Photo by hthrd
One more bit of horrible news from this summer’s record-setting heat: The stink bug population is on the rise. But now that autumn has set in and temperatures are dropping, the smelly insects are poised to make their way indoors.
Record summer heat that lasted through September favored the resurgence of stink bugs, which breed twice a year—in spring and summer. Michael Raupp, entomology professor at the University of Maryland, said the favorable conditions enabled the bugs to complete their second breeding cycle in “spectacular fashion,” meaning they are poised to invade homes and businesses in large numbers.
While stink bugs usually thrive in summer, they favor dry, cool spaces like door jambs, windowsills and attics for the winter months. “They wander inside at nighttime. They will be buzzing around your home,” Raupp told the Times.
Awesome.
Of course, the thing with stink bugs is that while you can crush them, it’s ill-advised to so; when smushed, they release an odor that will leave the vicinity smelling like death. Instead, bug experts recommend sucking them up with a vacuum. Another good preventative measure is to make sure that all doors and windows are tightly sealed.
