Stink bugs (also known as shield bugs) are insects in the order Hemiptera and the family Pentatomidae. The common name, stink bug, comes from the foul odor of a defensive chemical they emit when threatened.
Pentatomids are extremely variable in their biology and habitat preferences, and are found throughout the world, primarily in open habitats such as fields, meadows and gardens. Like all insects in the order Hemiptera, they have piercing/sucking mouthparts which they use to feed on plant materials, such as sap or fruit. The particular plant host preferences of stink bugs vary between species, but many are considered pests of agricultural crops.
One notorious pentatomid pest is the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys, an Asian species that was accidentally introduced to the United States and is now an invasive pest causing considerable damage to fruits and vegetables, as well as being a house pest.
However, not all stink bugs feed on plant material. Some species are predators that attack other insects by piercing them with their sharp beak and feeding on body juices. Predatory stink bugs often feed on herbivorous larvae that can be pests of crops and garden plants, and therefore can serve as beneficial insects and biocontrol agents to limit pest damage to plants.
All stink bugs undergo simple metamorphosis. Eggs hatch into nymphs, which resemble adults but lack wings. Immatures undergo a series of molts, until they become a winged adult, at which point they no longer molt. Most stink bugs overwinter as adults, taking shelter under leaf litter, stones and logs, or inside homes and other structures.
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