Rough Stink Bug: Appearance, Territory, Damage and Life Cycle

Latin Name: Brochymena Arborea

Appearance: Rough Stink Bugs are highly disguised, imitating the color and texture of the tree bark in which they live. Unless you know what, you’re searching for and are paying close attention, you won’t see them! You could mistake them for an insect annoyance when you first see them! The mature stage is approximately one inch in length. The antennae of the Rough Stink Bug are considerably front of its complex eyes, giving it an elongated head.

Plant-feeding stink bugs can be separated from beneficial stink bugs. Rough Stink Bugs have spines projecting from the corners of their thorax, whereas plant feeders have rounded “shoulders,” in addition to their distinguishing color and rough texture. Plant feeders’ mouthparts are long and narrow, whereas their beaks are short and hefty.

Hosts Plants: Grasses and weeds, corn and other grains, peach trees, soybeans, peanuts, and pecan trees are all common plants that attract stink bugs. Eastern redbud, holly, and mimosa are among the ornamental plants that excite their attention, and they are frequently found on fruit trees such as peach, apple, and pear.

Territory: Rough Stink Bugs are not dangerous since their piercing and sucking mouthparts feed on caterpillars, plant-eating larvae of beetles, adult beetles, aphids, and other soft-bodied insects. There are over 2,000 kinds of stink bugs in the globe, including over 225 in North America, so you’re likely to see a few in Galveston County. They can be seen on landscape trees and fruit trees in the residential landscape.

Damage Insect Cause: The Pentatomidae family includes the Rough Stink Bug. When disturbed, the Rough Stink Bug may produce a large volume of foul-smelling fluid, which it releases. Adults and nymphs both have huge stink glands on their undersurface that open through visible openings.

Life History and Habits: Rough stink bugs feed mostly on tree leaves and developing seeds, and have been discovered in ash, walnut, willow, boxelder, and other tree species. However, they do not appear to be linked to any major plant harm. They are also predators, since they have been seen eating caterpillars and leaf beetle larvae.

The adult stage of the species spends the winter dormant, usually under the bark of trees or logs. Between late April and late June, they become active. After mating, females lay elongate, pearly white eggs in masses of 10 to 20. The overwintering bugs usually die by the end of June, but the pale colored nymphs hatch about two weeks later. During July, the nymphs consume and develop, with adults arriving in August. A new generation is born every year.