The stink bug is back and in much bigger numbers than last year, giving fear to a potentially historic outbreak next year that has federal officials scrambling to deploy a killer that will stop the Chinese import’s march into 38 states so far.

While last year’s breakout was described as mild due to unfriendly weather, this fall’s explosion of the brown marmorated stink bug is the second this year, a rare “second generation” of the bug that is now pouring into homes looking for a safe haven until they can emerge next spring to lay eggs.