Farmers and homeowners in the Jefferson City area should be on the lookout for the brown marmorated stink bug this year.
The invasive insect has also been found in southwestern Missouri and St. Louis, according to reports from University of Missouri Extension specialists. Missouri becomes the 42nd state where the bug has been spotted. Native to Asia, it first appeared in the U.S. in the 1990s.
Jacob Wilson, Lincoln University integrated pest management associate, said stink bugs have been found at LU's Busby Farm. Pest management specialists there have pheromone-monitoring traps in place.
Large populations of the bug invaded western Illinois in 2013. The bug overwinters in extreme cold by making its own antifreeze. It also survives winter by staying in buildings.
In late May and early June, the bug begins feeding on corn, soybeans, fruits and vegetables. There are no known natural predators. It produces a foul odor when disturbed, thus earning the name "stink bug." The smell is difficult to remove from buildings.
Larger than other stink bugs, it is about a half inch long. It has white stripes on its antennae and faint white bands on its legs and the outer edges of its abdomen. Its piercing mouthparts damage green plants.
Stink bugs usually emerge from wooded areas and attack outside rows of crops. Two to three weeks after early-season feeding, plants damaged by the bugs take on a twisted appearance. The bugs can be deadly to plants.
If you find brown marmorated stink bugs in the area, you can help with monitoring efforts by reporting your sighting at njaes.rutgers.edu/stinkbug/report.asp.
For more information about the brown marmorated stink bug, go to stopbmsb.org.