Stink bugs - The good, the bad, and they're all ugly.

Predatory stink bug (left) vs herbivorous stink bug (right)

"Ewww!  It's a stink bug."

You may have heard that, or even uttered it.  But not all stink bugs are bad.  Besides omitting a foul odour, they have a reputation for being pests.  This is especially true for the brown marmorated stink bug (see my blog on it here), an invasive species that can lay waste to vegetation.  Some, like the rough stink bug shown above on the left, are predators of other insects, usually the harmful ones.

Another thing you can do to verify your suspicions is to examine the beak of the stink bug and compare it to its antennae.  Now, I wouldn't blame you if such a task gives you the willies and was to be avoided at all costs, but someone with a keen sense of adventure or the ability to hold a bug could do it.  The beak of an herbivorous stink bug is as narrow or narrower than its antennae, while predatory stink bugs have a beak at least twice as thick as their antennae.  There is an excellent image here that shows you exactly what I mean. 

I found the rough stink bug a few days ago by lifting up dead bark on rotting trees.  It was hiding there, awaiting temperatures that would allow it to become active.  Stink bugs can overwinter as adults under bark or inside homes.  They may tuck themselves under planking on the sides of your house if they can find a spot.  The other image is from my collection.

By the way, did you notice the ant by the insect's mouth?  It was just crawling around; it is actually too small for the stink bug; they usually go after bigger prey.  They ambush whatever creature they are going to eat, pierce them with their beak and inject digestive fluids into the creature's body.  Then, after a bit, they suck the contents out and continue the process until just a shell is left. 

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com
 

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