Rough Stink Bug Identification Guide

Key Features

• Shield-shaped body, roughly 13-18mm long
• Mottled gray, brown, and tan coloring that closely resembles tree bark
• Distinctly rough, textured surface on the pronotum and wing covers, with small bumps and ridges rather than a smooth shell
• Pronotum has jagged, toothed edges along the "shoulders," giving an irregular outline
• Antennae are banded with alternating light and dark segments
• Legs are also mottled and often show faint banding

Where and When to Look

• Commonly found on tree trunks and bark, especially oak, sycamore, and other deciduous trees, where its coloring provides excellent camouflage
• Active from spring through fall, with adults overwintering in bark crevices, leaf litter, or other sheltered spots
• More often noticed when it moves against a plain surface, such as a wall or fence, since it can be nearly invisible on bark
• Found in wooded areas, orchards, and gardens with mature trees nearby

Similar-Looking Bugs

• Other brown stink bugs, such as the brown marmorated stink bug, have a smoother pronotum without the jagged, toothed shoulder edges and lack the strongly rough bark-like texture
• Spined soldier bugs have more sharply pointed, smooth shoulder spines and a less mottled, less bark-like pattern
• Assassin bugs sometimes show mottled brown coloring but have a narrower body and a distinctly curved, prominent beak rather than the flat, tucked beak of a stink bug

Quick ID Checklist

• Bark-like mottled gray-brown coloring
• Rough, bumpy texture on the back and pronotum
• Jagged, toothed edges on the pronotum "shoulders"
• Banded antennae and legs
• Found resting on tree trunks and bark