- Common Name(s): Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Stink Bug
- Order: Hemiptera
- Family: Pentatomidae
- Common Species: Halyomorpha halys
- Commonly Confused With: Other Hemipterans
Characteristics
How to Identify?
Adult Stink Bugs vary in color from gray to brown, yellow, green, red, orange, black, or a patterned mix of several of these colors. Generally, Stink Bugs are triangular or shield-shaped. They are between 7-20 mm in length. They have a piercing/sucking mouthpart tucked underneath their body.
Habitat
Where do they live?
Stink Bugs have a large variety of host plants. One of the most common stink bug pests, the brown marmorated stink bug, has a preference for crop plants and certain ornamental plants.
Food Source
What do they eat?
Most Stink Bugs are plant feeders, but there are a few species (Subfamily Asopinae) that can be predators of insects. The brown marmorated stink bug feeds most commonly on the fruiting parts of plants, but it can also feed on leaves, stems, and even pierce through some tree bark.
Activity
What do they do?
These insects can be harmful to plants due to their feeding habits. In order to feed on plants, Stink Bugs need to pierce the plant to suck up sap and nutrients. When they pierce the plant, it can leave an open wound that pathogens can enter, which can harm or even kill the plant.
Fun Fact
If a Stink Bug does happen to shoot out some of its noxious odor, the smell is very similar to that of cilantro.