Brown Marmorated Stink Bug - Halyomorpha halysSo I’m working at my desk, doing research for an

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug - Halyomorpha halys

So I’m working at my desk, doing research for an online course and I hear a noise. It sounds like a low buzzing, and it also sounds much larger than an Asian Ladybug, a more common visitor in my warm when spring’s warmth arrives. I turn around, that there’s a large flying body zooming around the lights and flying around the room with great haste! I thought it might be a Western Conifer Seed Bug since they’ve appeared in my room before, but it was flying too quickly to be sure. Couldn’t tell until it finally settled down, but there’s something about insects and light, and it keep circling the lamps. By this point, I had closed the door to prevent escape into the house. After a few minutes of flying around and tension growing, it crashed behind a set of drawers. Searching for it, I found the visitor on my tennis racquet, upon which I got a good look at it. A Stink Bug has awoken up for the spring! When I went to get my phone, the little Bugger took flight and began to buzz around the room again! Argh!! At least we know what it is now. 

While it has a compact, shield-shaped body, it can be startling to see the full length of the wings for that split second before flight. When at rest, Stink Bug wings are folded against the abdomen, the forewings conceal the hindwings until it’s time to fly. It just wouldn’t be possible to maneuver that wide body without powerful wings, so when it’s time to go, the wings unfold out and get flapping. Getting back to the story, it resumed flying around the room aimlessly, eventually crash landing on top of the drawers this time. No slowing down, just crashing to an abrupt stop! Thank goodness an insect’s armored body allows for that, even if it may be too much for some other body parts to handle. Poor thing was missing a leg and an antenna. It could be tough to fly without all your instruments working. I picked it up in a glass and put it out the window (and without any spraying of stink) so that it wouldn’t be a bother indoors. Just a little story for today. Try not to be too nervous about the insects that decide to spend the winter in a warm house. They don’t mean to be bothersome, but they just can’t stand the cold. Quite relatable! 

Pictures were taken on April 12, 2022 with a Google Pixel 4.