GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The heatwave much of Michigan is experiencing has many people staying indoors and enjoying the air conditioning.
While inside, some are noticing that bugs are also finding ways to get in and bask in the A/C.
"Sometimes we as humans provide them with resources and opportunities that are attractive to them and so they want to come and live with us," said Amanda Lorenz, an academic specialist in MSU's Entomology Department. "But it doesn't make them evil."
Lorenz said the way heat impacts the behavior of insects is not straightforward, as they're incredibly diverse and in turn are affected by it in different ways.
"Most insects kind of like the heat," said Lorenz. "Insects are ectothermic and so that means that they depend on the outside temperature to be active and to be warm enough to function. So the warmer it is, usually the more active they are and the quicker they are developing and reproducing."
On the flip side, Lorenz said certain insects prefer more cool environments and may find themselves inside homes when the opportunity exists.
"The millipedes, the pill bugs, the earwigs, things that are associated with, you know, under logs or under soil kinds of habitats. Those are the guys who are in the soil around our houses," said Lorenz.
She said many homes are surrounded by habitats such as soil, bushes and trees that many insects use for shelter.
She said these insects are also opportunistic, meaning they may take advantage of openings in walls, around a/c units and poorly sealed windows.
For those looking to limit the number of tiny visitors, she said the best thing to do is make sure a home is well-sealed and to close any gaps or openings.
Lorenz also said studies have shown that most bugs inside homes are there accidentally. They've either wandered in through openings or have been blown or swept in and simply cannot find their way outside.
Those who may view the presence of a bug as an indication of poor cleanliness, fear not, as Lorenz said a bug coming into the home is mostly brought on by external factors.
"They're small, they're numerous, they're around us all the time, whether or not we recognize it," said Lorenz.
Lorenz said extra measures such as fumigation or pesticides should only be used in extreme situations when there is no other alternative.
"I would really encourage people to be as tolerant of those as they can, just because we know that overuse of pesticides is a negative thing that can lead to resistant insect populations and negative health outcomes," said Lorenz. "We want to preserve biodiversity. Insects are valuable. They're in decline already kind of across the world, and so we want to conserve them when we can. They are good for our ecosystems."
At the end of the day, regardless of how one views insects, Lorenz said some kindness for a little guest that can be scooped up and placed back outside can go a long way.
"I wish we could step away from seeing insects as these like little villainous things that are trying to mess our lives up," said Lorenz. "They're just doing their thing. They're living their lives."
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