Q. What can you tell me about stink bugs? How can I get rid of them?
A. As gardeners we usually come in contact with invasive plants like kudzu, mimosa, sweet autumn clematis, johnsongrass, golden bamboo, Bradford pear, Chinese privet and wisteria, Japanese climbing fern, and the list goes on.
As gardeners we also come face to face with invasive invertebrates like the kudzu bug, red imported fire ants, emerald ash borer, brown marmorated stink bugs, and the list goes on.
It’s fall, so it’s time to be on the look out for stink bugs and especially the brown marmorated stink bugs that you might find lurking around your window screens or doors, looking for cracks or crevices to get inside your home.
The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys, is an invasive pest that has become a significant issue for agriculture and landscaping in the United States, according to the UGA Extension. The BMSB is similar to other stink bugs with a roughly-triangular or “shield” shaped body. It is native to Asia and was detected in Pennsylvania first in 1998 and has spread rapidly, largely due to its unique overwintering behavior. It has now been identified in 47 states, which includes Georgia, with the highest percentage of BMSB in the mid-Atlantic region.
To identify a brown marmorated stink bug from other stink bugs, one must look closely. Adults are about ⅝ inch long, marbled brown in color, and have the typical stink bug ‘shield’ shape. The brown marmorated stink bug has two white bands on its antenna, has bands on the abdominal edges, one white band on each leg, and a smooth edge on its rounded shoulders. In May through August adult females lay clusters of 20-30 light green or yellow, elliptical-shaped eggs on the undersides of leaves. They usually produce one or two generations per year in cooler climates, but can lay up to five generations in warmer climates.
In addition to plant damage, brown marmorated stink bugs are a nuisance to people because adult stink bugs are looking for a place to stay for the winter inside your house, garage, outbuildings, or vehicles. Once inside, they may congregate almost anywhere, including bookcases, under beds,
and sofas, in cracks under or behind baseboards, window and door trim, and in attics. While large infestations can be a nuisance, they do not bite people or animals, nor do they transmit disease or cause physical harm. They do not damage buildings or reproduce in homes either. However, some people may be sensitive to allergens given off by the stink bugs. Look out when they are disturbed or squashed, the stink bugs release an unpleasant odor from scent glands on their abdomen.
Both live and dead brown marmorated stink bugs can be removed from inside your home by using a vacuum cleaner; however, the vacuum may smell of stink bugs for a period of time. Traps can also be made from a pan of soapy water and using a light source to attract the bugs. Aerosol and fogger type insecticides labeled for use against domestic stink bugs will kill these pests in living areas, but they will not prevent more of the insects from emerging from cracks after the spray is dry.
Here are a few simple tips from the United States Environmental Protection Agency to help keep the brown marmorated stink bug from entering homes: caulk windows inside and out; use weather strip around doors; rake away debris and edible vegetation from your homes foundation; inspect and seal foundation cracks; secure crawlspace entries; insulate around exposed plumbing pipes; use a screen or cover over the chimney. You can also contact a pest control company to help keep your home stink bug free.
The brown marmorated stink bug is a serious agricultural pest as well and has been observed feeding successfully on numerous fruit, vegetable, and field crops including apples, apricots, Asian pears, cherries, corn (field and sweet), grapes, lima beans, nectarines, and peaches, peppers, tomatoes and soybeans, ornamental trees, shrubs, and weeds have also been confirmed. The presence of this stink bug is concerning for farmers because it feeds on a large number of high-value crops and ornamental plants in its immature and adult life stages.
You can learn more about these invasive species from the UGA Invasive Species Resources or the Georgia Invasive Species Council. The GISC has an invasive species list for Invasive Plants, Invasive Wildlife, and Invasive Invertebrates.
If you have gardening questions, contact a Master Gardener Extension Volunteer at the UGA Cooperative Extension Carroll County office at 900 Newnan Road, Carrollton at 770-836-8546 or via email at ccmg@uga.edu.
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