Stink Bug Population Exploding in United States

Posted on March 24, 2011

The stink bug population is growing rapidly. USA Today reports that stink bugs are spreading around the United States. Brown marmorated stink bugs, a bug introduced to the U.S. from Asia in the late 1990s, are already a problem in twenty states. Sightings of the brown marmorated stink bug have been reported in 33 states.

National Pest Management Association said in a statement that infestations this year will be "significantly worse than in previous seasons." Stink bugs are not a health threat, but the smelly pests do like to invade homes in large numbers. A Wikipedia entry says the stink bugs may emit a foul odor if they are frightened. The bugs cannot simply be squashed, because squishing them also releases a foul odor.

The smelly bug is described in this video from the Entomological Society of America.

Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the NPMA, said, "Although these smelly pests do not pose serious property or safety threats to homeowners, their tendency to invade homes in high numbers can be a nuisance."

The NPMA offers the following tips for helping prevent a stink bug invasion in your home:

Michael Raupp, Professor of Entomology, University of Maryland, calls the brown marmorated stink bug the "perfect pest." He warns in a USA Today video that the stink bugs are "coming to everybody's house."

Growers are using more pesticides than ever to keep the stink bugs away, so be sure to rinse your fruits and veggies. Stink bugs use a proboscis to feed from plants, which damages crops. You can see some of the damage the stinks bugs can do to crops, including apples and corn, here. The foreign invader does not have enough natural enemies in U.S. to stop it. A stink bug killing wasp, which preys on stink bug eggs, may be introduced to the U.S. to fight the stink bug.



More from Science Space & Robots