Michigan’s Stink Bug Invasion Turns 15 Years Old

Remember the good old days in Michigan? Back when summers were brief, winters were brutal, and the only uninvited insects invading your home were ants, spiders, and flies. But now? Now we have stink bugs, or as they are known in scientific circles, the brown marmorated stink bug.

RELATED: Michigan Stink Bugs: To Squish or Not to Squish?

These freeloading, dime-sized bugs weren't part of my childhood, yet they are everywhere now in Michigan and act like they own the place.

Where Did Michigan's Stink Bug Population Come From?

Back in my day (wow, I feel old typing that), we didn't have to worry about stink bugs because we didn't have any. They wouldn't arrive until 1996, when they hitched a ride from Asia, more than likely on a pallet of something we didn't need.

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By 2010, ClickOnDetroit reports stink bugs had migrated from the port they'd arrived in the US and made their presence known in Michigan, immediately being classified as invasive. Even though they don't bite, they do something that's arguably worse—the smell they make when you squish them is horrendous.

What to Do When You See a Stink Bug

If When you find a stink bug, don't squish it unless you want your house to smell like bad cilantro. The experts at the MSU Extension Office recommend the following for proper disposal of this nasty little crawler:

1. Vacuum It Up—But Use a Wet and Dry Vac. Regular vacuums absorb the stink of a stink bug, so every time you vacuum, you'll be reminded of your mistake.
2. Soapy Water Trick. Flick them into a bowl of soapy water. Between the suds and the water, that will be their final stop.
3. Make Your Own Light Trap. Like many bugs, they are drawn to light, so if you set a lamp over your soupy bowl of water, you'll lure them to their final demise.

And you may want to think twice before killing that spider you see in your house, along with samurai wasps and lady bugs, who all think stink bugs are a delicacy.