Most of the more well-known products are ready to use spray cans and don’t require any mixing or a sprayer to use. The advantage of using a concentrate over a ready to use product is that you can adjust the potency if the base amount isn’t working, make sure to stay within the guidelines of the label.
The last point is that you need a sprayer of some sort to apply the product. That is really good because it gives you more control over your application, and when you are spraying inside of a home, you want absolute control over the product that you are using.
5 Best Spray for Stink Bugs
Short on time? Take a look below for the top 5 in our list. Otherwise, check out our buying guide below.
1. Temprid FX Insecticide
The stinkbug is one of the most annoying pests to have in your home. Most likely, you are dealing with the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, but if you have some other variety, Temprid treats for several variations.
If you kill them, not only can they stain whatever surface they are on, but as their name suggests, they leave behind a stink. So if you are going to use a pesticide to get rid of these creatures, you want to make sure it is going to work, work fast, and work the first time.
Temprid FX uses imidacloprid and Cyfluthrin as its two active ingredients. Because this product has two separate active ingredients, it can easily combat over 50 different insects with one application, including stink bugs.
When treating around the home, it is especially important to read the entire label and to stay away from areas such as sinks, bathtubs, and bedding that this product might fall onto if you spray above them.
Besides using two separate active ingredients, Temprid also has one of the highest concentrations of active ingredients resting squarely at a combined strength of 31.5%. A little bit of this concentrate will go a long way, and for most people, one bottle will probably last you a lifetime.
The last point I want to talk about in favor of Temprid FX is that once you treat your home with it, the product lasts for three months.
Unlike many “name brand” pesticides that work for a week, and you need to retreat. This means that not only will you take care of the stink bugs flying around your home, but when their eggs hatch, your treatment will still be there to kill them off before they can nest again.
The Good:
- Temprid FX has two active ingredients working at the same time.
- This product treats 50 different pests and all types of stink bugs.
- This product has one of the highest concentrations of active ingredients on the market.
- Residual effects for up to 3 months.
The Bad:
- Temprid FX has a mild odor.
Features:
- Temprid FX has two active ingredients working at the same time.
- This product treats 50 different pests and all types of stink bugs.
- This product has one of the highest concentrations of active ingredients on the market.
2. Dyna-Gro Pure Neem Oil
One way to give stink bugs the boot without altering the balance of the ecosystem in your garden is to use neem oil. For those on a budget, we recommend Pure Neem Oil by Dyna-Gro: it’s an eco-friendly way to keep your crops (and your wallet) intact.
Dyna-Gro Pure Neem Oil acts as both a leaf polish for outdoor enthusiasts looking for a more aesthetically-pleasing garden area and also a pest control agent. Neem oil suffocates pests which would normally feast on leaves, whereas beneficial insects like ladybugs and honeybees (which leave crops unblemished) are left untouched.
We love this product not only because it’s a natural alternative, but because it’s an awesome choice for someone on a budget. You’ll need a spray nozzle, but not much else.
We recommend Dyna-Gro Pure Neem Oil to those who not only want to save a few bucks, but are looking for a green alternative to pesticides, or perhaps want to look out for the beneficial insects which live in the garden alongside the pests.
The Good:
- Gets rid of stink bugs and invasive pests
- Doesn’t harm beneficial insects in garden
- Uses a natural oil instead of chemical compound
- More affordable than competitors
The Bad:
- The smell bothers some users
- Difficult to use in colder climates due to hardening effects
- More effective as a leaf polish than a pest control agent
Features:
- Environmentally-friendly and green way to rid garden of stink bugs
- Won’t harm beneficial insects
- Uses a natural oil instead of chemical compound
3. Tempo WSP
One of the most trusted brands in the pest control industry, Tempo now comes in a soluble pouch for easy mixing. One packet makes five gallons of finished solution and it can cover up to 5,000 sq ft.
Tempo WSP contains 10% Cyfluthrin, a powerful pyrethroid insecticide. It’s contained within a wettable powder that quickly dissolves in water. So, it sprays uniformly, even on porous surfaces.
Tempo WSP is especially effective for stink bugs. It also works on these pests:
- Ants
- Crickets
- Fleas
- Spiders
- Yellowjackets
The Good:
- Effective for a wide variety of pests
- Convenient packets, easy to mix
- Fast-acting, especially for stink bugs
- Good residual, lasts up to 90 days
The Bad:
- May leave a white powdery film on dark surfaces
Features:
- Effective for a wide variety of pests
- Convenient packets, easy to mix
- Fast-acting, especially for stink bugs
4. Neem Bliss 100% Pure Cold Pressed Neem Seed Oil
Neem Bliss 100% Pure Cold Pressed Neem Seed Oil is another product completely derived from the seeds of the neem tree, outsourced from India.
This oil is ideal for use indoors and outdoors to control pests in a green way—perfect for those who want to kill and repel stink bugs without the hassle and the risk of chemical insecticides.
Neem oil is concentrated and should be mixed manually with water. Neem seeds contain the natural chemical compound Azadirachtin. which is one of only a small handful solutions approved by the EPA to fight against stink bugs.
Neem Bliss 100% Pure Cold Pressed Neem Seed Oil works spectacularly as a pest control agent, as its purity infers that it contains nothing but Azadirachtin.
We recommend this product to anyone looking for a harmless way to fight the stink bugs while keeping the rest of the ecosystem in balance around them.
The Good:
- This product is 100% pure neem oil and environmentally friendly
- Kills stink bugs and other pests while keeping plants healthy
- Can be used indoors as well as outdoors
- Safe to use around all kinds of pets and kids of all ages
The Bad:
- Requires a spray nozzle or bottle to administer
- The oil has a strong odor
- Difficult to use in cold climates due to oil coagulation
Features:
- Environmentally-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides
- Kills stink bugs and other pests through suffocation
- Can be used indoors as well as outdoors
5. Cyzmic CS
Cyzmic CS is a controlled release insecticide that packs a punch. It can knock out even the heaviest stink bug infestations. And it’s formulated to last for up to 90 days.
Here are a few of the other common pests Cyzmic CS can handle:
- Bed bugs
- Scorpions
- Cockroaches
- Carpenter bees
- Pantry pests
Cyzmic CS is a variable-release pesticide, meaning that the active ingredient releases at different intervals. This gives it the advantage of being one of the longest-lasting knockdown sprays in the industry. So, whatever pest you’re up against, Cyzmic CS will take care of it quickly and for a long time.
The Good:
- Superior knockdown strength
- High residual, long-lasting
- Works well for most crawling pests
- Low toxicity
The Bad:
- Thicker than most insecticides in its category, may be difficult to mix
Features:
- Superior knockdown strength
- High residual, long-lasting
- Works well for most crawling pests
Stink Bugs and the EPA
Currently, the US Environmental Protection Agency recognizes stink bugs not only as the invasive pests they are for homes, businesses, schools, and agricultural sites, but also as a non-native species which is difficult to naturally regulate.
Due to its migration from the Asian continent in the 1990s, the stink bug has no innate predators. These pests breed at an alarming rate, covering an entire area swiftly. These bugs chew up any kind of crop they can find, decimating plants until the skeletons of the stalks remain.
What kind of sprays can you use to control stink bugs, and stop this from happening in your backyard? Keep reading to find out!
Outdoor Sprays
As tempting as it may be to launch any kind of insecticide you can find at these little guys, it’s probably best to read the label first. In the year 2011, the EPA approved the use of the insecticide dinotefuran to join the ranks of azadirachtin and pyrethrins in the fight against stink bugs.
Because of their immense prevalence, stink bug infestations must be handled with extreme care. Currently, EPA guidelines state that only these three types of insecticidal sprays are legal to use against stink bugs.
Indoor Sprays
Many insecticides which contain pyrethrins as an active ingredient warn against indoor use—at the very least, the warning labels advise to dilute the concentrations with more water than normal if you plan to take the risk and use the product indoors.
However, as per EPA guidelines, there are very few specific pesticides labeled for use to target stink bugs directly. This is where sprays containing azadirachtin, or neem oil, come in handy: they’re a greener way to drive off the stink bugs and safe for indoor use.
Preventative Measures
Currently, the EPA and the US Department of Agriculture state that the best way to ward off stink bugs is to take preventative measures against them each year.
How can you stink-proof your home?
- Seal and caulk any spaces, no matter how small
- Close crawl spaces or openings to your home
- Make sure there’s a firmly-sealed cap on your fireplace
- Inspect your home or building’s foundation for any minute openings, and be sure to seal them immediately if you find any
- Install door sweeps and weather strips around high-traffic entryways to the home or building
- Sweep or rake plant debris away from your home or building
By taking these steps, you’re already making your property far less accessible to stink bugs, who are likely on the prowl for a place to spend the frosty winter months.
How Does Neem Oil Work to Kill Stink Bugs?
Within this oil is a naturally-occuring chemical compound known as azadirachtin (one of the EPA-approved methods of stink bug extermination), which works in various ways:
- some components of neem oil work to hinder the growth of pests, acting as a natural insect growth regulator
- others work to stand in the way of feeding habits, leading to death
- more components act as suffocation agents, cutting off air supply and shutting down the pests’ airways
Do I Need Any Other Accessories?
With each insect spray we reviewed, you’ll need to purchase an external spray nozzle if you don’t already own one.
These sprayers can vary in size, but most commonly, they are shaped like a barrel or a drum where the spray sits with a hose attached for administration across the yard or garden.
We recommend something like this one: Chapin 20002 Multi-Purpose Sprayer. It’s affordable, it’s durable, and it’s versatile for several sprays through many different types of tasks. Whether you’re spraying your yard for stink bugs or fertilizer, this is the kind of nozzle we’d endorse.