When You See This Bugs In Michigan, Kill Them Instantly

I'll be honest, I'm actually someone who believes in letting most animals and insects live because every being is important to our ecosystem. Think about it, spiders are one of the animals that people are terrified of and often kill, but realistically their diet consists of small bugs like flies, snakes mostly eat rodents and other small animals. Every being has its own diet for its reasons, so what gives us the right to take their lives?

Read More: 8 of the World's 12 Deadliest Bugs Are in Michigan

Obviously, if one of these animals is putting you in danger than yes, absolutely take care of business but other than that, let these animals and insects live and perform their duties in the ecosystem. Now that we got that part out of the way, there are some insects that don't get that same grace, leniency, and benefit of the doubt because of the danger they inherently possess.

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There are a number of insects that cause much more harm to the ecosystem than the benefit that they provide. These insects are often known as invasive species, and everyone is told that killing them right away is always the way to go. These insects can either have negative effects on the environment that would indirectly affect humans or could directly cause harm to humans.

There are 10 insects that are on the list of invasive species here in Michigan and there are varying levels as some are prohibited, some are on the watch list, and others have no designation. Below are the insects and some background on them:

• Asian Longhorned Beetle Watch List - Prohibited in Michigan

  The Asian longhorned beetle can attack and kill many tree species including poplar, willow, sycamore, and horse chestnut, but its favorite host are maple trees. The larvae feed in tunnels in the wood of the tree branches and trunks, eventually killing the tree.

• Balsam Woolly Adelgid Watch List

  Balsam woolly adelgid is a sap-feeding insect that attacks true fir trees, including balsam fir and Fraser fir. Repeated attacks weaken trees, cause twig gouting, kill branches and, over the course of several years, cause trees to die.

• Box Tree Moth

  Box tree moth caterpillars feed primarily on boxwood and can defoliate host plants. Once the leaves are gone, larvae consume the bark, leading to girdling and plant death.

• Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

  Brown marmorated stink bugs affect agricultural crops, fruit trees and ornamentals and can be a nuisance in indoor environments.

• Emerald Ash Borer Prohibited in Michigan

  The Emerald Ash Borer is a bright, metallic green insect with purple abdominal segments under its wing covers. They are approximately 1/2 inch in length and can fit on the head of a penny. The larva are worm-like. The adults feed on the foliage of ash tress and the larvae tunnel and feed on the underside of the bark.

• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid WATCH LIST

  These tiny insects secrete white wax as they feed on sap from hemlock shoots and branches. Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) feeding can kill needles, shoots and branches, resulting in tree death.

• Japanese Beetle

  Japanese beetle grubs damage lawns and turf grasses. Beetles skeletonize leaves and flowers of ornamental plants and trees and can damage crops.

• Mountain Pine Beetle Watch List

  Mountain pine beetle is an aggressive and destructive bark beetle that can infest most pine tree species. The beetles and their larvae tunnel through inner bark, eventually causing tree death.

• Spongy Moth (Formerly Gypsy moth)

  Spongy moth caterpillars defoliate trees, leaving trees vulnerable to diseases and other pests, which may lead to tree mortality.

• Spotted Lanternfly Watch List

  The spotted lanternfly sucks sap from the stems and leaves of orchard trees, grape vines, oaks, pines and other host plants. Feeding can weaken the plant and eventually contribute to its death. Trees will develop weeping wounds that attract other insects and excreted fluids from spotted lanternflies can cause mold growth on plants.