'll drown quickly.
• Wear gloves if you need to handle kudzu bugs, especially if you have sensitive skin.

How to Keep Them Out

Keeping stink bugs and kudzu bugs out of your home comes down to closing the doors they use. Here's a quick fall checklist:

• Caulk gaps around windows, doors, trim, and where siding meets the foundation.
• Replace damaged weatherstripping and door sweeps.
• Repair torn window screens and make sure attic and soffit vents are screened.
• Seal openings around pipes, cables, dryer vents, and outdoor faucets.
• Check chimney caps and the areas around window air conditioners.
• Trim back vegetation, and if possible, clear kudzu growing near your home.

When to Call the Pros

If you're seeing stink bugs or kudzu bugs on your siding, inside your windows, or in your attic, it's time to act before more of them settle in for the winter. GPM's Exterior Perimeter Control creates a barrier around the outside of your home, right where these pests gather and try to get in. Learn more on our Stink Bugs page.

And because GPM provides monthly pest control instead of quarterly, your home stays protected as each new seasonal pest wave arrives. We're a local, family-owned company that has served Chattanooga, Southeast Tennessee, and North Georgia since 2006, with over 40 years of hands-on experience.

Call us today at 423-517-7378, email office@gpmpestcontrol.net, or request a quote online. Don't forget to grab our special deal for new customers.