Bug Identifier
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Community identification

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Halyomorpha halys

Order & Family
Hemiptera: Pentatomidae
Size
1.7 centimeters (0.67 inches) long and about as wide.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.