Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) was first identified in the United States in fall, 2001, in Pennsylvania. It has since been found in Maryland, New Jersey, and West Virginia. BMSB probably arrived in shipping crates from China, Korea, Japan, or Taiwan, where it is known to be a pest of fruit trees and legumes. It is also known to feed on shade trees and other woody ornamentals. It has the potential to become a very serious pest in the United States.

Although BMSBs can fly, their wide distribution is more indicative of their ability to hitchhike on vehicles. They are expected to spread to other states in the Northeast. BMSBs overwinter as adults in houses or other protected areas, emerging in April. Because of BMSBs' close proximity to houses when they emerge, homeowners may be the first to report their presence.

As the name implies, brown marmorated stink bugs are a dark, mottled-brown color. They are slightly more than one-half inch long and lay their eggs in a cluster on host plants. The pest causes damage by sucking plant juices, leaving small, necrotic lesions.

Additional information about brown marmorated stink bug can be found at:

North Central Integrated Pest Management program