Brown Marmolated Stink Bugs

June 3, 2011

Many articles have been written and much research is being conducted on the Brown Marmolated Stink Bug.  If you live along the I-95 corridor around Wilmington Delaware to Richmond Virginia and over into the Appalachian chain you had stink bugs, especially if you were in a somewhat rural area.  Smaller infestations were found in just about all Midwestern states.  They ruined fruit and vegetables, in the fall they congregated on houses trying to get in for the winter.  They are expected to be a problem in many farm crops and around home ornamentals this summer.  

The term stink bug is not a scientific name, but a nickname because of the unpleasant odor they emit. Stink bugs emit their odor as a means of self-defense and protection against harm. A stink bug’s odor smells very distinct, it is difficult to describe, only to say that it is sour, pungent and unpleasant. What do stink bugs smell like? I’ve heard the smell being compared to rotten cilantro and skunk.  They also stink when you crush them.

They and are expected to be a large problem this summer and fall all over the Midwest..  What can you do?  Protect vegetation, both small plants to trees with an insecticide.  Systemic products like Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub or Green Lights Tree & Shrub Insect Killer with Safari will kill the bugs if the plant is treated in time for the insecticide to get through out the plant.  When the stink bug chews on the vegetation it gets the insecticide and dies.  There will be some damage when they chew some foliage to get the insecticide.  Other wise you will have to spray insecticide and reapply it about every 2 weeks.  Don’t believe the claims that a spray will last for up to 12 months.  It will only last about 2 weeks on vegetation.  Sprayable insecticides are Sevin, malathion, and pyrethroids which are most of the rest of the products.  These products will only give about 40 to 80% control.  Even if you spray, new bugs will come into your yard regularly.  This fall spray around your windows and doors and possibly the sides of your house to kill the bugs that are trying to get into your house for the winter.  An insecticide spray on the outside of your house will last longer than on vegetation but most decompose in sunlight.  You will have to re-spray once or twice through the fall.