
Community identification
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Halyomorpha halys
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera: Pentatomidae
- Size
- 1.7 centimeters (0.67 inches) long and about as wide.
Natural Habitat
Agricultural fields, orchards, gardens, and urban areas; often seeks shelter in homes during cold weather.
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous. Uses piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on a wide variety of plants, including fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals.
Behavior Patterns
Known for its 'shield' shape and congregating in large numbers. It releases a pungent odor from specialized glands when threatened or crushed. They undergo an incomplete metamorphosis with five nymphal stages.
Risks & Benefits
Considered a significant agricultural pest that damages crops. In homes, they are a nuisance but do not bite or transmit diseases. They have no major ecological benefits in non-native regions.