Our travel trailer is infested with stink bugs. They are hiding somewhere and one or two at a time show up. Last Fall we were camp hosts in NC Smokies, and they hitchhiked home with us. The last week of October they were all over the campsite. I tried bug spray which was a mistake, left an odor and only stunned them long enough to catch in my soapy water trap. The back storage compartment has a strong odor too which may be because I sprayed a lot of bug spray in it, and unfortunately the odor comes through to the inside. I don't know for sure whether the lingering odor is the bugs or chemicals from the spray. I'm stumped, don't know how I'm going to rid our camper of these creepy pests.

We were invaded last summer by a member of the stink bug family. To say it freaked me out is putting it mildly. I'm not tslking a few, I'm talking 1000000000000s. We vacuumed up, sprayed, etc and nothing worked. We finally used a chemical bomb. Now mind you, we gad vacuumed where the insides of my new white vacuum was now brown from bug juice!!! After the bomb, we walked in to a layer of black snow all over our rig!!!!!!!! I'm suggesting to just go ahead and bomb the rig. Good luck!

IT IS MY HOPE THAT SOMEONE ON THE FORUM KNOWS A REMEDY BESIDES THE "BOMB." I AM A CAMP HOST IN NC AND WE HAVE THEM. SO FAR COLLECT THEM IN A SOAPY BOTTLE WITH A TOP.LOL, EVEN MY DOG WANT ROLE ON THEM, NOW THAT IS BAD...

Did the bomb leave a bad odor? Not that that matters at this point I guess!I have a bottle of soapy water I'm using too, has screw top lid. Also tried one made with 2 liter coke bottle cut in half and top inserted upside down into bottom filled with soapy water. We have a short local trip coming up then home for about 5 weeks before going to host at Shenandoah May and June. May have to strip down the camper and use the bomb.

spray yourtrailer with home defense they hate thel stuff i spray mine twice a year

We have them in Maryland. Never saw those darn bugs until we moved here. In the Fall they get in the house and trailer. They find hiding places and go dormant over the winter. They are waking up and are starting to get active.I went in the trailer and went through some dish towels and they were hiding in there! Fridge is clean and they crawled under the crisper drawers. They crawl up in between the drapes.Good luck!

Stink bugs!! | Good Sam Community

derh20
Explorer
Apr 13, 2016
We have not had any problems with our MH, but have a lot of problems with our home. I have found Ortho defender works good. I spray under the eves and around all windows and doors. I also have a spray bottle of Dawn and water mix and spray them as i see them. that kills them slowly, so don't expect them to just roll over and die. I am not sure if the home defender would harm the fiberglass of an RV or not, so be careful. Good luck.
Ray-EOD
Explorer
Apr 13, 2016
I keep two things in my 5er at all times, Eliminator Ant, Flea and Tick Killer and Ortho Home defense. Before I pull the RV into a slot, I dust the ground and area around the parking slot with the eliminator and spry the RV with home defense after I pull in. So far have had no problem.
I know this is a little overboard, but I have been infested before, lady bugs in Indiana (these things bite!), flees and ticks in Texas and stink bugs in TN, and took forever to get rid of the pests. So far no other infestation.
BigSur2
Explorer
Apr 14, 2016
Ray-EOD wrote:
I keep two things in my 5er at all times, Eliminator Ant, Flea and Tick Killer and Ortho Home defense. Before I pull the RV into a slot, I dust the ground and area around the parking slot with the eliminator and spry the RV with home defense after I pull in. So far have had no problem.
I know this is a little overboard, but I have been infested before, lady bugs in Indiana (these things bite!), flees and ticks in Texas and stink bugs in TN, and took forever to get rid of the pests. So far no other infestation.

Do you spray inside and out with the home defense? I "think" I'm using the same product that is good for both. I've been very leery about spraying the outside, i.e. fiberglass, rubber seals, etc. with it. Was worried about staining and/or deterioration of seals, etc.
NYCgrrl
Explorer
Apr 14, 2016
BigSur2 wrote:
I too have this issue. I live in PA but store my camper in a woody area at a campground in VA Beach. EVERY time we go back for the weekend to camp we end up catching at least 20 or so.

Anybody have an idea how the little buggers are getting inside? I know they can squeeze in just about anywhere but I've wondered if there is a preferred entry route. I personally wondered if they are coming in through the A/C.

Takes time to do but can also help with many kinds of pests:

USAToday wrote:
Seal all cracks around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, behind chimneys and underneath the wood fascia and other openings with high quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk.

Remove wall and window air conditioners; weather stripping around doors and windows may help. Repair broken screens and windows.

"You have to think like an insect," Jentsch says.

Specifically for A/C units in RVs I'd think that in addition to caulking, a fine mesh screening material placed over the venting would do well if you are concerned the bugs are entering from that portal.
Ray-EOD
Explorer
Apr 14, 2016
I spray just the outside. I concentrate on underside of the RV, tires, frame, support and stabilizers legs.
It is easy to get to these areas before I put the slides out and setup the shore power\attachments.
Campforever
Explorer
Apr 14, 2016
Bayers Home Pest is the only defense I have found. Specticide and Ortho Home Defense did not work on the brown stink bugs. Bayers works, you can watch them die.
BluegrassBill
Explorer
Jun 04, 2016
X2 on Bayers with the blue label. It names the Marmolated Stink Bug in the list it kills. Walmart here in Woodland, WA has a price rollback 1 gal spray jug for $7.92

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