Brown marmorated stink bugs weren’t even in Iowa until the 2010s. Now they’re a reliable fall headache for homeowners throughout Colfax and the Des Moines metro. As temperatures drop in September and October, they start looking for warm places to spend the winter — and your home is a prime target. The good news: if you act before they get inside, treatments actually work.

Signs of a Stink Bug Problem

  • Large numbers on exterior walls — especially on south- and west-facing sides in fall, congregating near windows and soffits
  • Stink bugs inside in fall or spring — wandering on walls, windows, or ceilings as they enter or try to exit
  • Pungent odor when disturbed — that distinctive smell when one gets crushed or lands on something warm
  • Overwintering clusters in attics or wall voids — discovered during renovation or when the smell becomes noticeable
  • Garden or fruit damage in summer — stink bugs feed on crops and ornamentals; dimpled or discolored fruit is a sign

Why Stink Bugs Are Common in Colfax

Stink bugs are fall invaders by nature. When nights cool down in early autumn, they go into aggregation mode and seek sheltered spots to overwinter. Homes with lots of southern exposure, older windows, or any gap in the building envelope are especially vulnerable.

Colfax’s location in the Des Moines metro means plenty of residential neighborhoods with mature landscaping — exactly the kind of environment stink bugs move through during their fall migration. Once inside walls or attics, they can survive Iowa winters in a semi-dormant state and emerge again in spring, often ending up inside living spaces looking for a way out.

The population has grown since their arrival in Iowa, and without treatment, the same homes tend to get hit year after year.

Our Stink Bug Control Process

Timing matters more with stink bugs than almost any other pest. The window for effective exterior treatment is late September through mid-October — before they’ve moved inside. Miller Pest Solutions applies a targeted perimeter treatment to the exterior of your home, focusing on entry points: window frames, door frames, soffits, eaves, utility penetrations, and any gaps in siding or foundation.

If they’re already inside, we can treat wall voids and accessible interior spaces, but exclusion sealing becomes equally important. We help identify and seal the gaps that let them in.

One important note: do not crush stink bugs indoors. That smell is a signal to other stink bugs. Vacuum them up instead — and empty the vacuum outside.

Why Choose Miller Pest Solutions

In business since 2001. QualityPro Certified. NPMA member. Joel Miller has been working pest control personally since 2007. We’re a local operation that knows the seasonal pest calendar for Iowa — not a national franchise running the same program everywhere.

Stink bug treatment works best when it’s timed right and applied correctly. We know the window, we use the right products for exterior applications, and we’ll tell you honestly what to expect based on your home’s structure and history.

Get a Free Phone Bid Today

Stink bugs showing up in Colfax? Call Miller Pest Solutions at (515) 329-8801 for a free phone bid. We’ll tell you whether exterior treatment makes sense this season and what it would cost. Find us at millerthekiller.com.