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A stinky pest returns to West Michigan

Posted at 4:10 PM, Oct 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-05 17:03:00-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- A little brown bug with an awful smell has reappeared in many West Michigan homes and businesses. The 'stink bug' is a small, brown, flying insect with a shield-like appearance to its back.

They're not a threat to humans -- other than being a nuisance -- and they don't move very quickly. This makes it tempting to squish them with a paper towel to get rid of them. But when you kill them this way, they give off an awful odor.

Therefore, experts say it's best to kill them with a can of insect killer, such as the kind you can buy at most hardware and gardening stores. You can also try calling an exterminator.

Anthony Sczesny, owner of A-1 Pest Control in Grand Rapids says it's best to kill them on sight as they will not pick up residual pesticide. "It's best to treat them say at 1:00 or 2:00 in the afternoon when they're out and active," says Sczesny. "They come out and they usually sunbathe, so they'll be on the side of the house that's facing the sun. You really have to treat them when they're active and moving."

The stink bug does eat plants and fruit, so as their population increases, they could become a problem for Michigan farmers and gardeners.