Texas Agriculture Daily News
Experts ask Texans to be on the lookout for new stink bug
Tuesday, December 04, 2012
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Entomologists are asking Texans across the state to be on the lookout for a new stink bug that may pose a risk to Texas crops.
Bill Ree, an AgriLife Extension entomologist, reports that the six-legged brown marmorated stink bug is a “great hitchhiker” that made its way to the U.S. from Asia in the late 1990s. He says while only one confirmed case of the invasive pest has been found in Texas, it is possible that there are more of the insects across the state that haven’t been reported.
Ree says the brown marmorated stink bug looks a lot like other stink bugs found in Texas.
“It’s a drab brown with black mottling on its back and a distinctive pattern of alternating white and black triangles around the outside of the abdomen. If folks start noticing a new stink bug, one they haven’t seen before, then we want to know about it,” Ree said.
The brown marmorated stink bug does not pose a health threat to people or humans. However, Ree says it feeds on apples, peaches and other fruits in northern states. He says it may also feed on Texas pecans, grapes, tomatoes, peppers, cotton and soybeans.
In areas of other states, the stink bugs have also taken up residence in homes by the thousands and have left a lasting, foul odor.
Ree asks anyone who notices a type of stink bug they haven’t seen before to collect a sample and send it to their local AgriLife Extension agent with the name and contact information of the sender, where the bug was found and the plant or place on which it was found.
The bugs (preferably dead) may be sent in a pill bottle to Kira Metz, Minnie Belle Heep Building 216D, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-2475 with the appropriate information included.
For more information on the invasive bug, visit http://today.agrilife.org.
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