Bug Identifier
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Community identification

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Halyomorpha halys

Order & Family
Order Hemiptera; Family Pentatomidae
Size
Approximately 1.7 cm (0.67 in) in length and nearly as wide.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Agricultural fields, orchards, gardens; commonly enters homes and buildings during autumn to seek warmth for overwintering.

Diet & Feeding

A wide variety of plants including fruit trees (apples, peaches, pears), vegetables, and ornamental plants; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on juices.

Behavior Patterns

Known for releasing a pungent chemical defense when threatened or crushed; they aggregate in large numbers on sun-facing walls of buildings in the fall.

Risks & Benefits

Significant agricultural pest that damages crops; considered a nuisance pest in homes. They do not bite or sting humans and are not known to transmit diseases, but can cause allergic reactions in some individuals.