Hobbies And Interests
Description
The adult brown stink bug has a shape like a shield from the Middle Ages. It is about a half inch to three-quarters of an inch long and oval in shape, and it is brownish to yellow-brown. In the nymph form, the bug is greenish and shaped the same as the adult. The antennae are comprised of five distinct segments, a characteristic of all stink bugs.
Range
Brown stink bugs are found mostly in the eastern states of the U.S. and into southern Canada. These insects do most of their plant damage in the warmer southern states. There are related species to the brown stink bug found throughout the U.S. In the late 1990s the brown marmonated stink bug, with the scientific name Halyomorpha halys, was accidently introduced into Pennsylvania, more than likely gaining access to the country from Asia while shipped in with agricultural imports. It has since become a major threat to fruit trees wherever it is found.
Back and mouth
One of the unique characteristics all stink bugs share is the shape and size of their scutellum. This is a protective part of the thorax that extends over the insect's back. In brown stink bugs, the scutellum is shaped like a triangle and makes its way over halfway down the back. The brown stink bug also possesses mouth parts capable of piercing its food and sucking out the juices. The stink bug will use its mouth to suck the juices out of fruits, seeds and stems, damaging the plant and keeping it from becoming fully developed.
Life cycle
The brown stink bug will find a place to survive the winter under cover and then reawaken in the spring once the temperatures reach about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The female will lay her eggs on stems and leaves by June. Once these eggs hatch into the young, the stink bug nymphs will undergo stages of change until reaching adulthood, a process which takes about five weeks to occur. By early to mid-fall, the stink bug population will have reached its height.
Protective odor
When threatened, the brown stink bug can emit a very unpleasant odor from special organs in its sides. This is done to let potential predators know that they may be in store for a very nasty meal, which often works as birds and other creatures will remember the last time they attacked a stink bug and stay clear. Despite this, the brown stink bug is eaten by many different kinds of birds and other insect predators as well.