Stink bugs are common household pests recognized by their distinctive shield shape and the foul odor they release when disturbed. These insects, originally from Asia, became established in many regions, including the United States, posing a nuisance to homeowners and a significant threat to agriculture. Their presence often becomes noticeable as seasons change, leading many to wonder if cold weather offers a natural solution to managing their populations.
How Stink Bugs Endure Cold Weather
Stink bugs survive colder months through specific biological mechanisms and behaviors. As temperatures drop in late summer and fall, these insects seek sheltered locations to overwinter. They often migrate to the sunny sides of homes and commercial buildings, finding their way inside through available cracks, gaps, or crevices.
Once indoors, or in other protected natural spaces like under tree bark or in rock piles, stink bugs enter a dormant state known as diapause. This suspended development significantly slows their metabolic rate, conserving energy. This allows them to endure prolonged cold without feeding or active movement.
During diapause, stink bugs remain hidden, often in wall voids, attics, or crawl spaces, until warmer temperatures signal spring. Their use of insulated overwintering sites and reduced metabolic activity makes them resilient. This strategy helps them avoid lethal freezing.
Temperatures That Kill Stink Bugs
While cold weather affects stink bugs, most common winter temperatures are not sufficient to kill them outright, especially in sheltered locations. Stink bugs are cold-blooded, so their activity decreases as temperatures fall. They tolerate cold if protected from extreme, sustained sub-freezing conditions.
Lethal temperatures for stink bugs typically require prolonged exposure to temperatures well below freezing. For example, temperatures below approximately 14°F (-10°C) for an extended period without shelter can be fatal. Within insulated overwintering sites like homes, temperatures often remain above this threshold, allowing survival.
Stink bugs generally succumb to freezing when their body fluids freeze, which occurs at temperatures lower than water due to natural cryoprotectants. Short cold snaps might slow them, but only severe, sustained cold without protection is lethal. This explains their reappearance indoors as spring approaches.
Beyond Cold: Managing Stink Bug Infestations
Since cold weather alone often does not eliminate stink bug populations, managing infestations requires proactive measures. Homeowners can reduce indoor invasions by sealing potential entry points. This includes repairing damaged window and door screens, and sealing cracks and gaps in foundations, siding, utility pipes, and chimneys.
Physical removal is another effective, non-chemical approach once stink bugs are indoors. Vacuum cleaners can collect them, minimizing their characteristic foul odor release. After vacuuming, empty the bag or canister outdoors to prevent escape.
Alternatively, individual stink bugs can be picked up and dropped into soapy water to drown them. Light traps, such as a roasting pan with soapy water and a light in a dark room, can also attract and trap them. These preventive and physical removal methods form the most practical strategy for managing stink bug concerns.