The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is considered an invasive species, or a pest of foreign origin, as it was introduced to the United States from Eastern Asia in the mid-1990s. It is also referred to as the yellow-brown or East Asian stink bug. The bug was first collected in the United States in Allentown, PA in the fall of 1996, but apparently not recognized or identified until September 2001. It quickly spread east to New Jersey, then Virginia by 2004, and now southward to the North Carolina border.
Today, Brown marmorated stink bugs are most prevalent in the mid-Atlanta region, but they have been identified in 44 states and the District of Columbia. The bug’s native range includes China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.
They earned its name from its tendency to release an odor when disturbed or when crushed. Many other insects have these same characteristics, including some species of ants, beetles, and other bugs. Read on to learn about how to get rid of its and stink bug.
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Stink bugs are described in several different ways. They are characterized as both “large, oval-shaped insects” and “shield-shaped insects.” Adult stink bugs can reach almost 2 cm in length. They are nearly as wide as they are long. Their legs extend from the sides, so this makes the adult bugs appear even larger. The brown marmorated stink bug is a brownish stink bug. It has lighter bands on the antennae and darker bands on the wings.
Adult stink bugs are good fliers and fold their wings on top of their body when they land. Nymphs do not have fully developed wings. The wings appear when the nymph becomes an adult. Fully developed wings are a way to identify adult stink bugs.
The nymphs molt or shed their skin five times. Each time a it nymph molts, it becomes larger. By the last molt, the nymphs are almost as large as adult stink bugs.
Stink bugs get their name from the unpleasant odor they produce when they are threatened. It is thought that this odor helps protect the bugs against predators. They produce the smelly chemical in a gland on their abdomen. Some species can actually spray the chemical several inches. The smell has often been compared to strong herbs and spices like cilantro and coriander.
Interestingly, the composition of the odor is comprised of chemicals commonly used as food additives and is present in cilantro. This smell can linger for hours so, if possible, try to avoid stink bugs or carefully sweep or vacuum them up if they have entered your house.
To prevent stink bugs from entering your home, seal any cracks or gaps in walls or floors, keep doors and windows closed, and remove any leaf litter or debris from around your home.
Signs of a stink bug infestation may include seeing large numbers of stink bugs in or around your home, noticing a foul odor, and experiencing damage to crops or garden plants.
Effective stink bug treatments may include using insecticide sprays or traps, as well as sealing cracks and gaps in walls and floors to prevent bugs from entering your home. It’s best to consult with a pest control professional for the most effective treatment plan.
Stink bugs can enter your home through cracks and gaps in walls or floors, as well as on items such as clothing or plants.
Homeowners often find stink bugs inside during the late summer months and autumn when temperatures outside start to drop. Finding large numbers of live or dead stink bugs is a telltale sign of an infestation. They will turn up on sunny sides of homes where they warm themselves. Growers often detect an infestation by the damage they cause to their crops.
If an infestation has developed inside the home or building, contact a licensed pest control professional to evaluate and assess the severity problem and help to identify the access points for this invasive species.
To prevent stink bugs from entering homes and buildings, seal cracks around windows, doors, siding, utility pipes, behind chimneys, and underneath the wood fascia and other openings. Typical entry points include around door and window frames, electrical outlets, light switches, ceiling fans, skylights, and ceiling light fixtures. Use a good quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk. Damaged screens on doors and windows should be repaired or replaced. Stink bugs are attracted to light, so change exterior lighting to less-attractive yellow bulbs or sodium vapor lights.
If you need to know how to get rid of stink bugs that have already entered a home or building, a vacuum cleaner can aid in the removal of live or dead stink bugs. The bag must be discarded to prevent odor from permeating the area. After stink bugs have entered the structure, it is best to isolate the affected room or rooms by sealing the bugs out. If an infestation has developed inside the home or building, a licensed pest control professional should be called to evaluate and assess the problem. A professional can also pre-treat for stink bugs in the late summer or fall just prior to bug congregation.
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