Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Image courtesy of David R. Lance, USDA APHIS PPQ, bugwood.org

Hosts

All tree fruits, plus many vegetables, landscape ornamentals, and some row crops

Biology

Adults are shield-shaped, mottled brown, and about 5/8 inch long. They overwinter under rocks, logs, and leaves but may also enter homes, garages and other sheltered buildings. Adults become active in the spring to feed and mate. Females deposit clusters of 20 - 30 pale green eggs on the undersides of leaves. Newly hatched nymphs have yellow to red abdomens with black stripes and huddle around the egg mass. Nymphs darken with age, and disperse from the egg mass.

Symptoms/Damage

Feeding can causes necrotic (dark colored) lesions, pits, depressions and cat-facing (deformities) on fruits; feeding in fruit flesh causes corky, discolored areas.

Monitoring

Pyramid or sticky panel traps with pheromone lure (Trécé Dual Lure), visual observations, beating trays, and sweep nets can detect the presence of BMSB. Traps are most effective when placed on orchard and field borders.

Treatment Threshold

No threshold determined.

Degree Day Model

Lower threshold: 54°F
Upper threshold: 92°F
Start/biofix date: January 1

BMSB Life Stage	Degree Days
overwintering adults become active	360
overwintering adults lay eggs	566
egg hatch of summer generation	700
first adults of summer generation	1608
summer gen. adult activity peaks	2213

Management Considerations

Beginning in 2017, BMSB was found causing crop damage in peach, apple, squash and corn in Utah. BMSB is present in fruit-producing counties of northern Utah. Treat with insecticides when active populations and initial crop damage are detected.