stink bugs came to the us in 1998.
stink bugs came to the us in 1998.
when did stink bugs come to the us?
1998
the brown marmorated stink bug was accidentally introduced into the united states from china or japan. it is believed to have hitched a ride as a stowaway in packing crates or on various types of machinery. the first documented specimen was collected in allentown, pennsylvania, in september 1998. several muhlenberg college students were reported to have seen these bugs as early as august of that same year. between 2001 and 2010, 54 sightings were reported of these bugs at shipping ports in the united states. however, stink bugs are not listed as reportable, meaning that they do not need to be reported and no action is required to remove the insect. this allowed the insect to enter the united states relatively easily, as they are able to survive long periods of time in hot or cold conditions.
brown marmorated stink bug
the most common signs of stink bug damage are pitting and scarring of the fruit, leaf destruction, and a mealy texture to the harvested fruits and vegetables. in most cases, the signs of stink bug damage makes the plant unsuitable for sale in the market, as the insides are usually rotten. in field crops such as corn and soybeans, the damage may not be as evident as the damage seen in fruit plants. when stink bugs feed on corn, they go through the husk before eating the kernels, hiding the damage until the husks are removed during harvesting. the same damage is seen in soybeans, as the stink bug goes through the seed pods to acquire the juices of the seeds. one visual cue of stink-bug damage to soybean crops is the "stay green" effect, where damaged soybean plants stay green late into season, while other plants in the field die off normally. one can usually tell that a field of crops is infected because stink bugs are known for the "edge effect", in which they tend to infest crops 30–40 ft from the edge of the field. farmers who suspect having stink bugs in their crops should contact their respective departments of agriculture for information on how to manage the infestation and possible ways to prevent future incidences.
brown marmorated stink bug