Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

What it is

The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is an insect in the family Pentatomidae, native to China, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, and Taiwan. In September 1998 it was collected in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where it is believed to have been accidentally introduced. The nymphs and adults of the brown marmorated stink bug feed on over 100 species of plants, including many agricultural crops, and by 2010–11 had become a season-long pest in orchards in the Eastern United...

Where and when to find it

Habitat

You can find Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs in gardens, farms, orchards, and sometimes inside homes across much of the US.

How to find it

Look for them on plants with fruits or vegetables. In cooler weather, you might find them clinging to the outside or inside of your house.

Best time of day

Daytime, especially in late summer and fall.

How it lives

What it eats

Many types of fruits, vegetables, and plant sap

What eats it

Birds, spiders, predatory insects (native species)

Worth knowing

• They are not native to the US; they came from Asia.
• They are called 'stink bugs' because they release a bad smell when scared.
• They often gather on the sunny side of houses in the fall to keep warm.
• They damage crops by sucking juices from fruits and plants.
• They have a shield-like body shape.
• Scientists are looking for natural ways to control them because they are not from here.

Why it matters

While interesting, this bug can be a pest, eating many different kinds of plants and crops in the US. It's important to know about for farms and gardens.