The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, or just "stink bug", is an imported insect pest that is causing problems in many areas of the U.S.A. As an agricultural pest, the insects can feed on a variety of vegetable and fruit crops, though they are often most conspicuous on orchard fruit trees. While damaged fruit is not poisonous, it is no longer saleable due to a dimpled appearance.
The experience most homeowners have with the stink bug is more intimate. The bug survives the winter as an adult by entering houses and structures when autumn evenings become colder. Adults can live from several months to a year. They will enter under siding, into soffits, around window and door frames, or any space which has openings big enough to fit through. Once inside the house, they will go into a state of hibernation. They wait for winter to pass, but often the warmth inside the house causes them to become active, and they may fly clumsily around light fixtures.
Stink bugs get their name from the unpleasant odor released when they are handled. Often described as smelling a little like pungent cilantro, the odor is released as a defense mechanism to prevent birds and other animals from feeding on them.
