A New Super-Stinky Bug

Here’s your delivery ma’am— The brown marmorated stink bug is a relatively new pest that is believed to have "hitched a ride" in packing crates that originated from China or Japan. It probably arrived in Allentown, Pennsylvania about 1996, but it was not positively identified until 2001. It has been spreading quite rapidly since then and has already been found in 26 states, all the way west to California and Oregon. Unfortunately, it is expected to spread throughout the country.

This insect congregates on the outside of homes on warm fall days. Eventually many of them find their way indoors through cracks and gaps. Like many other fall-invading pests, they are not active indoors except on warm fall, winter, and spring days, when they wake Stink bugs wandering about indoors are a nuisance, but this particular species has an especially strong, unpleasant, and long-lasting odor—stronger and longer-lasting than many other stink bugs. The smell is a defense mechanism meant to prevent birds and other predators from eating it, so the more obnoxious the smell, the better for the bug. If you jostle or squeeze this bug, you will quickly find out why the name "stink bug" is so appropriate. You'll know what it is by its smell!

The brown marmorated stink bug hibernates until May or early June. There are no natural predators of this insect. Call us to treat for this pest in late summer or fall just prior to bug congregation. We will likely see more of this pest in the years to come.