Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Halyomorpha halys (C) Gary Bernon, USDA APHIS, Bugwood.org
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug © Wikipedia
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Halyomorpha halys
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug has been detected in the UK on several occasions, mainly on imports from China, mainland Europe and North America It serious and what are its possible implications to UK wildlife and our biosecurity. Initial reports indicated it is a serious pest on more than 100 plant genera, including Apple Peaches and ornamentals such as Acer as a whole genus.
Background
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is native to much of East Asia. The adults will feed mainly on fruits where they suck out the juices, while the younger stages of the bug tend to feed on foliage and stems. There are more than 57 species of hitch-hiker stink bugs. Therefore, if established in the UK, it could cause serious economic damage to our food supply and devastate ornamentals.
It has spread to North America and was first detected in 1996 and in Europe in 2004. It now causes huge losses in crops like apple, pear, peach, apricot, cherry and kiwis. Perhaps more worrying is that it attacks soya and corn crops, causing damage estimated at é250,000,000. It has also been attacking greenhouse crops in Hungary and Switzerland. More worrying for consumers is the fact adults can invade warm houses in order to over-winter, where they leave a very unpleasant odour.
As of March 2022 this bug is not being treated as a quarantine pest as some think it is impossible due to its ability to hitch a ride not just on plant materials but also virtually any for of packaging. There have been several sightings in the south of England and one in the city of Leicester. Scientists have not yet reported finding prof of breeding in the UK, unlike in Europe, where breeding is widespread.
Word Wide Distribution
This pest has been detected in China, Japan South Korea, Russia, Taiwan and Vietnam. It is widespread in the USA and southern Canada and most of Europe, and still spreading.
Host Subjects
This pest has a very wide host range, having been detected in more than 100 host genera from trees, woody subjects and field crops down to weeds. Fruit crops include: Citrus spp., Diospyros spp., Malus domestica (apple), Morus spp., Prunus armeniaca (apricot), P. avium (sweet cherry), P. domestica (plum), P. persica (peach), Pyrus communis (pear), Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), Rubus idaeus (raspberry) and Vitis vinifera (grapevine). Field crops include: Asparagus spp., Glycine max (soybean), Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) and Zea mays (maize). Forest and ornamental trees/shrubs include: Abelia grandiflora (glossy abelia), Acer spp. (maples), Aralia elata (Japanese angelica tree), Buddleia davidii (summer lilac), Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese cedar), Cupressus, Decaisnea fargesii (blue bean shrub), Hibiscus, Lonicera, Paulownia tomentosa (foxglove tree), Rosa rugosa, Salix, Stewartia pseudocamellia and Tropaeolum majus (nasturtium). In Asia, BMSB has also been found on weeds (e.g. Actrium spp.).
Description
Not to be confused with other Shield Bugs
See separate fact sheet on Shield Bugs for further information.
Life Cycle and Biology
Infection and Spread
This brown marmorated stink bug is approximately 17mm (5/8" long and grey brown. They are noted for having pale dots around their scutellum
Economic Impact
Supplementary Information
Further Information Sources
For England and Wales, contact your local APHA Plant Health and Seeds Inspector or
the PHSI Headquarters, York. Tel: 0300 1000 313
Email:
For Scotland, contact the Scottish Government’s Horticulture and Marketing Unit:
Email:
For Northern Ireland, contact the DAERA Plant Health Inspection Branch:
Tel: 0300 200 7847 Email:
For additional information on UK Plant Health please see:
https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/phiw/riskRegister/
https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/
https://www.gov.uk/plant-health-controls
http://www.gov.scot/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture/plant/PlantHealth/PlantDiseases
https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk
