What are these bugs

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stink bug without a doubt...
 
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That is a stink bug. Very common around western Maryland.
They are not indigenous to the U.S. They actually came over from Asia and began reproducing like crazy. They won't hurt you. If you step on them, they will emit a smell. If one even is frightened, they will emit the smell (a defense mechanism). They
Love hiding in wood piles and will hibernate there until warmer temperatures are in season. Bringing wood in the house from outside, you will see them more inside your house.
 
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coreoidea Look it up aka pine seed bug, leaf foot stink bug and many other names all the same family of bug. The ones we have up here in the North East do stink but it is a VERY sweet musky smell. They find their way in the house both spring and fall. I used the vacuum to suck them up our first year in the woods but soon found out why they are called stink bugs. The vacuum stunk so bad we had to change the bag out side. :-)
 
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that is a stink bug. I do not think their presence is related to the firewood.

X2, that is a type of stink bug. There are two types prevalent on the east coast, the one pictured and a more squat, round-shaped stink bug. The round ones over-ran the east coast in the fall of 2010. To kill both kinds, use a strong mixture of Dawn dishwashing liquid (it has to be Dawn; there's something in it that kills stink bugs). They had swarmed one side of my house; I filled a hose-end sprayer with 50/50 Dawn & water, let it rip and they dropped like flies.
 
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All over the place by the wood piles
View attachment 113233


That is a male Squash Bug. 110% certain. Close relative of the Stink Bug, similar smell emitted. I do battle with them yearly. They overwinter in the woodpiles. If you or your neighbors have a garden with any type of Squash, zucchini, pumpkins, melon, etc, please kill it. They do not bite, but will decimate your vegetable garden by sucking the sap out of the stems. It's one of the few creatures that I actually take delight in killing. Kind of like the terrorists of my vegetable garden(without an AK-47).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coreidae
 
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Once again, I have learned something from this website!
99 has had the same bug problem at her house...only during the winter months primarily...to the tune of about one bug per week caught and sent to bug heaven. Yes, the smell is offensive, so we generically called them stink bugs. There is a small plantation of red pine trees nearby (very small) so I suppose the bugs fly to her house to winter over. It only been the last 5-6 winters. Usually see them marching across the carpet!

How do we combat them to prevent them from getting into the living space/house?
 
looks like a stink bug to me. Only one way to find out, kill it and take a big wiff.
 
Fran 35 is correct. Definitely a squash bug. I too do battle with them yearly and rejoice not only in their death but also in their suffering. I've been known to impel them with a straight pin and then stick the pin in a piece of wood near my squash plants as a kind of warning to the others. They will suffer for a couple weeks before dying of hunger or thirst.

They will destroy yours and your neighbors squash, melon and pumpkin garden if left unchecked. They try to overwinter in my woodpiles. Please destroy every one of these you find.
 
All over the place by the wood piles
View attachment 113233

[Hearth.com] What are these bugs
 
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