What is the best way to deal with ‘stink bugs’ in our French home?

Reader Question: I am worried about stink bugs getting inside our home in the south of France. We have had a couple inside sometimes and they just appear suddenly. What can we do? 

The term ‘stink bugs’ usually refers to the brown marmorated stink bug (in French punaise diabolique) which originated in east Asia but were first detected in France earlier this century. 

The bugs are now present in several departments and are seen as an invasive species.

Stink bugs are considered to be pests due to the damage they can do to crops – the brown marmorated stink bug in particular feeds on 100 types of tree crop including some commonly grown in France (apple, kiwi, pear, peach, apricot). 

However, they are also known for their tendency to enter buildings and housing complexes in large numbers over the autumn and winter periods. 

Stink bug populations enter homes in larger numbers than other bug types – in some cases thousands at a time – and are known for settling into homes quickly before hibernating.

The warmth inside homes can cause the animals to wake up early, entering living spaces and becoming a nuisance.

Each bug can lay up to 200 eggs, meaning they can quickly overwhelm a property and run rampant if not checked.

The animals do not bite, but leave a distinctive unpleasant odour (hence the name) and can be tough to remove. 

If crushed, they release an even fouler odour, which some people and pets are allergic to.

How can they be dealt with?

Unlike certain other animals including processionary caterpillars – or invasive species such as palm weevils – authorities do not need to be notified about the presence of stink bugs

Read more: People with gardens urged to spot and report this common but dangerous pest via French ministry site

For the presence of a single bug or two, less squeamish people can pick them up – gently using a piece of paper – and place the bugs back outside or away from their garden. 

Be sure to check for other bugs however, as if one is inside your property there is a chance that you may find several have snuck in.

Using an indoor insecticide is possible, but these may have negative side effects. 

Traditional remedies can stave off stink bugs and make them leave without killing them and causing them to release their foul smell.

Two example remedies are:: 

• Mix 400 ml of water with 4 teaspoons of garlic powder. Spray on windowsills or any other place where bedbugs are present. The smell of garlic will cause them to leave.

• Add 10 drops of mint essential oil to 500 ml of water and spray. Similarly to garlic, the strong mint scent will make the bugs leave

If you have an infestation, calling a pest control company is possible if the situation is severe. 

Costs can vary, but are around €90 per disinfecting session required. 

If you have repeated infestations, there may be a larger issue with the structure of your property, that has an easy access point for bugs.