Brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys

Brown marmorated stink bugs are invasive sucking insects that cause serious economic damage to a wide range of fruit, grain and vegetable crops. Serious infestations of this polyphagous pest have resulted in 25-90% crop losses in apple, peach, sweetcorn, pepper, tomato, maize and soya bean crops within the last decade. Halyomorpha halysis multivoltine, producing up to 5 generations per year. Damage thresholds for the insect are extremely low (7 per m row length / 5 per 15 sweep nets) as its feeding behaviour causes ‘cat-facing’ or seed failure, making crops unmarketable. To protect your crop and decide when treatments are needed, monitor this destructive pest using Black Impact Boards together with our Halyomorpha halys aggregation pheromone lures as part of an integrated pest management programme.

Brown marmorated stink bug
Biology

 

Adult: Adult males and females although variable in colour (shades of red, grey, light brown, copper, or black), generally possess brownish and mottled dorsal coloration. They are 12-17 mm in length, and 7-10 mm in humeral width.  Their name ‘marmorated’ means variegated or veined, referring to features such as the mottled banding of the legs and antenna, and alternating light and dark bands on the outer edge of the abdomen.

 

Eggs: Eggs are 1.3 x 1.6 mm in size, smooth and pale in colour. They are found on the underside of leaves laid in masses of 20-30.

Nymphs: There are 5 nymphal instars. First instars posses no white markings and are black and reddish-orange in colour.

 

Brown marmorated stink bug adults emerge from their overwintering sites from the end of May with daylight length and temperature increase. They overwinter in many areas including the inside of houses and outbuildings, consequently making them a nuisance pest for home owners. Females lay their eggs on the underside of leaves. Once hatched the first instars stay close to their egg cases until their first moult then they disperse to feed. Adults enter diapause and overwinter from autumn.

 

Nature of Damage

 

The brown marmorated stink bug causes damage to its host crops by feeding. Their stylet mouthparts release a toxic saliva into the plant causing the host crop to deform, discolour and scar. Damage is likely to occur in flower buds and developing fruit.