Brown marmorated stink bugs: Resources for identifying them and their hosts

An identification guide for brown marmorated stink bugs is now available online, as well as an extensive list of host plants.

Brown marmorated stink bugs are an exotic pest of fruits, vegetables, soybeans, field corn and many ornamental plants. They were first discovered in Michigan in 2010 and, as of April 1, Brown marmorated stink bug2013, have been confirmed in nine counties by Howard Russell, entomologist at Michigan State University Diagnostic Services. So far, its presence in Michigan has been primarily as a nuisance pest in homes rather than as an agricultural pest.

According to Michigan State University Extension, an excellent resource for identifying stinkbugs of economic importance, including brown marmorated stink bugs, was published as a field guide by Virginia Tech several years ago. The 40-page guide, titled “Field Guide to Stink Bugs of Agricultural Importance in the Upper Southern Region and Mid-Atlantic States” is now available for download. The guide has good photos and descriptions of egg nymph and adult stages for economically important species, less common species and beneficial species, along with photos of feeding damage on several economic crops.

I have been asked which plants are reported hosts for brown marmorated stink bugs, and it has been difficult to find this information. What I find most often is a list of a dozen or so common economic crops and a vague reference to about 300 hosts. I finally came across a more complete list (still not 300) in a presentation called “The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) in Oregon,” by Helmuth Rogg of the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The list (Fig. 1) shows some 128 reported hosts for brown marmorated stink bugs including a number of weeds as well as economic and ornamental plants. Tree of Heaven, Ailanthus altissimus, has been reported as a host, although it is missing from this list.

Fig. 1. Known host plants for brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys

Common name

 Scientific name

Common name

Scientific name

Abelia, Glossy

 Abelia x grandiflora

Honeysuckle

Lonicera

Apple

Malus domestica

Honeysuckle, Tartarian

Lonicera tatarica

Apple

Malus pumila

Jerusalem Artichoke

Helianthus tuberosus

Apricot

Prunus

Jetbead

Rhodotypus scandens

Apricot, Japanese

Prunus mume

Jujube

Ziziphus sativa

Ash, Green

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Kiwi

 Actinidia deliciosa

Ash, Oregon

Fraxinus oregona

Laurustinus

Viburnum tinus

Ash, White

Fraxinus americana

Lilac

Syringa

Asparagus

Asparagus officinalis

Magnolia, Star

Magnolia stellata

Basswood

Tilia americana

Malabar spinach

Basella rubra

Bean, Bush & Kidney

 Phaseolus vulgaris

Maple, Bigleaf

Acer macrophyllum

Bean, Lima

Phaseolus lunatus

 Maple, Hedge

 Acer campestre

Bean, Long

Vigna unguiculata sesqipedalis

 Maple, Japanese

 Acer palmatum

Bean, Pole   

Phaseolus vulgaris

Maple, Norway

Acer platinoides

Beet, Sugar  

Beta vulgaris

Maple, Red

Acer rubrum

Birch

Betula sp.

Maple, Sugar

Acer saccharum

Bittersweet

Celastrus

Mountain Ash

Sorbus

Blackberry

Rubus

Mulberry

Morus

Blueberry

Vaccinium

Mullein, Woolly

Verbascum thapsus

Buckthorn

Rhamnus

Nightshade

Solanum

Burcucumber

Sicyos angulatus

Nightshade, Black

Solanum nigrum

Burdock

Arctium minus

Oregon Grape

Mahonia aquifolium

Butterfly Bush

Buddleia davidii

Paulownia

Paulownia catalpifolia

Cantaloupe

Cucumis melo

Paulownia

Paulownia elongata

Catalpa

Catalpa speciosa

Paulownia

Paulownia fortunii

Cedar

Cedrus

Paulownia

Paulownia kawakamii

Celosia

Celosia argentea

Pea

Pisum sativum

Cherry, Black

Prunus

Peach

Prunus persica

Cherry, Sour

Prunus

Pear, Asian

Pyrus pyrifolia

Cherry, Sweet

Prunus avium

Pear, European

Pyrus communis

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana

Pecan

Carya illinoiensis

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum

Pepper

Capiscum annuum

Citrus

Citrus

Periwinkle

Catharanthus roseus

Coleus

Coleus blumei

Persimmon

Diospyros

Comfrey

Symphytum officinale

Persimmon, Japanese

 Diospyros kaki

Corn, Sweet

Zea mays

Plum

Prunus

Crabapple

Malus

Plum, Ornamental

Prunus

Cranberrybush, American

 Viburnum opulus v. americanum

Princess Tree

Paulownia tomentosa

Cucumber

Cucumis sativus

Privet

Ligustrum

Dahlia

Dahlia

Raspberry

Raspberry

Dogwood, Gray

Cornus racemosa

Rape

Brassicus napus

Dogwood, Red Osier

Cornus sericea

Redbud

Cercis canadensis

Eggplant

Solanum melongena

Rose, Rugosa

Rosa rugosa

Elderberry

Sambucus

Rose of Sharon

Hibiscus syriacus

Euonymus

Euonymus

Russian Olive

Eleagnus angustifolia

Euonymus, Winged

Euonymus alatus

Serviceberry

Amelanchier canadensis

Filbert, Turkish

Corylus colurna

Siberian Pea Shrub

Caragana arborescens

Fig

Ficus

Soybean

Glycines max

Firethorn

Pyracantha

Spider Flower

Cleome hasslerana

Golden Chain Tree

Laburnum anagyroides

Spiraea

Spiraea

Golden Rain Tree

Koelreuteria paniculata

Strawberry Tree

Arbutus unedo

Grape (Cultivated, Table)

Vitis

Sumac

Rhus

Grape (Cultivated, Wine)

Vitis

Sunflower

Helianthus

Grape (Wild)

Vitis

Sweetgum

Liquidambar

Hackberry

Celtis occidentalis

Sycamore

Platanus occidentalis

Harlequin Glorybower

Clerodendron trichotomum

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

Hawthorn

Crataegus

Viburnum, Blackhaw

Viburnum prunifolium

Hibiscus

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Viburnum, Tea

Viburnum setigerum

Hinoki cypress

Chamaecyparis

Walnut, Black

Juglans nigra

Holly

Ilex

Watermelon

Citrullus lanatus

Holly, American

Ilex opaca

Willow, Pussy

Salix

Holly, Winterberry

Ilex verticillata

Zelkova

Zelkova

Honeyberry Bush

Lonicera kamchatika

 Zinnia

Zinnia

 Photo credit: David R. Lance, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org

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