Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys) on white backgroundAfter a long winter, it may seem like spring’s arrival has come at a crawling pace. March marks the official beginning of spring, as well as the unofficial launch of pest season. As temperatures warm up and moisture peaks, insects come creeping.Just as different flowers bloom in the spring versus the summer, there is a seasonality to bugs. You’re more likely to see different species at certain times of the year, and spring pests are not for the faint-hearted.
There are so many things to love about the fall season…but the increase in the stink bug population isn’t one of them.
Why couldn’t we have an increase in butterflies, dragonflies or hummingbirds this time of year, instead of the insect world’s version of the skunk?
When they are disturbed or crushed, stink bugs release an odor that smells a lot like stinky feet. So, learning that fall is their peak season for invading homes in high numbers is quite disturbing.
A previously-little-known stink bug has been infesting most of our homes lately, and almost everyone is clueless about these bugs or even about how to control them. The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), scientifically called the Halyomorpha halys, has been found in 49 countries and has been known as an agricultural pest in Eastern countries such as China and Japan. In America, it is commonly known to be an indoor pest and is abundant mostly during the warmer seasons.DamageThe BMSB can significantly destroy crops in the field. For example, it can distort the flesh of an apple or other citrus fruit, affecting its marketability and safety of consumption.
