Don't Vacuum Them. Trust Me On This One

Seems fitting that I found a Stinkbug in my shoe

Hahaha...Jeremy's feet stink!

As you may know, Stink Bugs are frickin' annoying.  Strictly speaking, I'm referring to the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, as seen and learned about Here.  

Like most people in the Greater Jeremy Area, my house becomes an ersatz home for these incredibly stupid bugs right around this time each year.  I wish they would stop, but since there are no natural predators around for the things, I don't think that's going to happen.  One of the more interesting things I've discovered recently about these bugs is the proper way to remove them.  

See, most bugs that invade your house are dealt with using a flyswatter (electric or otherwise), or a tissue.  The insect gets smushed and promptly disposed of, often using a "Burial At Sea" method.  

Go ahead and think about that for a second.

The problem with this, as it relates to Stinkbugs, is that is you squash a Stinkbug, well...it stinks.  Quite literally.  It releases a foul smelling compound into the air which the bug normally uses as a defense mechanism.  Here's the problem.  Not only does it have an awful smell, but that compound also contains Stinkbug pheromones which attract more Stinkbugs.  The best way to deal with these bugs is to use a method that eliminates the emission of the stink.  That method is drowning.  Not making this up.  The procedure is as follows:  You fill a disposable plastic container, like one that originally contained Ham, with water and a few drops of dishwashing detergent.  You hold the bucket underneath a Stinkbug and watch the fun.  The bug will be spooked and try to fly away, but since the things are so stupid and aerodynamically lousy, they'll simply fall down into the water.  The soap acts as a surfactant, so the bug can't float, and it will drown.  The water dissipates the smelly stuff, so there's no residual odor, and the pheromones are contained. 

If that fails, and one gets away and decides to live in your gym shoe, the problem will take care of itself when you squash it the next time you put the shoe on.  Chances are good that you're not overly concerned about the smell of your gym shoes anyway.