Stink Bugs Invading King, Pierce Counties: WSU Researchers

SEATTLE, WA — Brown marmorated stink bugs stink in several ways. When you squash one, they emit an odor like old sweaty socks. They also gorge themselves on crops, posing a serious threat to the environment and the economy.

And, the bugs are emerging at a yet-unseen rate in Western Washington, according to researchers.

“In three weeks, we received 300 emails and phone calls – mostly from the state’s west side,” said WSU entomologist Michael Bush of Washington State University's Yakima County Extension. “We’ve never seen so much activity related to this bug — and so quickly.”

Why now? The bugs are starting to emerge from their winter sleep. As temperatures begin to warm up this spring, you may notice them zipping around in your house. They're trying to get back outside to feed and breed. WSU researchers say they've received the most reports from King, Pierce, and Thurston counties.

The brown marmorated stink bug population was first seen in Washington in 2010, but it's been growing each year since, according to WSU. Inside your house, the bugs are just a smelly nuisance. But outdoors, they will eat fruits, vegetables, and even ornamental plants.

WSU researchers are asking local residents to report bug sightings by emailing tfrec.reportbmsb@wsu.edu. If you have a particularly large number of bugs in your home, entomologists might want to drop by for a look.

There are a number of different stink bug species in Washington. For now, researchers are only interested in the brown marmorated type. You can distinguish them from other species by the white bands on their antennae.

Image courtesy city of Seattle