The brown marmorated stink bug is a serious pest of many fruit and fruiting vegetable crops, and it feeds on a wide variety of host plants, including fruits, crops, and ornamental plants. The damage caused by the brown marmorated stink bug can range from mild to severe, depending on how long it stays at one feeding site. Some of the damage caused by the brown marmorated stink bug includes:

• Physical damage to fruit: This includes pitting and scarring, which can lead to a mealy texture. In severe cases, this injury can make the fruit unmarketable as a fresh product and even render the crop unusable for processed products.

• Feeding on leaves: A characteristic symptom of leaf injury is stippled areas approximately 1/8 inch in diameter around feeding sites. Wounds caused by feeding can provide an entryway for disease to attack the host fruit or plant.

• Damage to crops: In corn, the stink bugs feed through the husk, piercing kernels and sucking out the juice resulting in shriveled kernels. Stink bug feeding in soybeans is similar to corn, where the bugs pierce the pods and suck juices out of the seeds.

In addition to plant damage, brown marmorated stink bugs are a nuisance to people because adult stink bugs often seek shelter to overwinter inside houses and other buildings. While large infestations can be a nuisance, they do not bite people or animals, nor do they damage buildings. When disturbed or squashed, the stink bugs release an unpleasant odor from scent glands on their abdomen.