Appearance
Adult brown marmorated stink bugs are approximately 1.7 cm long and about as wide, forming the heraldic shield shape characteristic of bugs in the superfamily Pentatomoidea.They are generally a dark brown when viewed from above, with a creamy white-brown underside. Individual coloration may vary, with some bugs being various shades of red, grey, light brown, copper, or black.
The term "marmorated" means variegated or veined, like marble, which refers to the markings unique to this species, includes alternating light-colored bands on the antennae and alternating dark bands on the thin outer edge of the abdomen. The legs are brown with faint white mottling or banding.
The nymph stages are black or very dark brown, with red integument between the sclerites. First instar nymphs have no white markings, but second through fifth instar nymphs have black antennae with a single white band.
The legs of nymphs are black with varying amounts of white banding. Freshly molted individuals of all stages are pale white with red markings. Eggs are normally laid on the underside of leaves in masses of 28 eggs, and are light green when laid, gradually turning white.
Like all stink bugs, the glands that produce the defensive chemicals are located on the underside of the thorax, between the first and second pair of legs.Easily confused with "Brochymena" and "Euschistus", the best identification for adults is the white band on the antennae.
It is similar in appearance to other native species of shield bug, including "Acrosternum", "Euschistus", and "Podisus", except that several of the abdominal segments protrude from beneath the wings and are alternatively banded with black and white and a white stripe or band on the next to last antennal segment.
The adult rice stink bug is distinguishable from the brown marmorated stink bug by noting the straw color, the smaller size, and the elongated shape of the rice stink bug.
Naming
Easily confused with "Brochymena" and "Euschistus", the best identification for adults is the white band on the antennae. It is similar in appearance to other native species of shield bug, including "Acrosternum", "Euschistus", and "Podisus", except that several of the abdominal segments protrude from beneath the wings and are alternatively banded with black and white and a white stripe or band on the next to last antennal segment.The adult rice stink bug is distinguishable from the brown marmorated stink bug by noting the straw color, the smaller size, and the elongated shape of the rice stink bug.
Behavior
The odor from the stink bug is due to trans-2-decenal and trans-2-octenal. The smell has been characterized as a "pungent odor that smells like cilantro." The stink bug's ability to emit an odor through holes in its abdomen is a defense mechanism meant to prevent it from being eaten by birds and lizards. However, simply handling the bug, injuring it, or attempting to move it can trigger it to release the odor.During courtship, the male emits pheromones and vibrational signals to communicate with a female, which replies with her own vibrational signals, as in all stink bugs. The insects use the signals to recognize and locate each other. Vibrational signals of this species are noted for their low frequency, and one male signal type is much longer than any other previously described signals in stink bugs, although the significance of this is not yet clear.
Food
The brown marmorated stink bug is a sucking insect that uses its proboscis to pierce the host plant to feed. This feeding results, in part, in the formation of dimpled or necrotic areas on the outer surface of fruits, leaf stippling, seed loss, and possible transmission of plant pathogens.
Predators
In China, "Trissolcus japonicus", a parasitoid wasp species in the family Scelionidae, is a primary predator.In the United States, Europe, and New Zealand, "Trissolcus japonicus" is a focus of biological control programs against the brown marmorated stink bug.
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