The main reasons we have so many stink bugs are:
- They are invasive species originally from East Asia and have spread widely across the U.S. They thrive in the climate which is ideal for their reproduction, allowing their populations to rapidly increase.
- Stink bugs seek shelter in homes during fall and winter to enter diapause, an inactive hibernation-like state. They enter through cracks and crevices in buildings.
- They release aggregation pheromones that attract other stink bugs to the same location, creating large groups indoors.
- Stink bugs are attracted to lights and warm dry places, making houses especially inviting in cooler months.
- They feed on various agricultural crops and plants, and often live near rural or green spaces. As food becomes scarce with seasonal changes, they move towards homes.
- In warmer U.S. regions, multiple generations per year increase their numbers explosively.
Overall, the combination of their invasive nature, favorable climate, seasonal behavior, attraction to homes for shelter, and reproductive capacity explains why stink bug populations can become so large and problematic.
