Bug Identifier
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Community identification

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Halyomorpha halys

Order & Family
Hemiptera: Pentatomidae
Size
1.7 cm in length and approximately as wide as they are long.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found in gardens, orchards, and agricultural fields; frequently enters homes and buildings in the fall to seek shelter for winter.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous. They use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on a wide variety of plants, including fruits, vegetables, and ornamental trees.

Behavior Patterns

They are known for their defensive odor produced by scent glands. They undergo hemimetabolous metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and are strong fliers.

Risks & Benefits

They are major agricultural pests causing damage to crops. While they do not bite or sting humans, they are considered a nuisance pest when they congregate indoors, and their defensive spray can cause allergic reactions in some people.