16 July 2020

BMSB, the brown marmorated stink bug

BMSB (the brown marmorated stink bug, or Halyomorpha halys to use its technical name) is an accidental introduction into many countries from Asia, and although harmless to humans if not annoyed by them, it is causing havoc among crops: it eats many different kinds of vegetables, leaves and fruit. The bugs can fly and may be found around houses (or in them if it's cold), on walls, windows, under pots, behind shutters, or even on the plastic bag that was lying around in this photo I took. Its name comes from its defence mechanism of letting out a very unpleasant smell from holes in its abdomen if threatened.

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