When people think of stink bugs, one question usually arises: Do stink bugs really stink? While they don’t go around contaminating every area they cohabitate with, they do emit a notably pungent scent when threatened: a chemical defense mechanism that deters predators.
But it’s not their smell that’s most concerning. The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), or Halyomorpha halys, is an invasive species that’s rapidly spread across 38 states, wreaking havoc on crops and causing significant economic losses.
In this article, we’ll explore the defining traits of the BMSB, examine the environmental and economic impacts of its spread and highlight the current pest management strategies used to control this invasive pest and limit further damage.
Identifying a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Before you can determine whether this species is living in or around your home, it’s important to know how to distinguish it from other insects. Here’s how to spot an adult BMSB:
- Size: Typically 14 to 17 millimeters long — just over half an inch.
- Appearance: The BMSB’s back has a unique shield shape with a marbled brown color and intricate, mottled patterns that earn it the term “marmorated.”
- Key features: Look for white and brown bands on both the antennae and legs — distinctive marks that help set the BMSB apart from similar species.
As with other critters in the world, these insects don’t start their lives as adults. You can spot them during other phases of life as well:
- Egg stage
BMSBs lay clusters of approximately two dozen eggs on the underbellies of leaves each spring. The eggs are usually light green.
- Nymph stage
After about a week, the eggs hatch, and the second stage of their life begins. Young nymphs are bright red and black and have a more circular shape than their adult counterparts. As they mature, their adult coloring begins to take over and their signature shield-shape becomes more prominent.
- Adults
By the time they’ve reached the adult stage of life, BMSBs have developed wings that allow them to fly to overwintering sites in the fall to avoid colder temperatures.
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug’s Initial Spread
The BMSB, originally from East Asia, arrived in North America in 1996, likely via shipping containers. First spotted in Pennsylvania, it spread rapidly across the U.S. While BMSBs can fly, they rely on human transport to cover long distances, “hitchhiking” on vehicles and shipments, often settling in warmer climates where they can thrive.
The main reason brown marmorated stink bugs have thrived in North America is due to their voracious appetites — and the U.S. offers plenty of their preferred foods. So, what do stink bugs eat?
They enjoy dining on several juicy field crops, including:
- Apples
- Apricots
- Asian pears
- Cherries
- Corn
- Grapes
- Lima beans
- Peppers
- Tomatoes
How Do They Impact the Environment?
While BMSBs have excellent taste in produce, their appetite for fruits and vegetables has caused economic losses in some areas, especially in the mid-Atlantic region, including states like Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania. In 2010, a BMSB outbreak caused over $37 million in losses to fruit producers in this area.
These significant economic losses highlight the destructive potential of the BMSB. After consuming fruits and vegetables, they cause physical damage to produce, leading to mealy textures and discoloration that make the affected crops unsuitable for fresh markets and sometimes even for processing. Additionally, when they feed on plant leaves, they create openings for pathogens, leaving crops vulnerable to disease. These direct and indirect damages make BMSBs a significant agricultural and ecological concern in the regions they invade.
Pest Management Strategies
The brown marmorated stink bug, invasive species that it is, requires carefully planned pest management strategies to significantly reduce its numbers. Unfortunately, the number of effective pesticides is limited for this species, but that hasn’t stopped agricultural scientists and pest management experts from exploring alternative methods.
In 2021, researchers from the Agricultural Research Service investigated the Trissolcus japonicus, or samurai wasp, for biological control. While the tiny wasp parasitizes stink bug eggs and can reduce populations, ecological limitations prevent it from being a fully compatible, standalone control solution.
However, if you live in a BMSB hot spot, there are measures you can take to keep these invasive pests out of your home:
- Seal entry points: Use caulk or silicone to close cracks and crevices around windows and doors.
- Remove with care: Vacuum stink bugs you find indoors, but be mindful of the odor they release — better in the vacuum than on you!
- Limit lights: Since stink bugs are attracted to light, reduce outdoor lighting at night to minimize attraction.
Discover the Latest Pest Management Strategies at UF
Understanding and managing invasive species like the brown marmorated stink bug requires expertise in pest control and ecological balance. While DIY strategies can help minimize indoor encounters, effective long-term solutions rely on continued scientific research and advanced pest management strategies.
That’s where the University of Florida comes in. As the number one nematology and entomology program in the world, our online master’s degree and graduate certificate programs provide the skills needed to address these environmental challenges. Whether you’re interested in one of our pest management programs or another specialization, you can earn a graduate certificate or master’s degree (or both) in as little as one year.
Explore our programs to determine which one aligns with your career aspirations, and when you’re ready, fill out an application to begin the next chapter in your professional journey.
Sources:
https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/brown-marmorated-stink-bug
https://www.stopbmsb.org/stink-bug-basics/life-stages/
https://onlineentomology.ifas.ufl.edu/how-invasive-insects-travel-by-hitchhiking/\
https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/veg/bean/brown_marmorated_stink_bug.htm
https://www.cabi.org/news-article/samurai-wasp-has-minimal-impact-on-native-stink-bugs-new-cabi-led-study-confirms/
