What's with all the stink bugs in Northern Virginia?

Question

For the past week or so there has an abundance of stink bugs coming out of the "wood-works" (so to say) and they are everywhere like on the outside surfaces of the houses and buildings, coming into an open car windown, crawling along window sills and doorways and sneeking inside. They freak me out. I'm pretty sure they don't bite or sting, but I've always wondered how they earned their name? Do they like spray smelly liquid or gas? or do they smell if you sqwash them? What's the deal?

Answer 1

Oh, I've seen stink bugs before!

While they're not aggressive, they can emit a stink. You're probably seeing them coming out for a last breeding before the winter season.

Answer 2

I lived in NoVa from 1960 to 1980, and now from 2005 to 2008. It was once an rather conservative section. The Congressmen from my district (Fairfax Co.) have been all conservative Republicans for some years. The conservatism meditated the historical past of many households residing there, as many have been linked with the U.S. armed forces (because of the proximity to the Pentagon). Now it is extra liberal. it is not Berkeley, in spite of the undeniable fact that it is extra liberal. a plenty smaller share of human beings paintings at once for the armed forces. Many extra paintings alongside the Dulles Airport hall in severe tech industries. That section is now extra densely populated and extra beneficial than downtown Atlanta. it is in all probability the inflow of youthful, fantastically knowledgeable human beings interior the utility and severe-tech industries that has made the section extra liberal. it is liberal for an identical favourite reason that Silicon Valley is liberal--same variety of human beings, same industries. the guy answering decrease than who asks with reference to the African-American inhabitants of D.C. does not comprehend the 1st component with reference to the section. The District of Columbia itself is basically African American, yet Northern Virginia is amazingly, very white. And as for Gregory's reaction--properly, it is incorrect in 2 techniques. First, as others have observed, Northern Virginia is truthfully considered one of the wealthiest areas of the rustic. 2nd, West Virginia, between the poorest, is likewise between the main conservative. in fact each and all of the polls tutor West Virginia solidly in the back of McCain. it is spectacular how promptly uninformed all people is prepared to assert despite it takes to develop very own agendas.