Do stink bugs bite or cause damage? The good news is that stink bugs don’t bite. They also don’t harm people or pets, nor do they spread disease.

Stink bugs are not poisonous to humans, but when crushed or chewed they will often release a liquid that has a very foul taste and odor that can cause some stomach upset, vomiting, and mouth irritation if swallowed.

While their bite may hurt, it is not poisonous. In some cases, people may experience a burning sensation if their skin comes into contact with the liquid stink bugs emit when disturbed or threatened. If a severe reaction occurs, contact a medical professional.

Combining hot water, white vinegar and dish soap in a spray bottle will get the job done with very little fuss. First, pour 2 cups of hot water in the spray bottle. Then add 1 cup of vinegar, followed by 1/2 cup of dish soap.

If you only have a few stink bugs the best strategy would be to just gently scoop up the stink bug with a piece of paper, or toilet paper, and flush it down the toilet. This will not threaten the stink bug so it will not release its foul odor, but will remove it from your house permanently.

Grab a can of foam spray to block holes around outdoor electrical outlets. But don’t flush stink bugs down the toilet, Raupp said. That will only waste water and drive up your water bill. Brush the bugs in and they will easily slide down, he said.

As they develop into adults, they often migrate into fields, orchards and residential landscapes. In these environments, stink bugs feed on apples, peaches, berries, peppers, beans and pecans. They also feed on field crops like sorghum and cotton. Around homes, stink bugs have been found feeding on ornamental plants.

Adults overwinter inside homes and other structures and will emerge sometime in the spring. When they emerge, female stink bugs begin mating and laying eggs, which are barrel-shaped and light green in color. Females may lay nearly 500 stink bug eggs during their lifetime, and produce several egg broods in one year.

These predatory stink bugs can actually help protect crops against destructive pests. They eat caterpillars, beetles and even plant-feeding stink bugs. Stink bugs can become household pests when they invade homes for warmth. They enter homes in the late summer or fall.

Stink Bugs Hibernate During Winter During the winter months, stink bugs will enter a state of hibernation. During this time, the pest will not breed or eat, until awakening in the spring.

When temperatures drop, stink bugs enter a special hibernation-like state called diapause. Diapause dramatically slows down the stink bug’s metabolism, allowing it to survive without food for long periods of time. Even if they entered diapause outside, their bodies would freeze and they would die.