Even in the nature-loving Pacific Northwest, some bugs are public enemy No. 1.

Why it matters: As spring temperatures climb past about 55 degrees, cold-blooded insects emerge from winter hiding spots seemingly all at once, which is why it can suddenly feel like they're everywhere.

• The good news? They're not a threat to people, Levi Zahn, an entomologist with Multnomah County Vector Control, told Axios.

But they're definitely a nuisance. We asked Seattle readers which pests they hate most, and a few select villains emerged.

• Out of 194 responses, stink bugs (15%), mosquitoes (15%) and ants (12%) were the most despised.
• But stink bugs drew the strongest reactions.

What you're saying: Peggy S. of Harstine Island told Axios she "absolutely hates" stink bugs — brown marmorated stink bugs (BMS) in particular — which have swarmed her home in recent years.

• "Yesterday morning I reached to pick up my electric toothbrush from the charger and a BMS was perched (defiantly) on the bristles of the toothbrush," she said.
• Steve A. said stink bugs kept flying into his office and landing on him — even during Zoom meetings — until he discovered an unlatched window and hundreds more on the sill.
• "The only good stink bug is a dead stink bug."

Perhaps the most horrifying bug experience came from Axios Portland reader B.G.: "I woke up one night with a boxelder bug strolling into my nostril, apparently having entered my CPAP machine through an intake, and making its way down the tube."

Flashback: Like many long-haired people who grew up in the Midwest, Sarah Taylor Oden recalls "the trauma of a June bug spinning and vibrating madly in their hair … like a huge ball of vibrating Velcro."

• "I welcome Seattle's bugs with less trepidation in comparison."

Yes, but: Even the most reviled bugs play an important role — from pollination to feeding other animals and breaking down organic matter.

• "Their disappearance would trigger a collapse of global agriculture and the animal ecosystems that rely on them for waste decomposition and food," Chad Ruffin, a Seattle-based physician and insect enthusiast, told Axios.
• Despite accounting for 90% of all animal biomass, flying insect populations have plummeted by 75% in less than three decades.

The bottom line: "Bugs are just trying to make their way in the world like we are, so the least I can do is give them a little grace," said Nicole Meyer, senior media officer for PETA.

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A new statue of Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki was formally unveiled Friday outside T-Mobile Park — but the statue's bat broke during the ceremony.

The incident prompted laughs and jokes among Ichiro and other Mariners greats who were on hand for the ceremony, including Ken Griffey Jr.

The statue was quickly repaired.

💻 Washington's new law banning noncompete agreements is reshaping how tech companies hire and retain workers, with both optimism and uncertainty across the industry. (GeekWire)

📚 A Seattle City Council committee voted to advance a proposal to boost the Seattle Public Library levy by about $70 million. (MyNorthwest)

🩺 A measles-infected infant visited locations in Bellevue and Seattle, prompting public health officials to warn of possible exposure. (KIRO 7)

Five large-scale data centers are being proposed in Seattle, which could potentially strain the city's electricity supply, the Seattle Times reports.

The big picture: Combined, the centers would have a maximum demand of 369 megawatts — about one-third of the electricity the city typically uses daily, according to the newspaper.

Zoom in: The proposals come from four companies, which Seattle City Light declined to identify.

• At full capacity, the five centers could consume up to 10 times more power than the city's existing 30 data centers, the Times reports.
• The pitches come as more tech companies are looking to invest in data centers to fuel advancements in artificial intelligence.

Between the lines: Seattle City Light officials warn that the surge in demand could strain staffing and infrastructure needed to serve existing customers, per the Times.

• The utility is already under pressure as more buildings switch to electric heating, electric vehicles expand and the city's population grows.

What's next: City Light says it is rewriting contracts for large power users, which could require the companies behind the proposals to secure their own energy and pay for grid upgrades.

• The companies are expected to decide within the next few months whether to formally apply for service.

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Table for one? Turns out, you're not alone.

Industry data suggests that solo dining is on the rise, as more people skip group meals in favor of treating themselves on their own.

Zoom in: Single orders now make up 47% of fast-food trips — compared to 31% in 2021, per Yum Brands, the parent company of Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut.

• At full-service restaurants, reservations for one jumped 22% in the third quarter of 2025 from the same time a year earlier, Toast data shows.
• Roughly a quarter of solo diners say they're satisfying a specific craving, often snacks or drinks, per the report.

Reality check: Single diners still represented less than 1% of total booked reservations in Q3, Toast researchers found.

💭 Clarridge's thought bubble: Few things beat a good meal with a book for company.

• No coordinating, no compromises — just picking exactly where I want to eat and enjoying the quiet.

📣 Tell us: Reply to this email with your best tips for eating alone, why you love or hate it, and any local spots that cater well to solo diners or places to avoid.

• We may include your response in a future story.