They are gross, they can smell, and they seem to pop up out of nowhere. After a long winter, stink bugs are waking up and becoming a headache for many homeowners. These insects are about a quarter of an inch in size and definitely live up to their name.
---> Michigan stink bug invasion: What to do if you find them
Right off the bat, it’s important to note that stink bugs are harmless to people and animals. When they’re in your house, they’re just hanging out.
“This is the time of year when you might see them because they’re trying to get back outside instead of getting in,” said Dr. Julianna Wilson, with the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University.
While stink bugs can be a nuisance in your home, the good news is they don’t bite and they don’t emit a foul odor unless you squish them.
“If you don’t want them in your house, you can collect them into a zip-top bag and then put them in the freezer. You don’t have to squish them. In other words, you can kill them by just freezing them,” Wilson said.
Once they’ve made it outside, stink bugs have plenty to feast on. Wilson said they seek out fruits, nuts and seed pods. This is why there were initial concerns about their presence in Michigan; farmers didn’t want them invading orchards or soybean fields.
Experts indicate that while some stink bugs are common in Michigan, others are not.
“We have native stink bugs, but this particular one that gets into people’s houses is not native; it came from Asia,” Wilson said.
More: Invasive Michigan
About ten years after they were first detected, these non-native stink bugs became a problem in orchards in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
After spending the summer eating and mating, stink bugs will try to get back into homes around September. Once inside, it’s nearly impossible to get rid of them. To prevent them from entering, homeowners are advised to seal all cracks around windows, doors, siding, and utility pipes with high-quality caulk.
You can learn more about stinkbugs and what to do if you find one here.