23 July 2012
The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, is an invasive pest, that is becoming wide-spread in the U.S. and is of concern to farmers. It feeds on a large number of high-value crops and ornamental plants in its immature and adult life stages. The species is native to Asia and was introduced into the United States in the mid-1990s, possibly stowing away in a shipping container. Their numbers and range have been growing since that time, and they have proved difficult to manage.
In 2010, these stink bugs were seen in extremely high numbers in the mid-Atlantic region. They were responsible for causing major economic damage to fruits and vegetables on a number of farms. In addition to plant damage, brown marmorated stink bugs are a nuisance to people. Adult stink bugs may seek shelter inside houses and other buildings, although they do not bite people or pets, nor do they damage buildings.
Read more about what EPA is doing:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/controlling/stinkbugs/
For More Information
- USDA: Combating the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
- USDA: Species Profile – The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
- Northeastern IPM Center: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug IPM Working Group: Overview
- EPA: Controlling Pests around Your Home
- EPA: Asthma, Cockroaches, and Other Pests
- Biology, ecology, and management of brown marmorated stink bug in specialty crops
