Stink Bug Royalty-Free Stock Photo

This Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys, is considered to be a serious agricultural pest. The stink bug is also known as a shield bug because of it's body shape. True to it's name, it will emit a pungent foul-smelling odor if threatened, handled, injured, or smashed. There are many species of the stink bug but this particular one is considered to be one of the worst for the agriculture industry. It is native to China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan but was discovered in the United States in 1998. It can be identified from other stink bugs by the white banded stripes on the adult's antenna and alternately banded, black and white segments on the abdomen that are visible outside of the wings. It feeds on fruit and vegetable crops and can cause widespread damage to agricultural harvests. When the weather begins to turn colder, stink bugs can be found on and around homes and businesses. They will enter the structure, through cracks and crevices in order to survive the winter.