Most recently reviewed by: (1970)
Common Name(s): Brown Stink Bug
Description
Adult brown stink bugs are long, shield-shaped, grayish-brown insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts. They are about 1/2 inch (13 mm) long. The nymphs resemble adults but are smaller, oval and are usually pale green.
Origin and Distribution
Brown stink bugs can be found across much of North America and throughout the midwestern United States. Euschistus servus is the most common species of Euschistus in the United States. Subspecies, Euschistus servus euschistoides occurs in the northern United States and E. servus servus occurs in the southern United States.
Habitat & Hosts
Brown stink bugs have a wide host range. The following plant species are known to be hosts: corn, soybean, wheat, oats, sunflower, sugar beet, alfalfa, clover, tobacco, cotton, tomato, cabbage, bean, pepper, squash, pea, okra, cantaloupe, blueberry, raspberry, grape, cherry, blackberry, apple, pear, peach, citrus, and pecan.
Life Cycle
Adults overwinter under objects such as crop debris, leaves, dead weeds, ground cover, stones, and under the bark of trees. Stink bugs become active during the first warm days of spring. Normally the first generation develops on non-crop hosts, while the subsequent generations develop on cultivated crops. Each female oviposits about 18 egg masses, averaging 60 eggs per egg mass, over a period of >100 days. The eggs are yellowish-translucent and turn light pink before hatching. The nymphs develop through five instars. It takes approximately four to five weeks from hatching to adult emergence.
Management
If you live in the State of Texas, contact your local county agent or entomologist for management information. If you live outside of Texas, contact your local extension for management options.Cultural practices such as using trap crop and adjusting planting dates may help avoid severe stink bug infestations to some extent. Broad-spectrum insecticides are generally effective and commonly used for stink bug management. Compared to other stink bugs, brown stink bugs are more difficult to control with some pyrethroid insecticides. Because flying adult stink bugs can re-infest crop fields after an insecticide application, continued scouting is imperative.
Related Publications
Citations
Gomez, C., R. F. Mizell III, and A. C. Hodges. 2008. Brown stink bug. University of Florida Extension. http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/veg/bean/brown_stink_bug.htm
Koch, R. L., D. T. Pezzini, A. P. Michel, and T. E. Hunt. 2017. Identification, Biology, Impacts, and Management of Stink Bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) of Soybean and Corn in the Midwestern United States. Journal of Integrated Pest Management 8.
McPherson JE, McPherson RM. 2000. Stink Bugs of Economic Importance in America North of Mexico. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida. 104 pp.
