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Hey there,
Have you ever been half-asleep in winter, house totally quiet… and you hear it:
Tick. Tick. Tick.
Like something tiny is trying to Morse-code its way into your nervous system.
You turn on the lamp and there it is.
A little shield-shaped bug doing clumsy laps around your window like it got lost on the way to a meeting.
That’s a stink bug. Most likely the brown marmorated stink bug: part houseguest, part uninvited percussionist.
They don’t bite. They don’t infest your pantry. They’re not here because you’re “dirty.”
They’re here because your house is warm, and winter makes them desperate.
What’s actually happening
Stink bugs run a seasonal playbook:
Fall: they scout buildings like they’re booking a cabin weekend
Entry: they squeeze into tiny gaps (window frames, siding, attic vents)
Winter: they hide in wall voids and stay mostly inactive
Sunny winter days: they wake up confused, head toward light, and start showing up at windows like “Is it spring yet?”
So when you see one in January, it’s usually not a new problem.
It’s a delayed reveal.
The “don’t do this” part
If you smash one, it can release that famous odor. Not dangerous—just… unforgettable.
Also: spraying random bug killer at the one you can see is like yelling at a single bartender when the whole party is in the back room.
How to kick them out without the smell
Vacuum them up (fast, clean, minimal stink risk)
Seal the edges: caulk around window trim, weatherstrip doors, repair screens
Check the “highways”: attic vents, soffits, roofline gaps, siding seams
Reduce attraction in early fall: bright exterior lights near doors/windows can pull them in
If they’re a yearly tradition, the real fix starts before the first cold snap, because once they’ve tucked into wall voids, winter is just them resurfacing when the temperature swings.
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Your nervous system has drafts too
Stink bugs don’t show up because your house is failing. They show up because there’s one small opening.
That’s also how winter burnout works.
It’s rarely one big dramatic thing. It’s tiny leaks:
scrolling late → sleep gets lighter
skipping protein → mood gets spicy at 4pm
never going outside → brain feels “stuck”
Pick one gap to seal this week. One.
Earlier bedtime by 20 minutes. A short walk in daylight. A real breakfast. Small changes keep your “heat” inside.
—Gabi & Bea