USDA: Stink bug peak Oct. 1; brown homes attract the most

The annual march of the stink bugs in 41 states is underway and will hit hardest around Oct. 1, with houses painted brown and sealed in wood siding attracting the most pests during their four-week trip from woods and gardens to winter hideaways, according to a new federal report.

A first-of-its-kind analysis of detailed information supplied by businesses and homeowners inundated by the bugs last year shows the peak to be Oct. 1, but stretching from the middle of September to the middle of October.