How To Get Rid Of Green Stink Bugs

Getting rid of a green stink bug infestation (most often Chinavia hilaris) without our professional help can be challenging, but it’s possible with diligence, proper exclusion, and a combination of mechanical and chemical methods. Here’s how to eliminate these stink bugs effectively from a home or business on your own:

Identify and Locate the Problem

Before you act, determine:

Where they’re entering: around windows, doors, vents, siding gaps, or attic vents.
Where they’re hiding: window sills, curtain folds, ceiling corners, attics, light fixtures, or behind furniture.
When they’re most active: they typically seek shelter indoors in the fall and emerge again in spring when temperatures rise.

Physical Removal and Vacuuming

Use a shop vacuum or handheld vacuum with a bag or disposable liner to remove stink bugs. Empty the vacuum outside immediately—if crushed, stink bugs release a pungent odor.
Alternatively, use a soapy water trap: fill a bucket or bowl with warm water and dish soap, and knock stink bugs into it. The soap breaks their surface tension and drowns them.

Seal Entry Points (Exclusion)

Long-term success depends on keeping them out:

Caulk cracks and gaps around windows, siding, pipes, soffits, and utility entry points.
Install or repair window and door screens.
Fit door sweeps and weather stripping to seal gaps.
Cover vents and chimneys with fine mesh screen.
Seal attic and crawl space openings, which are common overwintering spots.

Light Management

Stink bugs are attracted to light:

Turn off outdoor lights at night or use yellow “bug lights,” which are less attractive to insects.
Close curtains and blinds during the evening to reduce attraction to indoor lights.

Natural and DIY Repellents

Soapy Water Spray: Mix water with a few drops of dish soap and spray directly on stink bugs to kill them.
Garlic Spray: Mix 2 cups of water with 4 teaspoons of garlic powder or crushed garlic cloves. Spray around entry points—stink bugs dislike the smell.
Mint or Neem Oil Spray: A mix of essential oils (peppermint or neem) and water can act as a deterrent. Neem oil is especially effective against nymphs and can disrupt their development.

Trapping

Homemade Light Trap: Place a bowl of soapy water under a desk lamp or LED light in a dark room at night. Stink bugs drawn to the light will fall in and drown.
Sticky Traps: Useful for monitoring activity and catching small numbers, especially around windows and attics.

Use of Over-the-Counter Insecticides (With Caution)

For severe infestations:

Apply residual sprays labeled for indoor stink bug control (such as products containing cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, or bifenthrin) around window frames, baseboards, and entry points.
Always follow label directions—some formulations are for outdoor use only.
Treat outdoor perimeters, especially in late summer and early fall, to prevent overwintering entry.

Dispose of Stink Bugs Properly

Never crush them—this releases their odor and can attract more.

Use the soapy water method for humane and odor-free disposal.
Empty vacuums or containers outdoors, away from the building.

Prevention for Future Infestations

Keep vegetation, weeds, and mulch trimmed back from exterior walls to reduce nearby harborage sites.
Store firewood, garden supplies, and outdoor furniture away from the structure.
Consider planting less attractive vegetation—stink bugs feed on fruit trees, tomatoes, beans, and corn.

While these methods can dramatically reduce stink bug numbers, large or recurring infestations—especially overwintering populations in walls or attics—are extremely difficult to eradicate completely without professional-grade materials and equipment. Our professionals use specialized residual insecticides and dust treatments in hidden voids where stink bugs overwinter, which aren’t typically available to the public.

The Best Way To Get Rid Of Green Stink Bugs

Our professional pest control is significantly more effective than DIY methods for eliminating a green stink bug infestation because our professionals use specialized techniques, targeted treatments, and preventive strategies that go beyond surface-level fixes:

Expert Identification and Targeted Treatment: Green stink bugs are often confused with similar species, and misidentifying them can lead to wasted effort and ineffective treatments. Our professionals correctly identify the species, locate nesting and overwintering areas, and select the most effective products and techniques—something most DIY options can’t guarantee.
Access to Professional-Grade Products: Over-the-counter insecticides tend to be weaker and provide only temporary relief. We have access to EPA-regulated, professional-grade products designed to control stink bugs at every stage of life—adults, nymphs, and eggs. These products deliver more consistent and longer-lasting results while being safe when properly applied.
Comprehensive Inspection and Exclusion: Our professionals don’t just treat the symptoms of an infestation; we address the source. We perform detailed inspections to find and seal entry points—like gaps around windows, doors, vents, and siding—preventing future infestations. DIY methods often overlook these small but crucial access points.
Strategic, Whole-Property Approach: Green stink bugs often invade both indoors and outdoors. Our professionals treat the exterior perimeter, eaves, soffits, and vegetation where the bugs feed and breed, while also addressing any interior activity. This integrated approach eliminates existing populations and protects against re-entry.
Seasonal and Preventive Expertise: Stink bugs are known for seeking shelter indoors during cooler months. Our pest control professionals understand their seasonal behavior and can time treatments to intercept them before they enter, preventing overwintering issues that DIY sprays typically can’t handle.
Safety and Environmental Protection: Our professionals know how to apply products safely and effectively, minimizing risks to people, pets, and the environment. DIY treatments can result in over-application, misuse, or exposure that can be harmful or counterproductive.
Long-Term Prevention and Monitoring: Our professional services don’t stop with one treatment—we includes ongoing treatments and monitoring with our preventative maintenance plans. This ensures the infestation is fully resolved and helps avoid future problems, something DIY approaches rarely achieve.
Cost-Effectiveness in the Long Run: While DIY seems cheaper initially, repeated ineffective treatments can quickly add up. Our professional services provide lasting control, saving money, time, and frustration over multiple DIY attempts.

Our professional pest control offers expert precision, safer methods, more powerful products, and lasting prevention, making it the superior choice for fully eliminating and preventing green stink bug infestations.