Greetings growers, crop consultants, researchers, and extension personnel in Virginia. Several entomologists in the mid-Atlantic U.S. are now desperately trying to elucidate the biology and ecology of the new invasive brown marmorated stink bug, which has plagued many homeowners and tree fruit producers among others in Virginia. The pest potential of this stink bug to Virginia Agriculture is tremendous. We need your help with spotting various life stages of the bug around your garden, yard, or farm. We want to document what plants the bugs are getting on and when, and are they reproducing. So, I’ve attached a Word file (click More) of the life stages of this bug to help you identify it. I’m asking you to please e-mail me any spottings of the bug on plants that you make. Record the bug’s life stage, your location, host plant, and if any injury was observed. These anecdotal reports will be very valuable to us.

Many thanks,
Tom

Thomas P. Kuhar
Associate Professor
Department of Entomology
Virginia Tech
216 Price Hall
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0319
Office: 540-231-6129
Cell: 757-710-9781
Fax: 540-231-9131
e-mail: tkuhar@vt.edu

Additional information: brown-marmorated-stink-bug-lifestages-docx