{"id":16024,"date":"2019-12-17T22:12:05","date_gmt":"2019-12-18T01:12:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/?p=16024"},"modified":"2024-12-15T17:29:11","modified_gmt":"2024-12-15T20:29:11","slug":"new-invading-bug-menace-brown-marmorated-stink-bugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/pest-control\/new-invading-bug-menace-brown-marmorated-stink-bugs\/","title":{"rendered":"New Invading Bug Menace: Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs"},"content":{"rendered":"

We’ve had stink bugs a long time in the United States but a new species is spreading rapidly since it landed in the U.S. in the ’90s. It\u2019s the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys St\u00e5l)<\/em>, often referred to as BMSB.<\/p>

This type of stink bug came here accidentally from Asia. Its first sighting came in Allentown, Pa., in 1998. They spread rapidly. Today, brown marmorated stink bugs have found homes in 44 states and Washington, D.C. They can literally be found coast to coast \u2013 from New Jersey to Oregon.<\/p>

BMSBs are an invasive species of insects that have quickly spread, particularly in the mid-Atlantic states. While they look harmless enough, they aren\u2019t. In fact, they\u2019ve caused widespread damage to many different crops including apples, sweet corn, peppers, tomatoes, and peaches.<\/p>

In 2010, just over a decade after their introduction to North America, some growers reported a total loss of crops due to this type of stink bug. Tree fruit damage for Mid-Atlantic apple growers alone was estimated to be $37 million due to BMSBs that year. Addressing the BMSB issue has become a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, growers, and entomologists across the country.<\/p>

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Life Cycle<\/strong><\/h2>

BMSBs can mate multiple times and females can lay nearly 500 eggs in their lifetime. Their eggs are light green in color and can often be found on the underside of leaves in clusters of about 25 to 28 eggs. They mate in the spring after overwintering as adults and it takes about 538 degree days<\/a> for them to reach adulthood.<\/p>

In between the egg and adult stage, these stink bugs go through a nymph stage. It\u2019s during this phase of their life cycle that they are most visible. The \u201cfirst instars\u201d \u2014 in the period between molts \u2014 can be identified by their dark head and pronotum and the orange, red, and black stripes on their abdomen. Later instars’ head and pronotum are primarily black and their abdomen is more rust-colored than orange with black spots down the center and on its edges.<\/p>

Once this invasive species becomes adult, its speckled brown-gray color blends well with tree bark, making it more difficult to spot. What differentiates adult BMSBs from other kinds of brown stink bugs is that the outer edge of their pronotum is smooth and their antennae have alternating dark and white bands.<\/p>

Why Does It Stink, and What Does It Smell Like?<\/h2>
\"The
The brown marmorated sting bug is easily recognized by many because it\u0092s invading out homes. But the pest, shown here feeding on an apple, is also a major economic threat to fruit crops, garden vegetables, and man ornamentals. ARS scientists are fighting back by developing traps, sequencing the bug\u0092s genome, and testing parasitic wasps as biocontrols. USDA photo by Stephen Ausmus<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The \u201cstinkiness\u201d of a stink bug is its primary defense mechanism. Like other types of stink bugs, BMSBs emit a strong odor through their abdomen. It protects them from birds, lizards, and other insects considering a stinkbug meal.<\/p>

Those on the receiving end of a stinkbug’s spray describe the smell as resembling that of coriander. Simply handling one of these bugs or trying to move it can trigger it to release its pungent odor.<\/p>

Are Stink Bugs Harmful to Humans?<\/strong><\/h2>

BMSBs and other types of stink bugs are not harmful to humans. They don\u2019t bite or sting nor do they cause structural damage to homes. But they can create a nuisance.<\/p>

If you encounter one and try to move it, you may get to see for yourself just how badly it stinks. And \u2026 not only do will they emit a stinky smell when they are threatened, but they may also release chemicals to attract other stink bugs to your home!<\/p>

Arthur Agnello<\/a>, a professor at Cornell University and extension fruit entomologist, serves on the Extension Committee at StopBMSB.org<\/a>. \u201cThe most objectionable thing about them is that they can occur in large numbers inside structures where they overwinter, and they can produce an unpleasant odor when crushed or disturbed,\u201d he says.<\/p>

\u201cThey can produce allergic reactions (rhinitis and\/or conjunctivitis) in individuals who are sensitive to the bugs\u2019 odor (the defensive chemicals can be an aeroallergen),\u201d he says. \u201cIndividuals sensitive to the odors of cockroaches and lady beetles are may be particularly affected by BMSB. Additionally, if the insects are crushed or smashed against exposed skin, they can produce dermatitis at the point of contact; there has not been much research in this regard, although it appears to affect only a small percentage of the population.\u201d<\/p>

For more information about this check out the Penn State Fact Sheet<\/a> on the StopBMSB website.<\/p>

Why Is There a Stink Bug in My House?<\/h2>

When you find an invasive brown marmorated stink bug in your house, it\u2019s likely because it’s looking for a place to overwinter. If it decides your home is a good place to do so, it will attract other stink bugs using a pheromone to overwinter in your house too. Overwintering is their protective, sleeplike state \u2014 like a hibernation. They remain in this state until spring when it\u2019s time to go out, mate, and lay new stink bug eggs.<\/p>

Like other kinds of bugs, they have a knack for finding an entry point in your home and can easily slip through a door crack or torn screen. They\u2019ll spend the winter hiding in your walls, attic, or wherever they find a good sheltered space. And they congregate, sometimes to the point of a major infestation.<\/p>

A report from 2012 documented an incident in Maryland, where, over a 181-day period, 26,205 adult brown marmorated stink bugs were collected in one home.<\/a><\/p>

How Do I Kill These Pests?<\/h2>

If you come across one of these stink bugs in your house, you definitely want to get rid of it before it turns into an infestation situation \u2013 especially during the cold months. But if you squash it, you risk stinking up your house. So what do you do?<\/p>

According to Ric Bessin, professor and extension specialist in the Department of Entomology at the University of Kentucky<\/a>, “<\/em>One strategy when you run across BMSB would be to use a vacuum cleaner to suck them up. To reduce the number of bags for the vacuum cleaner, knee-high pantyhose can be used in the tube to collect the stink bugs. The stink bugs can be then taken outside, dumped into soapy water, or flushed down the toilet.\u201d<\/p>

He also shared that \u201canother strategy developed in Virginia, is to use a water pan trap in dark areas such as storage rooms or attics. The water pan trap consists of an aluminum basting pan that has between 1 and 2 inches of soapy water in the bottom. A light is shined into the pan to attract the BMSB. A battery powdered light can help to prevent problems with the light falling into the pan.\u201d<\/p>

How do keep BMSBs out of my house?<\/h2>

Now that you know what to do if you do catch one in your house, how do you ensure that they don\u2019t get in to begin with?<\/p>

Professor Agnello says that mechanical exclusion is best. <\/em>\u201cCracks around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, behind chimneys, and underneath the wood fascia and other openings should be sealed with good quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk,\u201d he said. \u201cDamaged screens on doors and windows should be repaired or replaced.\u201d<\/p>

So, ensuring that these bugs cannot get in is the most effective long-term solution. You could also try applying an insecticide on the exterior of your home; however, this method usually doesn\u2019t keep them out for more than several days to a week. And whatever you do, don\u2019t use indoor insecticidal dust to control stink bugs. It may kill them, but their stinky carcasses will remain in your walls and could even attract other pests like carpet beetles, which can damage your home. And interior insecticide sprays simply don\u2019t work on stink bugs.<\/p>

Some homeowners have had results using home remedies such as these:<\/p>