Stink Bugs in Westchester County: How to Get Rid of Them This Fall

Stink Bug Season Has Arrived in Westchester County

Every September in Westchester County, the same call starts coming in: "I keep finding these brown shield-shaped bugs crawling up my windows and coming in through my siding." The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is one of the most predictable fall pest events in the Hudson Valley, and if you have not had them yet, your neighbors almost certainly have.

Westchester County Pest Control ((914) 202-4197) treats stink bug invasions throughout Westchester County every fall. This guide explains why they are here, when to act, and what actually works.

Why Stink Bugs Are Everywhere in Westchester County Right Now

Stink bugs do not breed inside your home. They use it as a winter shelter — a behavior called diapause. As day length shortens and overnight temperatures drop in September and October, stink bugs stop feeding and begin searching for overwintering sites. Your home, particularly the south and west-facing walls that absorb the most afternoon sun, is exactly what they are looking for.

Westchester County's combination of factors drives particularly high stink bug pressure:

Agricultural areas in northern Westchester — the orchards, farms, and community gardens in Yorktown, Somers, and the Chappaqua/New Castle area support large summer stink bug populations that disperse toward homes in fall.

Ornamental landscaping — the mature fruit trees, berry shrubs, and vegetable gardens common in Westchester yards feed stink bug populations throughout the growing season.

Older housing stock — pre-1970 homes throughout White Plains, Tarrytown, Hastings-on-Hudson, and Dobbs Ferry have more gaps and deteriorated seals than newer construction, giving stink bugs far more entry points.

The Hudson Valley microclimate — the river valley keeps temperatures higher than inland areas of New York, extending stink bug active season and allowing larger populations to build each summer.

How Stink Bugs Are Getting In

If you are seeing stink bugs inside your home, they are entering through some combination of:

• Gaps around window and door frames where caulk has cracked or shrunk

• Tears in window screens — even a small tear is large enough for them to squeeze through

• Gaps under exterior doors with worn weather stripping

• Openings around utility penetrations — cable TV lines, HVAC conduits, outdoor water spigots

• Gaps where siding meets the foundation, particularly on older homes with lap siding

• Attic vents and soffit vents with deteriorated screening

• Chimneys and fireplace openings

Stink bugs can compress their bodies to fit through surprisingly small gaps. A complete seal of the exterior is required to stop them.

What to Do Right Now (September and October)

The window for effective stink bug prevention is September through mid-October — before temperatures drop low enough to reduce their activity. Here is what to do:

1. Inspect and caulk your exterior. Walk the complete perimeter of your home and caulk every crack, gap, and penetration you find. Use a high-quality exterior silicone or latex caulk. Pay particular attention to window frames, the foundation-to-siding transition, and any areas where utilities enter the home.

2. Replace damaged screens. Check every window and door screen for tears. Even small tears should be repaired or replaced.

3. Install or replace door sweeps. Worn door sweeps on exterior doors are a common stink bug entry point.

4. Schedule a professional perimeter treatment. Westchester County Pest Control applies professional-grade perimeter treatments to exterior walls, eaves, and window frames during peak invasion season. This residual treatment significantly reduces the number of stink bugs that make it inside. Call (914) 202-4197 to schedule a fall treatment for your Westchester County home.

If Stink Bugs Are Already Inside

If stink bugs are already in your wall voids or attic, exclusion will stop new ones from entering but will not eliminate those already inside. They will remain dormant through winter and begin emerging in your living space as temperatures warm in March and April.

What to do with the ones inside:

• Use a vacuum to collect them and immediately empty the vacuum outdoors — do not crush them

• A bowl of soapy water placed under a bright lamp catches stink bugs that fly toward light

• Seal gaps around interior light fixtures and ceiling fan bases where bugs emerge from wall voids

For large interior infestations, professional interior treatment targeting wall voids and attic spaces can reduce springtime emergence significantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get rid of stink bugs in Westchester County?

The most effective approach is a two-part strategy: professional perimeter treatment applied to exterior walls in September, combined with thorough exclusion work sealing gaps around windows, doors, siding, and utility penetrations. This stops new bugs from entering and dramatically reduces the population inside. Westchester County Pest Control ((914) 202-4197) provides both services for homeowners throughout Westchester County.

Why do I have so many stink bugs this year?

Stink bug populations in Westchester County vary year to year based on winter severity (mild winters allow more overwintering bugs to survive), spring/summer temperatures, and local agricultural activity. Years with warm summers and mild falls tend to produce the largest fall invasions. If you have abundant fruit trees, berry bushes, or vegetable gardens on your property, you are likely supporting a larger local population than your neighbors.

Are stink bugs harmful?

Stink bugs do not bite, sting, damage wood structures, or contaminate food. Their impact is nuisance — the odor when disturbed, the unsettling presence of large numbers, and the staining their secretions can cause on fabrics and surfaces. However, large infestations inside wall voids attract secondary pests like carpet beetles, and living with hundreds of stink bugs is genuinely unpleasant. Prevention is worthwhile.

When should I call a pest control professional for stink bugs?

Call Westchester County Pest Control at (914) 202-4197 as soon as you start seeing stink bugs aggregate on your exterior walls in September — that is the best moment to apply a perimeter treatment before they make it inside. If you are already seeing them indoors, call us to assess the extent of the interior infestation and determine whether interior treatment is warranted.