They’re back! Stink bugs
have returned to Bucks for
the winter.
The brown marmorated
stink
bug (Latin
n a m e :
Halymorpha
halys) was
first documented
in Allentown
in September
1998, but
reports have
been made a
f e w
y e a r s
prior.
Stink bugs are
believed to be
stowaways from
packing crates coming
from China and
Japan and were accidentally
introduced to the U.S. By
February 2008, 24 counties in
Pennsylvania
have recorded
stink bugs.
“We got a lot
of calls earlier
in the fall,”
said Nadine Smith
from Newtown
Termite and
Pest Control,
“but we’re not
getting many calls
anymore.”
Most stink bugs
have already
f o u n d
their way
into the
cracks of walls
to hibernate.
They slide their
shield-shaped bodies through
door frames, in window
cracks, and even under
roof shingles to seek
warmth.
Often mistaken for
other species of insects,
the brown marmorated
stink bug can be distinguished
by the white
bands around its antennae
and legs.
These harmless little
critters survive the winter
by seeking warmth in
buildings, such as the
portable classrooms,
where
the stink bug
population is
a b u n d a n t .
They crawl
across desks and fly
around the room, disrupting
class.
RJ Hari, 19, a
computer science
major
f r o m
Springtown,
had what he
described as a
“Kamikaze stink
bug” fly into his
neck during a lecture
in a portable
c l a s s r o o m ,
i n t e r –
rupting
s t u –
dents
and the
professor. “It must
have been from Japan,”
Hari said.
During winter months,
stink bugs are supposed
to go into a state
of hibernation, but the
indoor warmth causes some
to remain active
throughout the winter
months. Adult
stink bugs can live
for several years.
The “stink”
comes from glands
located on the underside,
between the first and
second pair of legs. It is to
fend off predators, which
are usually other insects
or birds. If squashed, the
odor will also be released.
The odor is believed to double
as a signal to let other
stink bugs know a good
spot has been found, thus
attracting more.
“People in the tropical
part of South
Africa eat them!”
said Smith.
“Apparently
they are a
good source of
protein and
amino acids.”
The most effective
way to eliminate stink
bugs is to seal the cracks
around doors and windows
with high-quality
caulk.
As for having class in
the portables, Hari
offered a bit of advice:
“Suffer or skip
class.”