Brown marmorated stink bug found in Missouri

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Farmers and homeowners in Missouri should be on the lookout for the brown marmorated stink bug this year.

The invasive insect has been found in southwestern Missouri, Jefferson City and St. Louis, according to reports from University of Missouri Extension specialists. Missouri becomes the 42nd state where the bug has been spotted. Native to Asia, it first appeared in the U.S. in the 1990s.

Large populations of the bug invaded western Illinois in 2013. The bug overwinters in extreme cold by making its own antifreeze. It also survives winter by staying in buildings.

In late May and early June, the bug begins feeding on corn, soybean, fruits and vegetables. There are no known natural predators. It produces a foul odor when disturbed, thus earning the name “stink bug.” The smell is difficult to remove from buildings.

Larger than other stink bugs, it is about a half inch long. It has white stripes on its antennae and faint white bands on its legs and the outer edges of its abdomen. Its piercing mouthparts damage green plants.

Stink bugs usually emerge from wooded areas and attack outside rows of crops. Two to three weeks after their early-season feeding, damaged plants take on a twisted appearance. The bugs can be deadly to plants.

Patrick Byers, MU Extension horticulture specialist in southwestern Missouri, said a Greene County Master Gardener spotted the first bug in the Ozarks. MU Extension specialists and a representative of the Missouri Department of Agriculture confirmed the identification.

Jacob Wilson, Lincoln University integrated pest management associate, said stink bugs have been found at LU’s Busby Farm. Pest management specialists there have pheromone-monitoring traps in place.

If you find brown marmorated stink bugs in your area, you can help with monitoring efforts by reporting your sighting at https://njaes.rutgers.edu/stinkbug/report.asp.

For more information about the brown marmorated stink bug, go to http://www.stopbmsb.org.