Invertebrates
Stink Bug
Pentatomidae · also called shield bug, brown marmorated stink bug
As autumn temperatures drop, a crack around a window frame becomes a doorway for dozens of brown marmorated stink bugs seeking shelter for winter, each one carrying the same pungent chemical defence that makes handling even one of them a genuinely memorable experience.
Overview
The stink bug, family Pentatomidae, is an enormous, nearly worldwide group of shield-shaped true bugs found on every continent except Antarctica. Its potent defensive odour and, in the case of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, its habit of overwintering inside homes by the thousands make it one of the more immediately recognisable and occasionally unwelcome insect families most people encounter.
A smell that does all the talking
Rather than fleeing or fighting, a stink bug relies almost entirely on a single, unmistakable chemical deterrent, a defence effective enough that most predators, and most people, learn to leave a disturbed stink bug well alone after just one encounter.
Status
Least Concern, increasing — extremely widespread and abundant worldwide, with certain invasive species continuing to expand into new regions.
Stink Bug: common questions
Why do stink bugs smell so bad when disturbed?
A stink bug releases a strong, unpleasant odour from specialised glands on its abdomen when disturbed or crushed, a chemical defence intended to deter predators, and this distinctive smell is what gives the entire insect family its common name.
Why do so many stink bugs gather inside houses in the fall?
The brown marmorated stink bug, an invasive species introduced to North America from Asia, has become notorious for seeking out sheltered spaces such as attics and wall voids inside homes and buildings each autumn, often gathering in large aggregations to overwinter before dispersing again in spring.
Do stink bugs damage crops?
Yes, several stink bug species, including the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, are considered significant agricultural pests, using piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on the sap, fruit, and seeds of a wide range of crops, sometimes causing substantial damage to orchards and field crops.
How can you recognise a stink bug?
A stink bug has a broad, flattened, shield-shaped body outline, a distinctive silhouette that gives the family its alternate common name, shield bug, and this shape, combined with its characteristic defensive odour when disturbed, makes the group relatively easy to recognise even among the many other true bugs it shares habitat with.