This bug is about 1/2 inch long with black and red markings on the thorax. During the summer it spends its time feeding on box elder or silver maple trees. When fall arrives, it also hibernates under siding of houses in great numbers. (Image © Alberto Nieves/Dreamstime.com)

There are many varieties in the family of insects commonly referred to as “Stink Bugs”. The one most commonly seen in our area is large (1” long) and mostly brown in coloration with distinctive markings on the back of its wings. It is rarely seen in the summer while it feeds in pine trees. When fall arrives these bugs will gather on the sunny side of the house for weeks in large numbers. At some point they will all slip under the siding to hibernate. Like all of these types of insects, they will wake up on sunny winter days as the walls warm up and enter the living space of the house. (Image © Amanda Melones/Dreamstime.com)

Cluster Flies are large black flies that hatch from the lawn in the fall and will enter structures to winter in attics and wall voids in “clusters”. On sunny winter days they wake up from the warmth and gather at windows to get out. They are extremely annoying because of the huge numbers that can be present. (Image courtesy NPMA)