The Polar Vortex's Impact On Pennsylvania Stink Bugs

If one good thing comes out of the polar vortex that descended upon Pennsylvania earlier this winter, driving up heating bills and driving residents indoors, it could be this: less stink bugs.

According to information released by the National Pest Management Association, a 2014 study by Virginia Tech field researchers found that extreme winter weather like a Polar Vortex can kill 95 percent of the stink bugs that had not found shelter.

The topic has generated much interest in recent days, resulting in a swarm of media reports that the bug could be nearly gone come spring.

But while it might sound like good news, don't count on the creepy crawlers being absent from your life for good, scientists are warning.

That's because, in order to survive normal winter conditions, stink bugs seek shelter prior to the onset of the cold.

That means they're already spend the winter hiding inside your house — usually in the walls, attic or crawl space, information from the National Pest Management Association said.

Don't loose all hope: if the weather warms up for a long enough period of time, those sneaky stink bugs might be tricked into thinking spring has arrived. So they exit that wall, attic, or crawl space and come outside. But bam! — more cold weather arrives (hopefully not a polar vortex).

The stink bug, which was discovered in Pennsylvania in 1998, earned its name for the unmistakable odor it releases when crushed.

In addition to being gross and smelly, the stink bug is a key agricultural pest in Pennsylvania, causing severe losses for apple and peach orchards, Penn State researchers explain.

If you find yourself fending off stink bugs again this spring, consider this homemade trick that was found to eliminate 14 times more stink bugs than store-bought traps.