The stink bug is a broad, flat bug that emits a disagreeable odor.You may wonder, can stink bugs fly? The stink bug does have wings, even though you may not recognize them on these shield-shaped insects upon observation.Have you ever been on a bug safari? You are sure to come across several exciting and incredible things. You get to explore several species of insects. One of them is the stink bug. Brown marmorated stink bugs are native to Southeast Asia, including China, Korea, and Japan. They were first documented during the 1990s in Pennsylvania before later being introduced in parts of Europe and North America.The nymphs and adult stink bugs feed on more than 100 species of plants, including agricultural crops and fruits. These bugs release a strong odor to fight off their predators, similar to that of bed bugs. They are shield-shaped, either a yellow-brown pelage or green pelage. Observe them closely, and you may conclude that the stink bugs do not have wings, but as a matter of fact, their wings are folded, forming shield-shaped backsides. However, you may still wonder whether the stink bugs fly or not.Did you ever hear a buzzing noise that made you wonder that a helicopter is flying around you, but you could not find one flying? Yes, are you still wondering what that might be? A stink bug! Yes, stink bugs can fly. As stinks bugs are ready to take their flight, they pop their folded wings out. They often produce a humming or buzzing sound that sounds similar to a helicopter flying overhead during their flight. You might not sight a stink bug flying around, but the buzzing sound is quite usual to be heard. Although stink bugs can fly, they prefer to crawl.If you enjoyed this article, why not also read about where do stink bugs come from and are stink bugs poisonous here on Kidadl?Why do stink bugs fly at me?When you are too tired to work and yearn for a break, what do you do? Either you go on a vacation or find a safe shelter far away from your daily chores. Similarly, adapting to extreme conditions can be pretty tiring for stink bugs. Therefore, they hibernate during the fall or cold winter weather and do not lay eggs or feed. The state of hibernation for a stink bug is called diapause.The stink bugs enter your house, searching for a safe refuge from the winter weather. The stink bugs do not fly at you or invade your home purposely. They often seek shelter in your house by making a way through windows, doors, and cracks and crevices in walls. Also, they are often attracted to light. Another factor attracting stink buds to your house can be its location, as houses in rural or green places are a hot spot to various nuisance species of pests.Homeowners living around agricultural fields, gardens, or orchards might find pests like stink bugs during the fall or cold weather. Loose entries in walls, windows, and doors in a house of light attract stink bugs to the house. If a stink bug finds your place to be a good shelter, it releases pheromones from their abdomen glands. This strong odor attracts other species of stink bugs with its smell.Stink bugs also produce a smell either when it is threatened or crushed. The odor is a strong defense mechanism to use against their predators. It also smells similar to that of bed bugs. Once the aroma is released, the stink bugs spray pheromones every few inches, and the odor lingers for several hours. If an infestation of pests develops in your place, you can still get rid of it. Are you wondering how to get rid of the developed infestation? Call a pest control professional to pre-treat the infestation. Start sealing up the cracks and crevices and avoid leaving windows and doors open. If they manage to hang around your place, suck them up using a vacuum.Stink Bug IdentificationA Brown Marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) was first identified in Pennsylvania in the 1990s. Being an herbivore, primarily a fruit-eater, it has a needle-like mouth to pierce the skin of a fruit or plant. The adult stink bugs are brown with a white underside and brown legs. The coloration varies from grey, red, copper, black, or light brown. Likewise, nymphs (immature stink bugs) are either black or dark brown with black legs. The eggs of Brown Marmorated stink bugs are green and gradually turn white as they are incubated.You can identify the Brown Marmorated stink bugs either by the odor they release when threatened or crushed or by the buzzing or humming sound they produce. This odor smells similar to that emitted by bed bugs. The pests are also found feeding upon a large variety of plants.Why do stink bugs fly weirdly?Although the stink bugs have wings and fly through the air, yet they prefer to crawl. You may notice these insects or pests flying in a strange irregular pattern that lacks a reason or justification.As flying isn’t their preferable choice, their ascension isn’t great; therefore, it looks like they’re flying weirdly. They are also known to make a buzzing sound while flying. Scientists and other professional naturalists are studying and deciphering the flight habits of the stink bud.How else do stink bugs move around?A stink bug flies in a strange pattern taking advantage of wind currents to move around in the air. However, flying isn’t the preferable mode of the pest. Are you wondering how it travels if it does not want to fly? It crawls!The stink bug moves around on legs and is quite active during the summer and the spring. Also, you are a medium of transport for it, too. Yes, you read that right. It hops on a moving target and travels far places. The stink bug tends to travel without any apparent destination in mind. Imagine planning a vacation and leaving your home without knowing where you are going to end up!Do stink bugs fly or jump?Stink bugs fly instead of jumping. After all, the bugs have wings to fly. The stink bugs do not prefer flying or jumping as they are found crawling around places. They move and travel on their legs.The bugs seek shelter in the winter and do not move around quite often. While they are pretty active during the summer and the spring, but they enter a dormant phase as the temperature drops. These insects often move around and damage crops, gardens, fruit trees, and ornamental plants. Also, you may find them around you, but no worries, they neither spread diseases nor bite or cause damage.Do stink bugs fly at night?Nights are dark. If you are asked to move in the dark, what would you do? Would you be able to? You will either find a light to find directions or stand still until you step forward. Likewise, it is pretty challenging for the stink bugs to fly in the dark.However, you still may find a stink bug in the night. It chases light, and therefore, it flies around lights in the dark, too. The answer to the question can be yes! That does not mean that the bugs are nocturnal. They eat in the morning and soar around the lights during the night.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for can stink bugs fly, then why not take a look at can termites fly or brown marmorated stink bug facts?
The stink bug is a broad, flat bug that emits a disagreeable odor.
