My Stinky Winter Guests

I have a strange insect flitting about my attic: It’s Halyomorpha halys, the brown marmorated stink bug, an invasive species native to China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan which first showed up in the U.S. in 1998.

I first noticed these pests in my attic two winters ago — but I’ve never seen more than one at a time, therefore I don’t think I’m dealing with an "infestation."

They’re peculiar insects, in that they only “winter over” in people’s homes for a few months, typically in the attic, and then disappear come spring. They just “hang out,” occasionally moving from spot to spot with this odd, “jump-fly” maneuver, with a range of maybe 10 feet at a time. They also exhibit strange behavior: Sometimes they seem to enjoy playing “stink bug on the wall,” sitting perfectly still, quietly observing our actions (until we notice them — then they’re doomed…). What’s more, they don’t seem to eat anything while wintering over.

According to Wikipedia, the brown marmorated stink bug has become a “season-long pest” in U.S. orchards, attacking a wide variety of common crops including apples, pears, cherries, soy beans and sweet corn. Fortunately they don’t eat wood or other building materials.

Since they’re an invasive species I have no issue with squishing them. The only problem is they emit this wretched stench when squished — hence their name.

“The bug survives the winter as an adult by entering houses and structures when autumn evenings become colder,” Wikipedia states. “Adults can live from several months to a year. They will enter under siding, into soffits, around window and doorframes, or any space that has openings big enough to fit through. Once inside the house, they will go into a state of hibernation. They wait for winter to pass, but often the warmth inside the house causes them to become active, and they may fly clumsily around light fixtures.”

I’m wondering if anyone else in the area has encountered these nuisances in their home — or do they only like my attic?