The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, is a plant pest that was recently introduced into the united States from its native range in Japan, Korea, and China. The word marmorated refers to its marble-like coloration. Sometimes called the yellow-brown stink bug of the East Asian stink bug, it was first reported in the United States in Allentown, PA. It was found in VA in 2004 and by 2010, it was found throughout most of the Commonwealth.
“Brown marmorated stink bugs (BMSB) are an agricultural menace that has devastated crops and livelihoods. While they are a homeowner nuisance and release a potent odor, they are generally harmless to humans,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance.

To farmers, especially fruit and vegetable farmers, the BMSB has become an agricultural menace that is destroying crops.

Because stink bugs have no natural predators, the BMSB population exploded last year throughout the Mid-Atlantic, including Maryland. While many research institutions are working to find ways to eradicate the pest, there is currently no quick or certain way for homeowners or farmers to control this pest, and there are no chemical recommendations currently available for homeowners or farmers to follow. Results from lab insecticide tests, showed that the stink bug only appeared to be dead after being exposed to an insecticide. After living in a coma-like state (or “moribund state”) for a week, the bugs appeared to come back to life, their bodies having broken down the insecticide.

Report sightings at the Rutgers University BMSB web site www.rce.rutgers.edu/stinkbug/report

Excerpted from http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/2902/2902-1100/2902-1100_pdf.pdf