Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs Are Strange Pests – Here’s Why

Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs Are Strange Pests – Here’s Why

Summary: Stink bugs are a strange pest because they ruin plants, but they also invade houses and buildings in the fall. This blog explores the life of the brown marmorated stink bug. Each section focuses on a different topic, including their appearance, smelly chemical, love for sunlight, diet, and prevention methods. Pointe Pest Control efficiently treats stink bugs and any other pest that tries to invade homes this fall.

Out of all the backyard pests we see, brown marmorated stink bugs are one of the strangest. They ruin crops and gardens, but they don’t spread diseases. They invade homes in the fall for the shelter, but they don’t cause us any harm. Not to mention, the defense mechanism that got them their name is harmless yet incredibly frustrating.

All of this to say, brown marmorated stink bugs are a strange pest that aren’t always on our radars until we actually see them. You might already be seeing them this fall since they seek out sunny patches of the yard as they search for a safe shelter to spend the winter. Let’s explore the unassuming world of stink bugs and the main reason why you do not want them in your home.

The Smelly Invaders

It’s hard to imagine a fall without stink bugs, but these pests are relatively new to the United States. First identified in Pennsylvania during the late 1990s, brown marmorated stink bugs supposedly invaded the U.S. by riding on shipments from East Asia. Over the past 20-something years, stink bugs spread across the country to give farmers and gardeners a new pest to stress over.

The physical features of brown marmorated stink bugs are:

• A shield-shaped body
• 6 legs
• 2 antennae
• Metallic spots on the head
• Light-colored bands on the antennae

Females lay their eggs on the underside of leaves to protect them from predators. They lay 20 to 30 eggs per batch, and the warm weather can lead them to produce multiple batches a year. As the bugs grow, they molt a total of 5 times. They prefer to stay outside in the warmer months so their eggs can hatch in the heat. But once the weather cools down, the bugs know it’s time to pack it up. They scope out potential shelter options for winter, ideally moving into one before the winter frost arrives.

Something Smells…

The “stink” part of this pest’s name is a little concerning, but there’s a simple explanation for it. Stink bugs have glands on their abdomens that blast odorous chemicals when at the bug’s will. The spray launches several inches away, so the bug can defend itself before it’s actually handled by a predator. Since the chemical scent lingers for hours, it’s best to avoid these smelly bugs altogether.

You can almost think of stink bugs as a much smaller skunk, which explains why the bugs don’t have many predators. The pest’s spray doesn’t smell nearly as bad as a skunk’s. In fact, the odor of these bugs has been compared to spices and herbs, especially cilantro. If you randomly smell cilantro in your yard or home, it could be the product of a squished stink bug!

Sunbathing Stink Bugs

Stink bugs stay near plants as much as possible, especially as they grow from larvae into adults. The pests eat every part of a plant and therefore don’t want to stray too far from their food source. Plants that get full sunlight are more likely to be invaded by these pests because their energy level is higher when they’re warm. If you see stink bugs huddled on the side of your house or building, now you know why!

Unfortunately, their preference for sunlight makes it much easier for stink bugs to ruin our gardens and crops. The vegetation that thrives in the summer is more at risk of being invaded by the warm weather pests. The good news is that we don’t have to worry about these bugs biting or stinging us (looking at you, wasps). But if you have a field or garden full of lush crops, you’ll want to be on the lookout for these little stinkers.

An Enemy To Fruits

Since brown marmorated stink bugs are herbivores, they eat any fruit or plant they can get their tiny hands on. This expansive diet allows them to thrive in any habitat, but that’s exactly what makes them such a frustrating pest. Young bugs get nutrients from the plant by piercing it with their sharp mouthparts and drinking the juice.

Adult stink bugs mainly live on fruit and other vegetation. Their favorites include apples, corn, citrus, apricots, figs, soybeans, and peaches. These bugs don’t eat much of the produce since they’re so small, but they do ruin every fruit and vegetable they touch. The longer that the stink bug feeds on a fruit, the more sunken spots it develops. Plus, their strong scent can linger on the produce after they feed, and no one wants a smelly fruit!

The Key To Prevention

Unfortunately, the trouble with stink bugs doesn’t stop with the crops. Similar to cockroaches, these bugs can cause allergic reactions and skin irritation in people who come into contact with the pest. These insects like living inside wall voids during the winter, so an invasion can fly (literally) under the radar if you aren’t careful.

The best way to prevent these pests is also the simplest: eliminate all possible entry points. These bugs are only 3/4 of an inch long at most, so they squeeze through all kinds of gaps. You have to beat the bugs at their own game by finding these holes before they do. These tasks are great for any time of year, but the fall season is especially important when it comes to stink bugs.

To prevent stink bugs, we recommend:

• Inspecting your house for holes. Check your home’s exterior for gaps, cracks, and moisture damage. Do a quick inspection after each bout of bad weather to make sure there isn’t any new damage.

• Sealing all imperfections. Small cracks and gaps are easily filled with waterproof caulk. For larger holes, fill them with steel wool or copper mesh before lining with caulk.

• Repairing torn screens. Check your window and door screens for traps and holes. Stink bugs like to use these as entry points since the screens are often in direct sunlight. Use extra material to patch small holes, or replace the whole screen if it’s too torn.

Keep Your Home Fresh With Pointe Pest Control

A lone stink bug in the garden is not a major concern, but a horde of stink bugs hiding within your walls is a full nightmare! It’s not a great idea to vacuum the stink bugs you find since they can ruin your vacuum. At Pointe Pest Control, our licensed technicians always provide thorough treatments. We know where the bugs like to hide, so our team takes the time to find all areas of pest activity before creating a treatment plan that’s customized to solve your pest issues. Instead of sacrificing your vacuum to the stink bugs, contact us for a free quote on our effective services!

Citations

Skvarla, M.J. (2017, March 2). Brown marmorated stink bug. PennState Extension. Available at https://extension.psu.edu/brown-marmorated-stink-bug (Accessed on October 14, 2024).

Stink bugs. (n.d.). Pest World. Retrieved on October 14, 2024, from https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/occasional-invaders/stink-bugs/