This is the time of year that people tend to really squawk about bugs in the house - and for good reason! Pests tend to make their way indoors now to find warmth and a good overwintering place; your home makes a great location.

For the most part, these insects are lumped into the “nuisance pest” category and aren’t usually a major problem to plant, animal or human health.

Included in this category are multicolored Asian ladybeetles, boxelder bugs, leaf-footed bugs, spiders, and new to our area, brown marmorated stink bug.

The last one mentioned above is new to our area and is, however, a pest on a wide range of host plants, including fruits (peach, pear, apple, cherry, etc.), soybean and corn, green beans, asparagus, peppers, and some ornamental crops.

I have not seen the stink bug in the Clark county area and have had very few reports from the Miami Valley area, with moderate populations reported in the Cincinnati area. The northeast part of the state experienced them first; they are fairly heavy in the Columbus area now.

Don’t worry, though, it will only be a matter of time before we start to see the stink bug in our landscapes and homes.

In the fall the stink bug (and the others) migrate indoors to seek shelter. They are harmless in indoors except for the fact that they are quite a nuisance when they congregate in large numbers. Even more of a problem is the fact that when they are disturbed, they produce a very pungent odor that is quite offensive.

I don’t know this firsthand as I have not experienced them. My colleagues in other parts of the state, however, say they are quite odoriferous! Or they stink, period.

I am curious as to where people might be seeing them in the Miami Valley area, if at all. I would love to hear from you; visit the OSUE Master Gardener Volunteer state Facebook page (https://facebook.com/OSUEMGV) and comment on where you are seeing them - or not. Let me know your general vicinity and if the populations are light, moderate, or heavy.

As far as the other pests, I am seeing very low populations of Asian ladybeetles this year. I noticed a few here and there on the front of the house (they like the warm sunny side) but not as heavy as I have seen in past years.

The boxelder bug and leaf-footed bugs are coming from specific plants so if you have the plants nearby, you might see them. Boxelder bugs hang out on this tree in the maple family (boxelders). The leaf-footed bugs are also known as the Western conifer seed bug and hang out on various species of pine and spruce, feeding on their cones.

One control method for all of these is to try to seal up the house and prevent entry. Not an easy task by any means. Pesticides don’t usually work on them indoors so sweeping and eliminating is an option.