Stink Bug

Natural Habitat

Found in agricultural fields, orchards, gardens, and can invade homes and other structures looking for overwintering sites. Originally from East Asia, they have become invasive in North America and Europe.

Diet & Feeding

They are polyphagous, meaning they feed on a wide variety of plants. They use their piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on fruits, vegetables, and field crops like corn, soybeans, and tomatoes, causing damage by creating necrotic spots or cat-facing.

Behavior Patterns

Stink bugs undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult). They are known for releasing a foul-smelling chemical when disturbed or crushed, which contains aldehydes and other compounds. In late summer and fall, adults gather in large numbers on the sunny sides of buildings, seeking cracks and openings to enter homes and other sheltered locations for overwintering. They are not active once indoors in winter but become active again in spring.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Significant agricultural pests that can cause widespread damage to crops, leading to economic losses. Their invasion into homes in large numbers can be a nuisance, though they do not bite humans or cause structural damage. Benefits: None widely recognized as beneficial to humans; they are primarily considered pests due to their agricultural impact and tendency to infest homes.

Identified on: 11/10/2025