5 most common winter bugs in Greater Lansing, and how to keep them out of your home – Lansing State Journal

In the warmer months,Greater Lansing residentsdealwith mosquitos and ants some must also endure bees, waspsandtermites. Now that winter is upon us, there's an entirelydifferent set of bugs to be on the lookout for.

Bob Yoakam isthe "Lansing Bug Man" his pest control business dealswith bug issues mostly in the spring and summer however, this time of year iswhen he starts getting more indoor calls.

"Now that it's this cold, they're already in your house," Yoakamsaid.

So, what are the bugs to watch out for in winter? And how do you get rid of them once they're inside? Read on for the five most common winter bugs in Greater Lansing, and how to keep them out of your home.

Gary Parsons is thedirector of the MSU Bug House, part of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, where you can learn about all sorts of insects and arachnids and interact with live specimens.

According to Parsons, the five most common bugs found in Michigan homes during the colder months are:

Each of these bugs have adult stages in the winter, which makes them mobile and motivatedto get out of or avoid cold and rain and snow.

Most are seeking a dry spot to enter a hibernation state,somewherethey know they'll be protected. Some may go into the bark of trees, or inside a fallen log. Stink bugs especially are known to hibernate in rock, such as the crevasses of a cliff.

Ladybugs and stink bugs are distasteful,meaningpets may get sick from eating too many. For the most part, though, theseare all harmless, Parsonssaid.

These bugs view houses as just another place to spend the winter because they can sense the warmth. Once inside, they mostly just hibernate in the house.

Obvious entry pointsfor bugsare where there's an electrical, water or air-conditioning line enteringthe house, Yoakam said. Caulking and sealing holes around these openings is a good first step toward a bug-free home, but it's not as certain as using a pesticide, he said.

Other common places for bugs to sneak in is through warped siding, orwindows anddoors that aren't well-insulated. Parsons said he's had stink bugs get into his house through vent pipes in theroof. He recommends sealing up all cracks where bugs could get in.

Parsons said bugstend to prefer south- or west-facing sides of the house, because those areas tend to get more sun in the winter. He also usesa mesh screen over his attic vents and other openings to keep bugs out of his home.

"The first thing you should do is try to prevent them from getting in the house," he said.

Oncebugs are inside, they emit an attractivepheromone to help other bugs findthe safe, warm area and then it becomes a matter of getting them out.

"We do not advocate using pesticides," Parsons said. "It really has little effect on these things anyway." He said there are more effective ways to deal with bugs indoors that don't leave any residue.

According to Parsons, the best way to address thebugs who have made it inside your house already is to vacuum them up, or capture them in some sort of container to take outside. These bugs die in the cold, so there's no need to worry about them coming back inside.

Parsons warns residents to not squish bugsstink bugs and lady bugs especially can leave a stain, not to mention possible odors.

Yoakam the "Lansing Bug Man" approaches gettingbugs out a bit differently:"Without a pesticide keeping a bug out of a house, I don't know another way to be honest," he said.

To learn more about how to keep bugs out of your home thiswinter, visit the Lansing Bug Man websiteor MSU Bug House. And for more resources about bugs in general, including tips for keeping them out of your home, visit the MSU Extension website.

Sophia Lada is a news assistant at the Lansing State Journal. Contact her at slada@lsj.com or 517.377.1065. Follow heron Twitter@sophia_lada.

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5 most common winter bugs in Greater Lansing, and how to keep them out of your home - Lansing State Journal