Using traps is one the known ways to control stink bugs. You can make your own (DIY) stink bug traps or buy a ready-made one from professional pest agencies. Some of the pre-made traps are obviously going to be relatively expensive and may be poorly made. Likewise, some may not meet your requirements.
If you have right the tools and skills, you can however make own traps at home that are convenient to use and individually personalized to you. You can choose to buy or make your own…it all depends on you.
Beware of stink bug trap ideas and products that do not work as they may drain your pockets. For instance, the claim that use of a repellent that uses a high pitched frequency to trap stink bugs is a bit too far-fetched and will not work.
The reason behind using a stink bug trap may be varying with different people or situations but may include:
- You may have tried methods involving preventing the entry of stink bugs into your house without or with minimal success. You are therefore looking for an alternative method that will help you fight these insects.
- Since not all methods that have been proposed for dealing with stink bugs are 100% effective, you may want to augment them with a stink bug trap. Making a collaborative approach to getting rid of stink bugs is the best way and is encouraged.
- You are probably looking for a method that is less involving with you having to do inspections and seal cracks and crevices or windows in your house. Which means that you are in need of a method that will concentrate the stink bugs in a localized area for you to be able to catch and kill them easily and without much hassle.
- Sometimes, it is important to have a taste of a variety of methods so that you have firsthand information regarding the use of such methods. You are aware that secondary information can be at times and most a times misleading.
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Do Stink Bug Traps work?
There are stink bug traps that have been shown to work while there are those that do not. The traps that do work are able to lure stink bugs towards them and catch the stink bugs.
This means that you may be successful in catching a few tens of stink bugs at the end of the day though this may be accompanied by a few problems.
If you have an infestation of thousands of stink bugs, then using stink bug traps may only offer relief from a very insignificant percentage of the overall infestation.
Even if you do manage to do so, you would continue catching stink bugs to the extent that you would be able to fill buckets and buckets of stink bugs monthly or yearly.
Now you understand that traps would not scare away stink bugs and would not be so appropriate for the control of stink bugs.
This method may be however very effective when dealing with stink bug infestations at the end of a winter season or at the beginning of the spring during which they will want to go out and reproduce after their diapause.
Those that do not work are those that when in use, do not fulfil the claims made on the package or in its source. One comical sample of this instance would be using a stink bug trap that is meant to attract stink bugs yet when in use, the ‘victims’ do not even notice or care.
They would also not work if you use them wrongly or when you use an indoor trap in the garden. There are traps that work in a certain set of conditions such as an optimal temperature.
With most traps, when it gets too cold, they do not work. The worry about such products is that they are at times massing high star ratings in online marketing platforms yet they are utterly poor in their job.
Therefore, with all these, you will notice that it is imperative to have a professional pest control agency to have them choose or advice you on what traps to select. This will save you the extra money too.
DIY Homemade Stink Bug Trap
In order to make a homemade stink bug trap, you will need the following materials in your check-list:
- LED lights
- Electrical Tape (Black)
- Masking Tape
- A Razor Blade/Scalpel
- A Bottle of Water (2L)
Here are the steps that you will need to follow:
- Start off by cutting the bottle close to the center but closer to the top than to the bottom just to ensure that you have a 2/3rd at the bottom.
- Using the masking tape, now wrap the bottom of the bottle you have cut in order to help focus the LED. When the LED is best focused, you will be able to achieve optimum effectiveness.
- It is not time to focus your LED light so that it faces the bottom of the bottle.
- Hoping you did not throw the top part of the bottle that you earlier cut, now invert this portion into the lower portion of the bottle so that you make a funnel off it.
- Get your masking tape then do an up-to-down taping just to ensure that stink bugs easily climb the bottle. Once they are inside, they shouldn’t be able to climb out and you should ensure this is deterred by not taping the inside of the bottle.
- Switch on the LED light and switch off the lights in the room you have this trap placed. Go to sleep.
- In the morning, have a look at what you have collected. You will find stink bugs inside the bottle.
Best Stink Bug Traps Reviews
Some of the best stink bug traps that you will get in the market are;
RESCUE! Non-Toxic Reusable Stink Bug Trap
This is a trap that you can use in summer, spring and early fall. They are able to lure insects such as stink bugs that are within a radius of 36 meters.
It employs pheromones that the stink bug produces when it wants to attract a mating partner. Through this mechanism, it is therefore able to attract both male and female stink bugs.
While it claims to have the ability to attract even the nymphs, this might be arguable as at this point, they might not be well acquainted to the pheromones as well as being able to produce.
It is favorable for the interception of adults stink bugs from entering your home.
The good thing with this product is that it is a 4-week attractant that can be used outdoors and most fascinating, since it uses pheromones, it is odorless. When the bugs enter the cone, they are trapped and are dehydrated.
Biocare SBT6 Stink Bug Trap for Indoor Use
This product is for indoor use and is designed to be reusable. The good thing about is that it has no pesticides and is accorded some really convenient simplicity in both packaging design and its use.
Once this product has trapped the stink bugs, they are not killed but rather just physically trapped. If you are an insect lover, then you can let this stink bugs out.
It is however advisable to have these stink bugs let out in a place really far away from your garden or you home. Alternatively, you can choose to use a damp bag and have it disposed.
Strube Professional Indoor Stink Bug Trap
This product has a natural secret scent that is known to attract stink bugs. In addition, it is able to kill stink bugs and is meant for indoor use.
This trap uses an internal light that is connected with a power cord about 6 feet long quite convenient for use away from the walls and placement at the center of the room.
It also comes with a cord with which you can hand the trap somewhere to improve its centrality. It has a sticky glue that ensures the stink bugs do not escape.
This trap was developed through hard sweat by one Andy Strube in order to solve the infestation problem he had and it has been shown to work well.
Bonide Stink Bug Trap
This trap also works on pheromone technology and is really effective against the stink bugs especially the brown marmorated stink bug. You are to use it in your garden and around your home.
The sticky super glue it employs makes the stink bugs trapped. Such traps are best for spring, all summers and the early fall when it is a bit warmer and there are enough food supplies for the stink bugs.
Therefore, it will not be able to trap stink bugs effectively if these conditions are met.
When using this trap, you are required to fold it so that the part that is yellow and sticky faces outwards. Then hand the trap above the ground away from the garden about 10 feet or the fruit tree.
To finish off, remove the backing from the side that is sticky on the trap and so will you with the lure from the pouch and placing it on the trap. Leave it overnight.
Further Reading
- What Do Stink Bugs Smell Like, Why and how to Get rid
- What do Stink Bugs Eat-How long can they Stay without Food
- Stink Bug Life Cycle-Eggs, Baby Stink Bugs, Adults & Span
- Do Stink Bugs Bite? Are they Harmful or Poisonous to pets & Humans?
- What Does a Stink Bug look like? Pictures & Look Alikes
- Facts About Stink Bugs-Types, Origin, Habitat & FAQs
- Stink Bug Traps-Homemade DIY,How to Make & Reviews
- How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs-Kill, Repel & Deter Tips