Mild Michigan Winter May Lead to Surge in Summer Bugs

Mild Michigan Winter May Lead to Surge in Summer Bugs

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A mild winter in Michigan is a double-edged sword. Certainly, there was less shoveling, sliding on slick roads, and grocery carts piled into snowdrifts. However, there is a downside to a warmer-than-average winter.

A Good Hard Freeze is Bad for Bugs

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During the winter, Michigan bugs go into a "dormant phase" according to Dr. Don Cipollini, Wright State University Professor of Biology:

Insects do a thing called supercooling where they will accumulate what you might consider to be natural antifreeze in their cells that allow them to tolerate very cold temperatures without freezing, without damage to their cells.

A "hard freeze" is what is needed for the insect population to be affected. Dr. John Nelson-Gammon, a professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at Texas A&M explains the recipe for a hard freeze:

...occurs when the air temperature falls to 28 degrees or lower and then stays below 32 for long enough to freeze vegetation and cause ice formation in standing water. “The significance of a ‘hard freeze’ as opposed to a ‘freeze’ is mainly the impact on plants

With Michigan having a warmer-than-average winter, Cipollini has bad news for those hoping for fewer creepy crawlies this summer:

That little bit of natural control of populations is missing. That could equal higher insect populations in the spring and summer.

Whether or not your area experienced a true "hard freeze" is difficult to determine. Your best source for an answer is a nearby farmer, who would be most affected by any harsh ground conditions.

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Not All Bugs Are Bad, Don't Squish These...

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Some bugs serve a purpose. Bees do most of the pollinating for our food supply, dragonflies eat mosquitos, praying mantises eat other bugs that destroy farmers' crops, and ladybugs eat the mites that attack your home garden.

Break Out the Bug Spray Michigan

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Looks like we are in for a larger-than-average crop of insects this year. That's more mosquitos, more stink bugs, and more centipedes for your summer. Swat away Michigan!

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.

How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs Once and For All
It should be said that the best way to get rid of any pest is to call a professional. There are many reputable removal services available in Michigan that have years of experience dealing with stink bugs.
However, because native Michigan families like to do everything they can to avoid paying a professional to do a job, we have compiled a list of 4 do it yourself home remedies that could dent your stink bug problem. Many of the items you’ll need to put together these homemade traps and sprays you may have already laying in your house or garage. Just be sure if you are using a spray bottle that you already have at home that it doesn’t already or you haven’t recently filled it with anything that could be harmful to your home surfaces, pets, and family.

Nothing Works Overnight
One thing all of these remedies have in common is patience. Stink bugs didn’t arrive from Southeast Asia into Michigan overnight, but you may be able to catch a few while you’re getting some sleep.
So Michigan let’s fight back. Go into your garages, search under your sinks, head to your hardware or grocery store, and arm up as we prepare to take on one of the Mitten States’ most formidable and rabidly reproducing nuisance species: The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
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