The Oregon Department of Agriculture is receiving numerous calls from residents concerned about brown marmorated stink bug populations in and around their homes. The invasive insect species, which was first detected in Oregon in 2004, has established itself in several urban areas of the state and is now spreading to suburban and rural communities. While brown marmorated stink bug is not a structural pest and is not a human health concern, it releases an unpleasant odor when disturbed and can cause damage to agricultural crops as well as home gardens. “What we predicted in 2004 is now happening– the population of the bug has grown so large in Oregon that it is now invading homes,” says Dr. Helmuth Rogg, Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Plant Protection and Conservation programs. “This has happened in other parts of the US after about 10 years. The stink bugs are moving around and inside homes this time of year, which is why ODA is getting so many calls.” Similar to the box elder bug, which is native to Oregon, the brown marmorated stink bug is currently looking for a place to overwinter. The bug is expected to disappear from view over the next few weeks as the weather turns colder at night. Nonetheless, it may be harboring inside the home and will re-emerge next spring. The best advice for brown marmorated stink bug is to keep it out in the first place.
