Stink bugs are insects that have a triangular or shield-like shape with six legs and antennae.These insects get their name from the sharp foul odor they create when they are killed. They are not poisonous, and neither do they bite.Yet, stink bugs are considered pests and often terminated. Brown marmorated stink bugs migrated to the United States from East Asia. They are native to countries such as Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and China. A brown marmorated stink bug doesn’t bite, and it doesn’t carry any disease or suck on blood. A stink bug’s diet consists of nibbling on plant and crop leaves.If you find this to be an interesting article, you might enjoy discovering more stick bugs facts and do stick bugs bite here on Kidadl!Do stink bugs fly or jump?Adult stink bugs have wings that help them to fly and get to one place from another. The wings of a stink bug only appear when it is preparing to fly. Otherwise, they remain folded over the back of these bugs in a shield-like way.Immature stink bugs, also called nymphs, do not have wings right from birth. However, they acquire the wings once they turn into adult stink bugs. Male brown marmorated stink bugs mate with female stink bugs many times, and the female then lays eggs, around 28 eggs at a single time. These eggs, often found on the underside of leaves, are light green in color at the beginning and slowly turn white.The nymphs, after hatching, shed or molt their skin five times before they become adult stink bugs. Every time the stink bug or nymph sheds its skin, it grows a little bit bigger in size until around the last skin shedding. It is almost as big as an adult stink bug. They then grow wings too. These wings are quite bulky, and most of the time, they are folded over the back, providing a layer of protection for them. Even though these insects can fly, it is not their preferred way of traveling.Why do stink bugs fly at me?Stink bugs are invasive species by nature. They can fly into your home, especially during the fall just prior to winter. Stink bugs enter a house in groups when the temperature starts dropping. They occupy the warmest space they can find in your house as the cold weather arrives.Stink bugs enter a hibernation-like state called diapause during winter. During this period, when they are staying inside your house, they do not feed or breed. However, an infestation can take place when they arrive in large numbers just before fall ends.When a stink bug flies close to you, you might hear a buzzing noise. This noise is heard even more when they travel in a group. The sound is made by the heavy wings of a stink bug when it is flying. If a stink bug sits on any part of your skin, it is unlikely that it will bite you. However, the rough and sharp edges of the exoskeleton of the stink bug might cause an itch or a rash at the spot it sat on. Another reason a stink bug will fly at you is because it wants to hitchhike with you to the places you are going.How fast do stink bugs fly?The wings of stink bugs are bulky and quite heavy. This makes flying a bit difficult for these insects. However, they have to fly to search for mates, food, and shelter.Stink bugs have a weird way of flying. They seem to be drunk or on the verge of diving. Their flight does not have a particular pattern, and scientists are now trying to find a pattern in it. This might be due to their bulky wings, but it hasn’t been confirmed yet.Yet, they don’t entirely rely on this method to get from one place to another. They also utilize the techniques of hitchhiking and crawling. Brown marmorated stink bugs initially entered the United States by hitchhiking on a cargo ship from Asia.These insects hitch hike by flying onto anything, be it a vehicle, another animal, or a human. The long legs of stink bugs attach themselves to the host as they travel to keep from dislodging. Apart from this, they also use their legs to crawl over a surface to move around.Why do stink bugs fly at you at night?When winter arrives and the temperature drops, days become short and nights become longer. Animals and humans alike seek warm shelters when the weather gets cold. Stink bugs have the same tendency.Since they seek warmth, stink bugs are also attracted to light. Even though they invade a house during the daytime, they are also quite active during the night. As it is dark at night, stink bugs get attracted to any light source they can find at this time. A stink bug might come at you at night if you sit beside a light source or use your mobile.Their attraction to light is so strong that it is sometimes used against them while setting up a trap for them.Did you know…The invasion of stink bugs isn’t taken lightly by people and is considered a pest problem. It is a pest control issue, and various methods are used to prevent stink bugs from entering a house. One of these methods is to use window screens.These pests go into diapause to survive the cold. But they may not stay alive, and dead stink bugs may attract other rodents and reptiles such as snakes and rats into houses. They also cause problems for people who grow crops as they may ruin them in search of food.This particular insect species also has a very strong smell. The odor that is released when these pests die is repulsive.A great way to get rid of these pests is to let in their natural predators and let them deal with any pests. Their eggs and nymphs are in danger from parasitic wasps. Other predators of these pests that get rid of them are birds, bats, parasitic flies, and fire ants.A simple solution of dish soap, water, and vinegar can also kill these pests instantly.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Do stink bugs fly? Curious question on stink bugs answered! Then why not take a look at Bug vs. insect? Are they the same? Difference between facts for kids! Or Bogle creature: curious facts on Scottish creature revealed for kids!
Stink bugs are insects that have a triangular or shield-like shape with six legs and antennae.
