Insect Species: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
In the autumn of Ohio, a familiar visitor makes its way into homes and buildings, seeking shelter for the winter. The brown marmorated stink bug, a nuisance pest, has been a common sight in some areas of the state since its first documentation in December 2007.
Originally identified in the United States in 2001, the brown marmorated stink bug has since spread to 46 states and four Canadian provinces. In Ohio, it can be found at high density in crops and buildings in some areas, but at low density in many others. As of 2020, it has been documented in 62 of Ohio's 88 counties.
The brown marmorated stink bug is distinguishable from other stink bug species by the alternating dark and light bands on the last two segments of its antennae. Adults can be up to 15 mm (5/8 inch) long and 8 mm (3/8 inch) wide, with the upper side of the body having mottled shades of brown and gray, while the underside is white, sometimes with grey or black markings.
The adults begin to fly to overwintering sites in early September, with peak flight activity in late September or early October. Overwintering sites include houses, barns, woodpiles, and other protected places. The immature stages, called nymphs, are oval-shaped and somewhat tick-like in appearance, with young nymphs usually half black and half orangish-red. Older nymphs are similarly colored, but larger in size.
The brown marmorated stink bug feeds on fruits, seeds, stems, and leaves of a wide range of plants, making it a pest of concern to farmers. It has a broad host range, with 175 reported host plants in the United States, including many economically important crops.
A potential solution to the brown marmorated stink bug problem is the samurai wasp, a tiny wasp that lays its eggs in the eggs of the stink bug. As of 2020, the samurai wasp has been detected in 12 states, but the countries within the USA where it has been found are not currently known.
The brown marmorated stink bug is highly mobile and can switch hosts through the season. This, combined with its broad host range and ability to hitchhike in cargo, makes it a challenging pest to control. However, continued research and the introduction of natural predators like the samurai wasp may help to manage its population in the future.
