The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug has become a common nuisance across the United States, known for its distinctive shield shape and tendency to invade homes. This invasive species, originally from Asia, often appears in large numbers during the cooler months, leading many people to wonder if they are building a communal home inside the walls. While their presence indoors can be alarming, the idea that these insects construct a permanent structure for living or reproduction is a misconception.
The Direct Answer
Stink bugs are solitary insects and do not build nests, which are protective structures constructed by social insects like ants or bees. Unlike social species that dedicate resources to maintaining a colony structure, the stink bug is highly mobile throughout its active life cycle. They do not exhibit the cooperative behavior or complex social organization necessary to create a communal nest or hive.
The insects found inside are temporary visitors seeking shelter, not establishing a permanent, reproductive residence. Their behavior is focused on survival, using the building as a protective space. They move in and out through small cracks and openings as environmental conditions change. While they may gather in large numbers, they are not actively building anything.
Where Stink Bugs Reproduce
Since stink bugs do not build nests, reproduction occurs exclusively outdoors in natural environments during the warmer seasons. A female will lay her eggs in small clusters, typically containing 20 to 30 eggs. These clusters are secured to the underside of leaves and other foliage on host plants, where the newly hatched young can immediately begin feeding.
The eggs are usually light green or pale blue when first laid. They progress through five nymphal stages after hatching, and the nymphs disperse quickly from the egg mass to find their own food sources. The entire development cycle from egg to adult takes approximately 40 to 60 days, depending on temperature. This process never takes place inside a home or man-made structure.
Why Stink Bugs Gather in Homes
The common sight of numerous stink bugs indoors is the result of an overwintering strategy, not nesting behavior. As daylight shortens and temperatures drop in late summer and early fall, adult stink bugs seek a protected site to enter a state of dormancy called diapause. They enter buildings to find a warm, dry refuge that shields them from freezing temperatures during the winter.
This large-scale movement into structures is known as aggregation, often triggered by chemical signals. Stink bugs release aggregation pheromones, which alert others to a suitable overwintering location, leading to large clusters. Once inside, they hide in secluded, undisturbed areas such as wall voids, attics, or crawl spaces, waiting for spring before resuming outdoor activity.