I overheard a conversation, “It’s Stinkbug time, another three months of Stinkbugs!” I must admit that the conversation was correct. The Brown Marmorated Stinkbug (Halyomorpha halys) is notorious for invading homes in the fall and the spring along with Boxelder Bugs (Boisea trivittatus); Western Conifer Seed Bugs (Leptoglossus occidentalis); and Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles (Harmonia axyridis).

Late last summer these adult insects fed outdoor voraciously to accumulate fat. After their feeding frensy they moved to sheltered locations to overwinter. This survival strategy keeps them alive since there is nothing for them to eat throughout the winter.

Unfortunately, some of these insects invaded our homes in the fall. The insects were attracted to the solar heat radiating from southern or western facing roofs and outside walls of our homes as well as the warmth radiating from within. This can lead them into attics, exterior wall voids, and spaces around door jams and window frames. These all make perfect overwintering sites, and they stand a good chance of surviving the winter if they stay in these cool, protected locations.

These fall invaders do not intend to trespass inside homes and other structures. As with all overwintering insects, the survival of home invaders is governed by a “cold-blooded” physiology meaning the speed of their metabolism is mostly governed by ambient temperature. The higher the temperature, the faster their metabolism, and the faster they “burn” fat. Yes, insects have fat, but it is confined by their hard exoskeletons, so they do not suffer embarrassing expanding waistlines.

As we move toward spring and have snaps of warmer temperatures, these overwintering insects begin to appear – some indoors and some outdoors.

Insects that find their way into a home should be dealt with carefully. Swatting or otherwise smashing these insects can cause more damage than leaving them alone since fluids inside their bodies can leave permanent stains on furniture, carpets, and walls. Also, mashing multicolored Asian lady beetles and brown marmorated stink bugs can release lingering eau de bug; lady beetles have stinky blood, and stink bugs are called stink bugs for a reason.

The best way to remove these invaders is to use a dustpan and broom. Gently sweep up the insects and dump outside preferably away from the home. Vacuum cleaners and shop vacs present their own sets of risks if used on stink bugs and lady beetles because the insects will release their defense odor in response to swirling around inside the vacuum tank creating again lingering eau de bug.

Summertime is the best time to prevent them from entering in the first place. An ounce of calking is worth a pound of bugs. Large openings created by the loss of old caulking around window frames or door jams supply easy access into homes. Such openings should be sealed using a good quality flexible caulk or insulating foam sealant for larger openings. Poorly attached home siding and rips in window screens also supply an open invitation.

The same is true of worn-out exterior door sweeps including doors leading into attached garages. Homeowners should also venture into the attic to look for unprotected vents, such as bathroom and kitchen vents, or unscreened attic vents. While in the attic, look for openings around soffits. Both lady beetles and stink bugs commonly crawl upwards when they land on outside walls; gaps created by loose-fitting soffits are gateways into home attics.