Bug Identifier
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Community identification

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Halyomorpha halys

Order & Family
Order: Hemiptera, Family: Pentatomidae
Size
Approximately 1.2 to 1.7 cm (0.5 to 0.7 inches) in length.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Originally from East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan); invasive in North America and Europe. Found in agricultural fields, orchards, gardens, and frequently enters homes to overwinter.

Diet & Feeding

Polyphagous herbivore; feeds on over 100 plant species including tree fruits (apples, peaches, figs), berries, grapes, legumes, sweet corn, and ornamental plants using piercing-sucking mouthparts.

Behavior Patterns

Known for releasing a pungent, coriander-like odor when threatened or crushed physically. They aggregate in large numbers in late autumn to seek shelter inside buildings for diapause (overwintering) and emerge in spring to mate and lay eggs.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Major agricultural pest causing significant crop damage (dimpling, necrosis) to fruits and vegetables; nuisance pest in homes due to aggregation behavior and odor. Benefits: Minimal, serves as prey for some spiders, assassin bugs, and parasitoid wasps.