Bugs Making A Stink in Georgia

More than 200 species of stink bugs live in North America. 60 species are known to reside in Georgia. A new stink bug was recently discovered in southern South Carolina: the brown marmorated stink bug, or Halyomorpha halys. It will invade Georgia soon, according to a University of Georgia entomologist.

The invasion is a serious threat to Georgia agriculture as the stink bug will hunt for food sources beginning next spring.

“In the Asian literature, the insect is a nuisance pest as well as an agricultural pest because of its propensity to feed on numerous vegetable and row crops, and fruits and ornamentals,” Rick Hoebeke, associate curator and manager of the insect collection at the Georgia Museum of Natural History, said. “It has the potential to be a threat to Georgia’s agricultural industry if established populations reach large numbers as in the North. They have sucking mouthparts to feed on fruits causing the fruit to dimple and the flesh to rot.”

The brown marmorated is an invader from Asia. It likely reached the shores of America by freight container or smuggled merchandise. Today it is reported in 33 states, including Oregon, California, South Carolina and Florida, according to UGA.

Fall could draw these insects inside Northeast Cobb homes. Temperatures that dip into the 40s push insects indoors, according to Dan Horton, an entomologist with UGA Cooperative Extension. “Bugs behave not that dissimilar from you and me. If you need a jacket or heavy long-sleeved shirt, creatures will be looking to warm-up too. We are not too far from a cold snap of having them looking to head inside.”

If you do find them indoors do not squash them. They emit stink. To kill the pest, place it in a container to freeze it or flush it in the toilet.

How You Can Help

When this newest stink bug does cross the stateline, Hoebeke says that citizen scientists can help.

Send digital images of a suspected stink bug to rhoebeke@uga.edu. Ship specimens in a crush-proof container to E. R. Hoebeke, Collection of Arthropods, Georgia Museum of Natural History, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., 30602.

To prepare the insect for the trip, capture one alive, place it in a container and put it in the freezer to kill it. Then carefully wrap and mail it. Please include the city or town the stink bug was collected in, date of collection and contact information.