Bed bugs stink when you kill them to send an alarm to others. They use odors as a mode of communication. ... It's the same chemical that male bed bugs produce when another male grabs it in an attempt to mate. Females do not produce pheromones while mating.

What does bed bug killer smell like?

Bed bugs release pheromones when they feel they're in peril to alert other bugs to danger, Martin says. "The smell can be quite similar to coriander or a pile of clothes that was closed in the washing machine for a couple of days or a pair of moldy shoes," he notes.

Do bed bugs stink when you crush them?

When crushed or threatened, bed bugs release an “alarm pheromone” from their scent glands. This odor smells quite similar to a stink bug's odor; it may smell musty, woody, rotten, or sweet to you. Many people compare it to the smell of concentrated coriander.