Skip to main content

Stink bugs (and how to get rid of them)

By 13th October 2017March 22nd, 2021Articles
Niseko Kamemushi Stink Bugs

If you trust old folk wisdom, then this winter is due for some serious snowfall.

The Kamemushi or Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (or just Stink Bug to its friends) is a familiar sight in Hokkaido in autumn, but this year we’ve seen the bugs swarm in unusually large numbers, causing comment from local residents.

Local superstition has it that the more stink bugs you find indoors, the colder and longer the winter is likely to be – great news for powder hounds should you choose to believe it. But besides forecasting snowfall, what are they about? Are they dangerous? And what can you do about them?

It’s a (stink) bug’s life

Native to the forests of Japan, China, Korea and Taiwan, the humble stink bug crossed the oceans in the late 90s and became a household sight across parts of the United States.

The good news is that stink bugs eat fruits and crops, with soybean a favourite. They live, nest and breed outdoors, and really have no interest in people. They don’t cause structural damage and they don’t bite.

The bad news is they hibernate in houses. Every October they will roam the land looking for a warm, dark, dry place to spend their winter. They will wriggle through any hole in any structure and snuggle up out of the way of rain and snow. Like magic they will find their way inside of fly netting, closed windows and doors, through air condititioning vents and any tiny and momentary opening. They like to gather in attics and basements, under roof eaves and in the gaps between window panes. Come spring they leave again.

Startle them or squish them and they emit a pungent odor from their underside, something best described as a coriander stink bomb. It is a strong smell that’ll numb your sense of smell.

Stinkbugs (or Kamemushi) come out in Autumn and look for a place to hibernate for the winter. Look for white stripes on their antennae. They gravitate towards small crevices and nooks in buildings. 

Getting Rid of Stink Bugs

Once they get indoors you won’t see them up to much. Stink bugs hibernate through the winter. If they move at all they are slow and sluggish. If you approach them they won’t react. Sometimes they will hover around light fixtures but mostly they’ll sit still in the dark corners of your house and wait for warmer weather.

Chances are you’ll meet one somewhere during your time in Japan’s ski resorts. Rather than sharing space with (and occasionally losing your sense of smell to) stink bugs, here are some strategies for dealing with them.

Vacuum Cleaner

A vacuum cleaner is a great option if dealing with stink bugs in any great number. Beware though, as the bugs will stink up your vacuum cleaner and the smell will come out of the vents. Be sure to empty the bag inside after you’re done.

Bug sprays and deterrents

There’s a host of chemical products available at every convenience store and supermarket. Some claim to deter stink bugs, others kill them once they’ve arrived. Look for カメムシ in the bug spray section of the supermarket or convenience store, or ask the shop assistant for “kamemushi yoke” (stink bug deterrent).

The native’s secret weapon – masking tape

You’ll find in many older accommodations throughout Niseko, there will be a roll of masking tape hanging on a nail on the wall in the living room. That’s not for emergency repairs – this is the tried and tested traditional method for getting rid of stink bugs. As the bugs are half asleep they’re not hard to catch. See a step-by-step breakdown of the best strategy to the right.

The humane option

If killing bugs is not your thing, you can gently catch them with a tissue or a piece of paper and take them outside. Don’t expect them to run away or jump the way another insect would – as they’re half asleep they are very sluggish and often don’t react at all to what’s around them.

Some Useful Phrases

If you’re going shopping for supplies or talking to your hotelier, these words may help:

  • Kamemushi – Stink Bug
  • Kamemushi Yoke – Stink bug repellent
  • Bug Spray – same in Japanese
  • Heya ni kamemushi ga ita – there was a stink bug in my room.
  • Dou ni ka shite kudasai – please do something about it!
  • Ippai – Many

Please note, stink bugs are such a common (and harmless) part of home life in Hokkaido that very few staff will be surprised or panicked to hear that stink bugs have been sighted. A good hotelier will help you out with the right tools, but in more traditional, budget accommodations you may just be handed a roll of tape.

Happy hunting, and if those bugs are right this winter will be a good one!

Step 1: Find masking tape
Niseko Kamemushi Stink Bugs
Step 2: Take a small strip
Niseko Kamemushi Stink Bugs
Step 3: Touch the bug gently, so that it sticks, but doesn’t startle. 
Niseko Kamemushi Stink Bugs
Step 4: Fold the tape around the bug, making sure to close all sides
Niseko Kamemushi Stink Bugs
Step 5: …and in the bin!
Niseko Kamemushi Stink Bugs

3 Comments

  • Avatar for Liz Liz says:

    The masking tape method really helped! Thank you so much!!
    The stinkbug in my room was walking upsidedown on the top edge of a windowsill, so I had no choice but to stick it to it’s back – thank god it didn’t release anything nasty!

  • Avatar for Jake snake Jake snake says:

    Best to exterminate or no harm?

    • Hello Jake,

      It’s up to you, but stinkbugs aren’t really harmful. They won’t do any damage to the building, they aren’t poisonous or dangerous to humans and they only come indoors to sleep (they won’t eat, look for food or make nests/babies). They’ll be gone by the spring, back to living outdoors. In Japan I’m not sure if local exterminators will help you with stinkbugs, if you have many in your house or property you can take care of them with a vacuum cleaner as they don’t really run away. You can get stinkbug deterrents from local pharmacies, I’m not sure how effective they are. The best way to deter them is to make sure there are no gaps where they can get inside.

Leave a Reply