With a common name like “brown marmorated stink bug,” one wouldn’t expect Halyomorpha halys to be a very pleasant insect to deal with – and it isn’t. The bug from Asia has become a major agricultural pest in the United States over the past 14 years, since arriving in Pennsylvania in 1996. It arrived in Oregon in 2004 and today is considered well established near Aurora, McMinnville, Salem, and the Portland metropolitan area. Nationwide, it is considered established in 15 states. Specimens have been found in 14 others.

The brown marmorated stink bug is well known for its penchant for attacking tree fruits, peppers, tomatoes, corn, berries, grapes, soybeans and melons. Nurseries aren’t immune from its hungry habits, either. The insect has been known to damage young trees by feeding through the bark.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture is holding an informational meeting on the pest from 10–10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20 in Cascade Hall at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th Street N.E., Salem, Ore. Speakers will include Helmuth Rogg, Jim LaBonte, Dan Hillburn and Jim Cramer of ODA; Mitch Nelson of USDA-APHIS; and Peter Shearer of Oregon State University. They’ll talk about the information that’s available now, as well as options for dealing with the pest.

For more information, contact Helmuth Rogg at hrogg@oda.state.or.us.

Photo by David R. Lance, USDA APHIS PPQ