How to get rid of brown marmorated stink bug, also known as the shield bug? I tried squishing one and the smell was awful. I’m not going to use bug spray because it’s poisonous to my koi. These insects are eating up my garden and they’re in my house. So what else can I do to make them go away?
Bernie S., Columbus, Ohio
These pesky insects invaded the US in the 1990s and spread fast. They love to eat orchard fruit like apples and nibble on beans in your garden. Moreover, they congregate on walls and windows after surviving the winter inside cracks and crevices. So if you want to how to get rid of the brown marmorated stink bug, you’re in good company. Lots of other people would like to do the same.
For example, you can read about natural home remedies that repel stink bugs here: https://www.tipsbulletin.com/how-to-get-rid-of-stink-bugs-simple-home-remedies/ .It turns out that the insects are sensitive to certain smells themselves. You can use this in your favor to deter them from entering your home and eating your plants.
One of the easiest ways to get rid of the shield bug is to spray garlic-scented water around the places where they enter or hang out. But if you’re not a fan of that odor, try mint and water. You can see both recipes in the article I mentioned.
On the other hand, instead of simply repelling stink bugs, you can kill them. All it takes is a simple mixture of dish soap and water. The detergent will cause the bugs to dehydrate and die.
Other methods of dealing with stink bugs include using neem oil or diatomaceous earth. You can try both of these treatments in your garden. While diatomaceous earth will kill the insects without harming beneficial bugs, the neem oil will stop them from reproducing. But avoid using neem oil around your fish.
Now you’ll free yourself from those brown marmorated stink bug invaders in no time.
Joan