Michigan Stink Bug Prevention Tips Before Cold Weather

Michigan's warm fall is great for a lot of things: cider runs, football games, and delaying the inevitable arrival of stink bugs in your home. While you probably noticed this time of year is peak season for watching a dime-sized insect clumsily navigate your walls, floors, tables, and any other surface they can cling to inside your house. But don't get too cozy, these freeloaders are waiting for the first cold snap before breaking in like teenagers into a liquor cabinet.

Michigan’s Warm Fall Has Delayed the Stink Bug Invasion

It has to be tough being a stink bug. Nobody likes you, and you smell like Satan's armpit whenever squished. Greenix Pest Control reports that homes that haven't taken precautions will be dealing with these pests this time of year. But thanks to unseasonable temps, our walls haven't become a Motel 6 for stink bugs—yet.

Simple Prevention Tips Before They Move In

Photo by Jacqueline O'Gara on Unsplash

Pest Management Professionals agree this Michigan invasive species is just biding their time and enjoying the late-season heatwave along with the rest of us. So before the temps drop, be sure to take a few simple steps to keep them out:

Seal gaps in your windows, attic, doorways—anywhere stink bugs can slip in. They especially love crawl spaces.
Reduce outdoor lighting. They love the spotlight.
Move firewood and other debris away from your home and trim surrounding vegetation

Home Remedies and DIY Fixes to Keep Stink Bugs Away

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Once they find a way in, they are not easy to get rid of. Farm Progress recommends using a vacuum cleaner to dispose of them to avoid the unpleasant odor stink bugs emit when squished. Of course, there are several home remedies for getting rid of this invasive bug. For more tips, read on.

Michigan Home Remedies to Get Rid of Stink Bugs

They are considered “an invasive pest” in Michigan, so don’t feel guilty wishing the brown marmorated stink bug an untimely demise. The stink, hence, the name. They do have some natural predators, including beetles, crickets, spiders, and birds, but arming yourself is the best way to prevent these smelly little insects from taking over your home and yard.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

Michigan's 5 Most Common Winter Bugs: How to Keep Them Out

Michigan's Falls may be filled with color, but while we're looking up and admiring the trees, bugs are slipping in through tiny little crevices in your home that are essentially little welcome mats for the state's top 5 winter pests. When you're battling bugs, you go to someone who's in the trenches, so I asked Bob Yoakman, Mason, Michigan's Bug Man, for tips on how to keep Michigan's 5 Most Common Winter Bugs at bay.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

Source: Michigan’s Warm Fall Stalls Stink Bugs (But Not for Long)