Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, I'm getting frustrated! I live around DC, and there is a MASSIVE problem with stink bugs this year. They're EVERYWHERE! I have a screen cover for my tank, but it's homemade and doesn't fit tight so of COURSE they're getting in there! It was fine for the first week, nothing got in and suddenly they're finding their way in. It's only one to three a day, but still!

I'm going to get them a better lid soon, but it's going to take a few days. In the meantime, they're getting in and crawling around and I'm worried my babies will eat them. I take them out when I see them, but I'm not here all the time. They're a little bit too big to be healthy for my beardies size wise, but my biggest concern is, if my guys eat one, will they be okay? Or will they even touch them? My hedgehog turns her nose up at them, and they aren't fast like crickets so they don't catch their attention as much. But my one baby nibbles on his basking branch when he's in a mind. Any suggestions or help? Thanks!

There is a reason why they are called stink bugs...because they give noctious smell nothing will eat them, but I don't know if they are poisonous or not.

Obnoxious tastes and smells are often related to alkaloids and other toxic chemicals as defense mechanisms. This won't stop a Beardie from eating them, they are not wary of anything in North America which is why they will eat fireflys which nothing else in NA will touch. A University study showed that a Beardie would eat any insect put in front of it including a squirting Bombadeer beetle. If Stink bugs can get in then so can the fireflys which will definitely kill them!

Well, it's a little late in the season for fireflies, and we've had one in the house in the past three years...so...not too worried about those.

I'm also not sure these are native stink bugs. It's a recent epidemic, and I've heard their an invasive species from Japan. Don't know if that helps, but it's a bit more info.

Also, I was gone all day today and there was one in the cage when I came home. I have no idea how long he's been in there, but he was right in front of my better eater and was ignored. I don't think I'm gong to panic too much right now, just keep taking them out when I see them and get a better lid as soon as I can. Thanks for your help, though!