This invasive pest can infest grapes, peaches, apples, pears, cherries, raspberries, and other crops.
“A native of Asia, this particular stink bug was first spotted in Allentown, Pa., around 1996 and has hitchhiked into parts of New York, including the Hudson Valley, Long Island and New York City in the 15 years since, but it has not posed a serious statewide agricultural threat until now,” writes Amanda Garris in the Cornell Chronicle article New York wine industry faces stinky threat, professor warns.
“It stunned farmers in the Middle Atlantic states with its unprecedented, aggressive damage in 2010, feeding on a wide variety of crops, from soybeans to fruit trees.”
The Eastern New York Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Project is monitoring the spread of this pest. Visit their website for more information on how to submit samples for identification.
The site also provides links to factsheets, webinars and more.