Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB)
What is it? 
Brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is an exotic plant pest. This insect pest is a serious threat to Australia’s horticultural, nursery stock and ornamental plant industries.
It’s also a nuisance pest because it seeks shelter in large numbers in buildings and equipment during the winter months. When crushed or disturbed, it has a foul-smelling odour to deter predators.
This particular stink bug is a high priority pest which needs to be kept out of Australia. It is well known to stow away in imported goods arriving from the northern hemisphere between September and April each year.
What does it look like?
Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is a typical stink bug with a shield shaped body. They are variable in colour but generally have a mottled brown coloured body with alternating white and dark bands on the antennae, legs and the side margins of the abdomen.
Adult BMSB are approximately 12 to 17 mm long and 7 to 10 mm wide, about the size of a five-cent coin and emit a pungent odour when disturbed.
There are a number of Australian native stink bugs which are similar to BMSB. However, the distinct features of adult BMSB are the white bands on the antennae, sides of the abdomen and on the legs (Figure 1).
Young nymph stages are yellowish brown and mottled with black and red (Figure 2).
Older nymph stages are darker with the banding pattern on the legs and antennae beginning to appear. Eggs are light green, barrel shaped, 1.6mm long and found in groups of 20 to 30 (Figure 2).
Figure 1. Adult brown marmorated stink bug Image: David R. Lance, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org | Figure 2. BMSB eggs and newly hatched nymphs Image: David R. Lance, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org |
Lifecycle
Five nymphal instars develop before the brown marmorated stink bug matures to an adult. Overwintering adults emerge from hibernation in early spring.
Mating and egg laying occurs on the underside of plant leaves. Eggs hatch three to six days later and newly emerged nymphs gather around the egg mass.
Damage
Juveniles and adult BMSB feed on fruiting plants, including ornamentals and vegetables. Its preferred plants include apples, peaches, raspberries, sweet corn, green beans, capsicums and tomatoes. Feeding causes damage as well as encourages secondary pathogen infection making the fruit unmarketable.
Adults generally feed on fruit while nymphs feed on leaves, stems and fruit.
Stink bugs pierce the outer surface of fruit injecting saliva and sucking out the juices. This causes dimpling of the fruit’s surface and rotting and corking inside the fruit.
Spread
Brown marmorated stink bug is a hitchhiker pest, known to stow away inside shipping containers, imported vehicles and machinery and other goods brought into Australia including mail and passenger luggage. It seeks shelter in these items during the colder winter months in the northern hemisphere and can survive the journey to Australia by remaining dormant. They become active when they arrive in Australia, with the warmer weather and longer day lengths breaking their dormancy and encouraging feeding.
- Adult brown marmorated stink bugs are strong fliers and have been recorded flying up to two kilometres in a single flight.
- Brown marmorated stink bug is a highly mobile pest which can move from host to host during spring and summer. The pattern of movement is from plants with early ripening fruit to plants with later ripening fruit.
- In autumn adult BMSB seek out a safe hibernation spot to overwinter. Preferred hibernation sites are cracks and crevices in houses, buildings and structures such as containers or packing crates.
Where is it found?
Brown marmorated stink bug is native to Asia and is found in China, Japan, Taiwan and Korea.
It was introduced to the USA where it rapidly spread and has been detected in more than 40 states. It is also now present throughout Europe.
What is the potential cost to Australia?
Due to the damage BMSB causes to fruit and vegetables, this harmful exotic plant pest poses a serious threat to Australia and NSW’s $1 billion horticulture industry.
Biosecurity and your role
Everyone has a role in keeping pests and diseases out of Australia.
- Have you seen BMSB or other live insects in your luggage or home after unpacking from an overseas trip? Or in goods that you have purchased online from overseas?
- Have you seen bugs that resemble BMSB in your crop or garden?
- Have you seen bugs congregating on the inside or outside of your house, shed or other structure trying to seek shelter from the cold?
See it. Catch it. Report it
Catch the bug and place in a sealed container. Report suspect BMSB by one of the following methods:
- Call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline 1800 084 881
- Email biosecurity@dpi.nsw.gov.au with a clear photo and your contact details
- Complete an online reporting form
Brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is a notifiable plant pest in NSW. A full list of notifiable plant pests and diseases can be found in Schedule 2 of the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015. All notifiable plant pests and diseases must be reported within 1 working day.
Current situation
Ongoing vigilance is required with BMSB known to stow away on cargo from the northern hemisphere between September and April each year.
NSW DPIRD is currently responding to detections of brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) in the Sydney Basin and Wollongong areas. These detections have been achieved via joint surveillance programs by NSW DPIRD and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry who conduct seasonal intensive surveillance for this pest in high-risk areas. The likely source of the pest is from imported goods arriving in Australia, as BMSB is a known hitchhiker pest.
There are national response arrangements in place for circumstances where BMSB is detected in association with imported goods and cargo. A network of traps is deployed around each detection to monitor for BMSB and treatment implemented on affected sites to prevent further spread.
There are currently no restrictions for moving fresh produce within or out of the Sydney Basin or Wollongong areas, however farmers, travellers, importers and home gardeners are urged to remain vigilant and to recognise the signs of BMSB.
If you would like more information on how we conduct surveillance for BMSB please click here: Stink Bug Trapping
For more information go to: brown marmorated stink bug
