Stink Bug Move In Season is Here, Michigan: How to Keep Them Out

It's that time of year again, Michigan. It's time to set up your perimeter defenses and prepare for the oncoming bi-annual invasion of the Mitten State's most visible, and arguably most disgusting, invasive species: the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, or just stink bug for short. These little pests are doing everything they can to avoid the cold temperatures and snuggle up right next to you on these cooler overnights.

RELATED: Stink Bugs and Their Brief, Yet Impactful, History in Michigan

So, what can you do to keep these pesky little crawlers from setting up camp on your home's trim? Here are five fairly simple steps you can take to stop them from making themselves at home in your home.

Michigan Stink Bug Home Defense Tactic #1: Seal It Up

The first rule of thumb for keeping them out is to cut off their entry points. Grab some caulk and seal up all the little gaps and cracks around your doors and windows, and don't forget the vents. To stink bugs, those tiny gaps look like glowing VACANCY signs.

Michigan Stink Bug Home Defense Tactic #2: Make Your Home a No-Comfort Zone

Stink bugs love a warm, cozy spot, but they'll head elsewhere if you make your home uncomfortable. This doesn't mean you have to make your home the Arctic Circle. Turning on your attic fan and keeping the air moving is also a deterrent.

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Proper ventilation reduces humidity, and stink bugs love humidity.

Michigan Stink Bug Home Defense Tactic #3: Dim the Lights

If your house is a beacon for planes 10,000 feet in the air, it's also one for stink bugs looking for a place to spend the colder months in Michigan. If you have bright lights on in every room, it looks like a rave to these clumsy fliers, and they are drawn to it just as moths are.

Michigan Stink Bug Home Defense Tactic #4: Bring in a Venus Flytraps or Two

This is a fun way to get your kids involved (or to entertain the big kids in your house). Get your home a Venus flytrap or another bug-eating plant, and let them do the work for you.

RELATED: The 11 Most Disgusting Bugs in Michigan

Bonus points if you name your Venus flytrap Patrick Swayze of another Roadhouse-related bouncer name.

Michigan Stink Bug Home Defense Tactic #5: Give Them a Spa Day

For some reason, stink bugs can't resist a bowl of soapy water. If you can find one outside near their entry point, they'll dive in and never come out. Apparently, they're not the sharpest bugs, just the smelliest.

If you're interested in more home remedy solutions for getting rid of stink bugs in your Michigan home, keep scrolling.