Stink bugs are notorious for their foul-smelling defense mechanism, but many people wonder if they bite humans. The brown marmorated stink bug, for example, has become a significant agricultural pest in places like Oregon since its arrival in 2004, affecting fruit, vegetable, and grain crops. However, its threat to humans is another matter.
While stink bugs have mouthparts capable of piercing and sucking plant juices, their primary targets are leaves, stems, and reproductive structures like fruits and seeds. Despite their appearance, stink bugs tend to avoid interacting with humans and are not known for biting or causing harm directly. Nonetheless, it’s essential to handle them carefully and avoid crushing them due to their unpleasant odor.
Do Stink Bugs Bite?
Understanding Stink Bugs
Stink bugs, particularly the brown marmorated stink bug, are insects known for their distinctive shield-shaped bodies and unpleasant odor. They possess scent glands designed to release a foul smell when disturbed or threatened. These insects come in various species, with some marked by a yellow or red-eyed appearance.
Although they might appear intimidating, it’s important to know that stink bugs do not bite. They are not known to transmit diseases or cause physical harm to humans or pets. Instead, these insects emit a strong, unpleasant odor as a defense mechanism to scare off potential predators.
Differences Between Stink Bugs and Biting Insects
To help identify stink bugs and distinguish them from biting insects, consider the following characteristics:
- Shield-shaped body: Stink bugs have a distinctive shield-like shape, which is different from most biting insects.
- Antennae: Their long, straight antennae are a key visual feature.
- Odor: Stink bugs release a pungent smell as a defense mechanism, unlike biting insects that may bite or sting.
Some examples of popular biting insects include biting flies and mosquitoes. Comparing their features with stink bugs can help differentiate between them:
| Feature | Stink Bugs | Biting Insects |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Shield-shaped | Varies (usually not shield-shaped) |
| Bite/Sting | No | Yes |
| Odor | Yes (from scent glands) | No |
In conclusion, despite their intimidating appearance, stink bugs pose no harm through biting. Their primary defense mechanism relies on their unpleasant odor emitted from scent glands. By observing the key characteristics such as body shape, antennae, and smell, one can easily distinguish stink bugs from biting insects.
Stink Bug Infestations and Prevention
How Stink Bugs Invade Homes
Stink bugs, such as the brown marmorated stink bug, can become a nuisance for homeowners when they invade homes. They usually find their way in through:
- Cracks and gaps in windows
- Door frames
- Vents and crawl spaces
These entry points often become more accessible to stink bugs as the weather gets colder, and they seek shelter indoors.
Preventing Infestations
To prevent stink bug infestations, homeowners can take several preventative measures, including:
- Sealing gaps and cracks with caulk or weather stripping
- Installing screens on windows, vents, and crawl spaces
- Regularly inspecting and maintaining the exterior of the home
By addressing these common entry points, homeowners can reduce the likelihood of stink bugs entering their homes.
Pest Control Measures
If stink bugs have already invaded a home, a few methods can help control the infestation:
- Vacuuming up individual stink bugs using a vacuum cleaner with a disposable bag
- Using natural pest control methods, such as introducing beneficial predators like the two-spotted stink bug
- Consulting a pest control professional or exterminator for more aggressive treatment options
| Pest Control Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuuming | Quick and easy | Bag must be disposed |
| Natural Pest Control | Chemical-free, eco-friendly | May take longer |
| Pest Control Professional | Effective, comprehensive | Can be costly |
Remember, stink bugs can damage ornamental plants and become a nuisance indoors, but taking preventative measures and using appropriate pest control methods can help keep these pests in check.
Stink Bugs and Their Impact on Agriculture
Damage to Crops
Stink bugs, particularly the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, cause significant damage to various crops. These pests feed on a large variety of plants, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Some examples of affected crops are:
- Apples
- Peaches
- Tomatoes
- Corn
- Soybeans
They pierce plant tissues with their mouthparts to feed on the juices, causing damage to seeds, leaves, stems, fruits, and even roots. This results in deformed fruits, pod abortion in beans, and reduced yields in crops such as corn and soybeans.
Controlling Stink Bugs in Gardens and Farms
Biological control is a potential method for managing stink bug populations. Natural enemies like predators and parasitoids can help suppress their numbers by feeding on the bugs or their eggs 1.
Here is a comparison of biological control and chemical control for stink bugs:
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Biological | Environmentally friendly, sustainable, self-regulating | May not provide complete control, can be slow to act |
| Chemical | Quick results, may provide complete control | Can harm non-target organisms, environmental concerns |
In gardens, removing weeds and debris that can harbor stink bugs may help to reduce their presence. On farms, insecticides are often used to reduce crop-damaging stink bug populations 2, although alternative control methods like biological control can offer more sustainable solutions.
Bug Control Recommendation Tool
Health Concerns and Stink Bug Bites
Physical Reactions to Bites
While stink bugs are generally not aggressive, they may bite defensively when threatened. However, their bites are rarely harmful to humans. Some reactions to bites include:
- Itching
- Swelling
- Redness
For example, a bite from a brown marmorated stink bug may cause temporary itching and redness on the skin.
Dealing with Allergies and Irritations
If bitten by a stink bug, some methods to reduce symptoms include:
- Washing the area with soap and water
- Applying a cold compress
- Taking over-the-counter pain relievers or antihistamines
It is important to remember that stink bugs do not transmit diseases and are not as problematic as bed bugs. Here is a comparison table of stink bugs and bed bugs:
| Stink Bugs | Bed Bugs |
|---|---|
| Rarely bite humans | Commonly bite humans |
| Do not transmit diseases | Can transmit diseases |
| Produce foul-smelling odor | Do not produce odor |
| Found outdoors and occasionally indoors | Primarily found indoors (e.g., in beds) |
In general, stink bug bites are not a serious health concern for humans or pets and can typically be treated with over-the-counter remedies.
Identifying Stink Bugs and Similar Insects
Different Types of Stink Bugs
There are various types of stink bugs, but one of the most common is the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB). These invasive species have a shield-like shape, and measure between 14-17 mm long, roughly the size of a U.S. dime. They are characterized by:
- Brown mottling
- Alternating broad light and dark bands on abdominal edges
- Last two antennal segments with white bands
BMSBs are native to East Asia and were first discovered in Pennsylvania, United States. They have since spread across the country.
Another type of stink bug is the two-spotted stink bug, a beneficial predator. It has two spots and keyhole markings, distinguishing it from other predatory stink bugs.
Comparing Stink Bugs to Other Insect Species
Stink bugs are sometimes confused with insects like kissing bugs, but they have different characteristics. Here’s a comparison table to differentiate them:
| Insect | Size | Shape | Feeding Habits/Main Defense | Diseases Potentially Carried | Predators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stink Bug | 14-17 mm | Shield-like | Emitting foul odor | None | Flies, wasps, wildlife |
| Kissing Bug | 14-24 mm | Flat, elongated | Biting | Chagas disease | Spiders, lizards, birds |
Stink bugs don’t bite or carry diseases as kissing bugs do. They mainly rely on their defense mechanism of producing foul odors when threatened.
Mosquitoes, another common insect, are smaller and thinner than stink bugs and feed on blood through a piercing and sucking method. This causes them to transmit diseases like malaria and dengue fever, unlike stink bugs, which don’t cause harm to humans.
Pros of stink bugs:
- Beneficial predatory stink bugs help control pests
- Don’t bite or transmit diseases to humans
Cons of stink bugs:
- BMSBs can damage crops and plants
- Foul smell can be unpleasant
Remember to consider the size, shape, and behavior of insects when identifying stink bugs and similar species. By doing this, you can better understand their roles in ecosystems and any potential threats they might pose.
Stink Bug Behavior and Ecology
Feeding Habits
Stink bugs are herbivorous insects that feed on a variety of plants, including fruits, vegetables, and crops, using their specialized piercing-sucking mouthparts. They prefer to target plants during their most vulnerable stages, such as during the growth phase, and their feeding can cause significant damage to these plants. Some examples of their preferred plants include:
- Apples
- Peaches
- Tomatoes
- Corn
- Soybeans
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The life cycle of stink bugs consists of three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Adult female stink bugs lay clusters of 20-30 light green or yellow, elliptical-shaped eggs on the undersides of leaves. The eggs hatch into nymphs, which go through five developmental stages, called instars, each with distinctive coloration and size.
Comparison of Nymph Stages:
| Instar | Size | Color |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Small | Red eyes |
| 2 | Medium | Black |
| 3 | Medium | Black |
| 4 | Large | Black & white |
| 5 | Large | Brown & white |
After the final nymph stage, they molt into adults, which have a shield-like shape, distinct antennae with light and dark bands, and legs. Stink bugs secrete a foul-smelling odor as a defense mechanism against predators, using specialized scent glands.
Homeowners and Infestations
Stink bugs are notorious for invading homes during cold weather. They seek warmth and shelter, usually entering homes through small gaps, vents, and other entry points. Homeowners can take preventive measures to avoid infestations:
- Seal gaps with caulk
- Install weather stripping on doors and windows
- Repair damaged screens and vents
- Inspect attics, walls, and crawl spaces for potential entry points
Once inside, they may congregate in large numbers, causing distress to homeowners. Although they do not bite or pose a direct threat to humans, their odor and sheer numbers can be a nuisance. It is important to note that stink bugs are not native to the U.S.; rather, they originated in East Asia and were introduced in the late 1990s.
Predatory Stink Bugs
A subset of stink bug species are known as predatory stink bugs, such as the two-spotted stink bug. These insects are also shield-shaped but can be easily distinguished by their distinct markings. Instead of feeding on plants, predatory stink bugs feed on other insects and pests, making them beneficial predators for garden ecosystems.
13 Comments. Leave new
Hi Sue:
I am almost certain that your Costa Rican stink bug is Brachystethus rubromaculatus, which occurs from Mexico to Panama. If you are really interested, there is a rather technical document which includes a species description and illustration (look for Fig. 2) located at: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/isz/v93n4/a08v93n4.pdf Regards.
Karl
I was looking also for another costa rican stink bug I haven’t found mine but the site below has the exact picture of your stink bug but it has a different name. Try it hope it helps http://content.denison.edu/cdm4/browse.php?&CISOSORT=title|r
I found a bunch of these in Southwest Utah. I’m pretty sure is a juvenile Bordered Plant Bugs. (black with yellow border) Hope that helps.
This red and black nymph is Zelus longipes.
The photo shows an adult Catacanthus incarnatus Drury, 1773 (Man-Faced Stinkbug), family Pentatomidae. It is native to India & much of SE Asia (including S’pore).
* Photo of adult insect, Brunei (Discover Life – 11 Mar 2008)
* Photo of female guarding eggs, Penang Butterfly Farm
See also my comment at ‘Mating Stink Bugs from (probably) Singapore’ (What’s That Bug ? – 12 Feb 2007).
@ Jon: “I think they’re relatively rare here and about 2.5 to 3 cm long. Singapore”
This stinkbug species is not very rare in S’pore. This photo shows 2 specimens at the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity. Check out this page for recent sightings (11 Jun 2013) at the Gardens By The Bay.
@ Jon: “Wondering whether they have a specific food plant or not.”
In S’pore, Catacanthus incarnatus feeds on the sap, flowers, flower/ fruit buds & nectar of various flowering & fruiting plants, such as Syzygium spp, Ixora spp. & Lantana camera. In fact, the above hyperlink for the sightings at the Gardens By The Bay show the insects feeding on Ixora flowers &/or nectar. This photo shows a pair of them on an Ixora plant at Penang Butterfly Farm.
This stinkbug is also known to feed on Santalum album (Indian Sandalwood) in India, as well as observed to congregate on Microcos tomentosa (Cenderai) in Thailand (Khao Phra Thaew Ecological Sustainability Project, 2009). Photo of Microcos tomentosa as grown in S’pore.
* Plant Host Records Pentatomidae (North Dakota State University)
The photo shows an adult Catacanthus incarnatus Drury, 1773 (Man-Faced Stinkbug), family Pentatomidae. It is native to India & much of SE Asia (including S’pore).
* Photo of adult insect, Brunei (Discover Life – 11 Mar 2008)
* Photo of female guarding eggs, Penang Butterfly Farm
See also my comment at ‘Mating Stink Bugs from (probably) Singapore’ (What’s That Bug ? – 12 Feb 2007).
@ Jon: “I think they’re relatively rare here and about 2.5 to 3 cm long. Singapore”
This stinkbug species is not very rare in S’pore. This photo shows 2 specimens at the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity. Check out this page for recent sightings (11 Jun 2013) at the Gardens By The Bay.
@ Jon: “Wondering whether they have a specific food plant or not.”
In S’pore, Catacanthus incarnatus feeds on the sap, flowers, flower/ fruit buds & nectar of various flowering & fruiting plants, such as Syzygium spp, Ixora spp. & Lantana camera. In fact, the above hyperlink for the sightings at the Gardens By The Bay show the insects feeding on Ixora flowers &/or nectar. This photo shows a pair of them on an Ixora plant at Penang Butterfly Farm.
This stinkbug is also known to feed on Santalum album (Indian Sandalwood) in India, as well as observed to congregate on Microcos tomentosa (Cenderai) in Thailand (Khao Phra Thaew Ecological Sustainability Project, 2009). Photo of Microcos tomentosa as grown in S’pore.
* Plant Host Records Pentatomidae (North Dakota State University)
[Footnote] Comment from unnamed reader: “The man faced-bug is a pentatomidae probably Canthacantus nigripens !”
Meaning Catacanthus nigripes Fabricus, 1775: Sulzer, 1776 ? (Note the spelling of the species epithet.) However, that is a synonym — ie. there is no currently-accepted name such as Catacanthus nigripes.
I think there is some taxonomic confusion between Catacanthus nigripes Fabricus, 1775: Sulzer, 1776 & Catacanthus incarnatus Drury, 1773 (Man-Faced Stinkbug) — ie. the species in the photo featured at the top of this page.
Note that Catacanthus nigripes Fabricus, 1775: Sulzer, 1776 & Cimex punctum Fabricius, 1787 are synonyms of Catacanthus punctus Fabricius, 1787 (Ixora Shield Bug).
Taxonomic References:
* Ecological Catalogue of Australia (Gerasimos Cassis, Gordon F. Gross), CSIRO Publishing, 2002 — (pg 463)
* Catacanthus Spinola, 1837: Species Listing (North Dakota State University)
The above references also states under the genus Catacanthus Spinola, 1837:
{{{ “Type Species: Cimex nigripes Fabricius, 1775 (= Cimex incarnatus Drury, 1773), by monotypy.” }}}
Perhaps this is how the confusion arose amongst some quarters. Do note that Cimex incarnatus Drury, 1773 is not synonymous with Catacanthus incarnatus Drury, 1773.
Also note how Ecological Catalogue of Australia (2002, as above) highlighted under the Catacanthus punctus Fabricius, 1787 entry that this name was “proposed nom. nov for the misidentification of Catacanthus nigripes Fabricus, 1775 sensu Sulzer (1776)”.
Incidentally, this S’pore stamp (issued in 1984) of Catacanthus incarnatus is wrongly mistakenly labelled as Catacanthus nigripes.
In addition, Catacanthus punctus Fabricius, 1787 (syn. Catacanthus nigripes Fabricus, 1775: Sulzer, 1776; Cimex punctum Fabricius, 1787) has been collected from Australia (Queensland, Sydney), Indonesia (Java, Celebes), Philippines & the Fiji Islands — but it has never been collected or described from S’pore.
* Catalogue of the Specimens of Heteropterous-Hemiptera in the Collection of the British Museum (Francis Walker) — London: Trustees of the British Museum, 1867-1873 — pg 351 — see Genus 36.1 Catacanthus incarnatus vs. Genus 36.2 Catacanthus nigripes for the respective localities where the specimens were collected from.
* Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History (New York American Museum of Natural History, 1881)– pg 204 – 205 — this entry describes Catacanthus nigripes Fabricus, 1775: Sulzer, 1776 (collected from Australia) as closely-allied to Catacanthus carrenoi Le Guillou, 1841.
As such, recalling from the aforementioned that:
(i) Catacanthus punctus Fabricius, 1787 = Catacanthus nigripes Fabricus, 1775: Sulzer, 1776 (synonym);
(ii) Catacanthus punctus Fabricius, 1787 is very similar to Catacanthus carrenoi Le Guillou, 1841;
… the below references describe & depict how both the above 2 species look like respectively. Note that due to the very different colorations & markings, they are quite unlikely to be casually mistaken for Catacanthus incarnatus (Man-Faced Stinkbug).
* Catacanthus punctus: Info & Photos (Atlas of Living Australia)
* Catacanthus punctus: Photo, Sulawesi, Indonesia (WildForests Project)
* A new species of the genus Catacanthus Spinola (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae) from the New Hebrides with morphological notes on two other Australian species and their relationships (Imtiaz Ahmad & Syed Kamaluddin) — Records of The South Australian Museum (Adelaide) Vol. 18, 1981: pg 227-233
— For above, see pg 230 for the description & pg 231 for the drawing of Catacanthus punctus.
— For above, see pg 227 for the description & pg 228 for the drawing of Catacanthus carrenoi.
* Catacanthus carrenoi: Photo, Australia (Philippe Blanchot’s Portrait Gallery of Insects)
* Catacanthus carrenoi: Photo, Lomok, Indonesia (Hou Zuki An’s Bug World)
* Catacanthus carrenoi: Photo, Fiji (Javier M.’s Flickr)
[Footnote] Comment from unnamed reader: “The man faced-bug is a pentatomidae probably Canthacantus nigripens !”
Meaning Catacanthus nigripes Fabricus, 1775: Sulzer, 1776 ? (Note the spelling of the species epithet.) However, that is a synonym — ie. there is no currently-accepted name such as Catacanthus nigripes.
I think there is some taxonomic confusion between Catacanthus nigripes Fabricus, 1775: Sulzer, 1776 & Catacanthus incarnatus Drury, 1773 (Man-Faced Stinkbug) — ie. the species in the photo featured at the top of this page.
Note that Catacanthus nigripes Fabricus, 1775: Sulzer, 1776 & Cimex punctum Fabricius, 1787 are synonyms of Catacanthus punctus Fabricius, 1787 (Ixora Shield Bug).
Taxonomic References:
* Ecological Catalogue of Australia (Gerasimos Cassis, Gordon F. Gross), CSIRO Publishing, 2002 — (pg 463)
* Catacanthus Spinola, 1837: Species Listing (North Dakota State University)
The above references also states under the genus Catacanthus Spinola, 1837:
{{{ “Type Species: Cimex nigripes Fabricius, 1775 (= Cimex incarnatus Drury, 1773), by monotypy.” }}}
Perhaps this is how the confusion arose amongst some quarters. Do note that Cimex incarnatus Drury, 1773 is not synonymous with Catacanthus incarnatus Drury, 1773.
Also note how Ecological Catalogue of Australia (2002, as above) highlighted under the Catacanthus punctus Fabricius, 1787 entry that this name was “proposed nom. nov for the misidentification of Catacanthus nigripes Fabricus, 1775 sensu Sulzer (1776)”.
Incidentally, this S’pore stamp (issued in 1984) of Catacanthus incarnatus is wrongly mistakenly labelled as Catacanthus nigripes.
In addition, Catacanthus punctus Fabricius, 1787 (syn. Catacanthus nigripes Fabricus, 1775: Sulzer, 1776; Cimex punctum Fabricius, 1787) has been collected from Australia (Queensland, Sydney), Indonesia (Java, Celebes), Philippines & the Fiji Islands — but it has never been collected or described from S’pore.
* Catalogue of the Specimens of Heteropterous-Hemiptera in the Collection of the British Museum (Francis Walker) — London: Trustees of the British Museum, 1867-1873 — pg 351 — see Genus 36.1 Catacanthus incarnatus vs. Genus 36.2 Catacanthus nigripes for the respective localities where the specimens were collected from.
* Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History (New York American Museum of Natural History, 1881)– pg 204 – 205 — this entry describes Catacanthus nigripes Fabricus, 1775: Sulzer, 1776 (collected from Australia) as closely-allied to Catacanthus carrenoi Le Guillou, 1841.
As such, recalling from the aforementioned that:
(i) Catacanthus punctus Fabricius, 1787 = Catacanthus nigripes Fabricus, 1775: Sulzer, 1776 (synonym);
(ii) Catacanthus punctus Fabricius, 1787 is very similar to Catacanthus carrenoi Le Guillou, 1841;
… the below references describe & depict how both the above 2 species look like respectively. Note that due to the very different colorations & markings, they are quite unlikely to be casually mistaken for Catacanthus incarnatus (Man-Faced Stinkbug).
* Catacanthus punctus: Info & Photos (Atlas of Living Australia)
* Catacanthus punctus: Photo, Sulawesi, Indonesia (WildForests Project)
* A new species of the genus Catacanthus Spinola (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae) from the New Hebrides with morphological notes on two other Australian species and their relationships (Imtiaz Ahmad & Syed Kamaluddin) — Records of The South Australian Museum (Adelaide) Vol. 18, 1981: pg 227-233
— For above, see pg 230 for the description & pg 231 for the drawing of Catacanthus punctus.
— For above, see pg 227 for the description & pg 228 for the drawing of Catacanthus carrenoi.
* Catacanthus carrenoi: Photo, Australia (Philippe Blanchot’s Portrait Gallery of Insects)
* Catacanthus carrenoi: Photo, Lomok, Indonesia (Hou Zuki An’s Bug World)
* Catacanthus carrenoi: Photo, Fiji (Javier M.’s Flickr)
This bug is in the family Scutelleridae and the species is Augocoris illustris. The species has been in Florida for some time and is not a recent introduction. It is quite variable in color, ranging from all white to blue with red spots. In some males the cuticle is somewhat wrinkled as well.
Thanks for your comment Joe. This particular posting dates to 2007, which is two years earlier than the image you contributed to BugGuide. Most other images on BugGuide are of immature nymphs posted even later. There were no BugGuide images at the time of our posting and there is still not much information on the species posted to BugGuide which made us very curious as to the native habitat for the species. According to the ITIS Report, the Jurisdiction/Origin is: “Continental US, Native, Mexico, Native.” That you so much for providing us with an update on this very old posting. Your identification is greatly appreciated.
Hello, I would like to ask for your permission and/ or licensing terms to use your photo of the Picasso Bug above. Thank you!
What’s That Bug reserves the right to publish images on our own site and to allow use for nonprofit purposes. You have our permission to use the image. Please credit What’s That Bug? as well as the photographer.
These are everywhere in Brighton Qld at the moment. 6/01/23.