Are Stink Bugs Harmful to Humans and Pets? What to Know About Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs

The kinds of insects that we consider pests when they invade our homes all tend to have a beneficial purpose outdoors in their natural habitats. We can positively appreciate their existence, to a degree—and then there are stink bugs.

If you live in Alabama, it is entirely fair to have negative feelings about the Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs. Not only do stink bugs smell horrible and almost seem like they relish the irritation they cause by randomly landing on people (stink bugs don’t have the capacity for that… or do they?), but they’re an invasive species from Asia. In other words, stink bugs are not supposed to be in Alabama, and they disrupt the innate order of the food chain.

We’ve now established that disliking stink bugs is entirely valid. However, you’re here because you want to know the answer to the question in this article’s title: Are stink bugs harmful to humans? Keep reading and join our pest experts in taking a closer look.

Are Stink Bugs Harmful to Humans?

If you want to know whether stink bugs are harmful to humans, it depends: do you consider their awful stench to be “harmful?” 

In all seriousness, the answer is no. Stink bugs are not poisonous and don’t have a painful bite, sting, or anything like that. They’re just severely annoying.

Can Stink Bugs Hurt Pets?

Fortunately for your precious feline and canine companions, stink bugs can’t hurt them either. 

Can Stink Bugs Destroy My Stuff?

Despite stink bugs not being very threatening, the answer to this question can be yes. 

Stink bugs aren’t going to leave holes in your clothes like moth and butterfly larvae, and they won’t destroy all the wood in your home like a termite. 

However, stink bugs are easily scared; when they are afraid, they excrete a stinky liquid from an abdominal gland. This gross-smelling essence can stain porous materials, so if it gets on anything made of fabric, it can leave behind a stain.

What’s the Best Way to Get Rid of Stink Bugs?

• Fill cracks in baseboards, windows, and elsewhere with caulk, grout, or foam insulation. 
• Vacuum them up: Stink bugs can fly to evade your vacuum, but they are relatively large, so it is not as difficult to trap, smack, or vacuum them as flies.
• Don’t let them inside: Watch for stink bugs entering doorways from outside; they’ll try to hitch a ride on your clothes or stuff. But you can brush them off with a twig, and they’ll fearfully fly away. 
• Turn off the lights: Light leads stink bugs to their next destination, like moths and flies. Avoid leaving the porch lights on for long periods. 
• Call Our Experts: Household insects are no match for the Vulcan Termite team—stink bugs are no exception.

For 40+ years, our team of integrative pest solutions professionals from Vulcan Termite & Pest Control has proudly aided hundreds of families in Birmingham and nearby communities by eradicating invasive pests on their property. 

Call us today at 205-663-4200 or contact us online to request our services. We’ll gladly perform a FREE evaluation and create and implement an effective strategy using our tried-and-true methods, so you and your family can return to your daily activities safely and comfortably in a pest-free home.

Thanks for reading this edition of our weekly pest blogs! Are you curious to keep learning about common critters found in Alabama or how to safely and humanely deal with them when they show up on your property uninvited? Check out more of our blogs for helpful tips, tricks, and educational content!