halyomorpha halys , also known as the brown marmorated stink bug ( bmsb ) , or simply the stink bug , is an insect in the family pentatomidae that is native to china , japan , korea , and taiwan .

it was accidentally introduced into the united states , with the first specimen being collected in september 1998 .

the brown marmorated stink bug is considered to be an agricultural pest , and by 2010 – 11 had become a season-long pest in u.s. orchards .

currently it is widespread in europe , and recently has been found in south america

brown marmorated stink bug

brown marmorated stink bug ( halyomorpha halys ) ; adult feeding on a cherry .
brown marmorated stink bug university of california - riverside . center for invasive species research .
monitoring for the brown marmorated stink bug rutgers university . new jersey agricultural experiment station .
pest watch : brown marmorated stink bug ( sep 2012 ) washington state university extension .
uc statewide ipm program . august 2012 . pest alert : brown marmorated stink bug .
brown marmorated stink bug ( halyomorpha halys ) ; newly emerged nymphs around egg mass .
jacobs , s . 2013 . brown marmorated stink bug . pennsylvania state univ . entomology .
adult brown marmorated stink bug . ( photo by ian grettenberger , penn state university . )
damage from brown marmorated stink bug on immature peach . ( photo by tracy leskey . )
relationship between brown marmorated stink bug density and yield difference in treated and untreated soybean zones .
urltoken - brown marmorated stink bug university of georgia . center for invasive species and ecosystem health .
brown marmorated stink bug ontario ministry of agriculture , food , and rural affairs ( canada ) .
brown marmorated stink bug - entomological notes pennsylvania state university . college of agricultural sciences . entomology .
damage on tomato resulting from brown marmorated stink bug feeding . ( photo by thomas kuhar . )
leskey t , hamilton gc ( 2010 ) brown marmorated stink bug working group meeting . available :
there are many stink bugs in minnesota , most of which can be easily confused with brown marmorated stink bug . native brown stink bugs ( euschistus spp . ) are especially similar to brown marmorated stink bug . other species commonly mistaken for brown marmorated stink bug that are not in the stink bug family ( pentatomidae ) include : the western conifer seed bug ( leptoglossus occidentalis ) , the squash bug ( anasa tristis ) , and the box elder bug ( boisea trivittata ) .
stink bug control has alot to do with the location of your stink bug infestation .
where is ( brown marmorated stink bug ) bmsb ? northeastern integrated pest management center . stop bmsb .
brown marmorated stink bug control , bmsb control and insecticides from valent u . s . a . llc
flight behavior of foraging and overwintering brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys ( hemiptera : pentatomidae ) .
u . s . distribution : brown marmorated stink bug has been detected in 42 states including michigan .
washington state university . 2014 . apple : brown marmorated stink bug . urltoken ( 13 june 2014 ) .
detailing the physical features , habits , territorial reach and other identifying qualities of the brown marmorated stink bug .
hamilton gc , 2009 . brown marmorated stink bug . am . entomol , 55 : 19 - 20 .
oregon department of agriculture , 2005 . pest alert : brown marmorated stink bug . oregon , usa . urltoken
the brown - marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys ( heteroptera : pentatomidae ) in p . r . china
natural enemy ; parasitoid wasps ( trissolcus halyomorphae ) parasitizing eggs of brown marmorated stink bug ( halyomorpha halys ) .
mipsp . ( february 2008 ) . brown marmorated stink bug . massachusetts introduced pests outreach project . 17 february 2017 )
hamilton , g . c . ( 2009 ) . brown marmorated stink bug . american entomologist , 55 , 19–20 .
youtube - brown marmorated stink bug control : keeping stink bugs out of your house google . youtube ; university maryland home and garden information center .
example species that could be confused with the brown marmorated stink bug include brochymena spp . ; the brown stink bug , euschitus servus ; the green stink bug , acrosternum hilare ; leaf - footed bugs ; boxelder bugs ; euthyrhynchus floridanus ; and other similar hemipterans .
brown marmorated stink bug nymphs feeding on an ear of corn . ( photo by ronald hoover , penn state university . )
flight behavior of foraging and overwintering brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys ( hemiptera : pentatomidae ) . - pubmed - ncbi
originated in asia and traveled to north american on its own , is a native parasitoid of the brown marmorated stink bug .
fig . 1 . brown marmorated stink bug adult . image by steve jacobs , dept . of entomology , penn state university
many growers know all too well the yield - robbing damage the brown marmorated stink bug ( bmsb ) can quickly cause .
a native of east asia , the brown marmorated stink bug , or halyomorpha halys , has no natural predators in north america .
( bridgade wsb , bifenture ec , bifenture 10df ) for use against brown marmorated stink bug in apple , peach and nectarine .
biology and current spread of the brown marmorated stink bug in north america . rutgers univ . and northeast ipm center . urltoken .
nielsen , a . l . 2013 . webinar on organic management of brown marmorated stink bug . eorganic , 19 february 2013 .
hamilton g . c . ( 2009 ) brown marmorated stink bug . american entomologist 55 ( 1 ) : 19 - 20 .
the brown marmorated stink bug caused more than $ 50mm damage to tree fruit and grapes in just 4 northeastern states in 2010 .
flattened soybean pods caused by brown marmorated stink bug feeding directly on seeds through the pod . ( photo by jeff graybill . )
t . c . leskey and g . c . hamilton , brown marmorated stink bug working group meeting , june 2011 report ,
you can find out more about the brown marmorated stink bug in new jersey at the rutgers agricultural experiment station website , urltoken .
“the brown marmorated stink bug has been a serious issue for commercial fruit and vegetable growers , including soybean farmers , ” he said .
the brown marmorated stink bug ( bmsb ) was first collected in september of 1998 in allentown , but probably arrived several years earlier .
pest tracker - survey status of brown marmorated stink bug usda . aphis . cooperative agricultural pest survey . national agricultural pest information system .
edis - brown marmorated stink bug university of florida . institute of food and agricultural sciences extension . electronic data information source publication # eny346
yanagi t , hagihara y , 1980 . ecology of the brown marmorated stink bug . plant protection , 34 : 315 - 321 .
peeled tomato revealing corky tissue formation caused by brown marmorated stink bug feeding . ( photo by shelby fleischer , penn state university . )
brown marmorated stink bug damage on apple . ( photo by tracy leskey , agricultural research service , united states department of agriculture . )
local concern : the brown marmorated stink bug has been shown to affect yields in fruit , nut , legume and vegetable crops in the eastern united states . the brown marmorated stink bug can also affect ornamental plants and be a nuisance in indoor environments where they overwinter .
zhu g , bu w , gao y , liu g . potential geographic distribution of brown marmorated stink bug invasion ( halyomorpha halys )
there are an estimated 250 different types of stink bugs in north america . in addition to the pesky brown marmorated stink bug , there are other types of stink bugs that look similar :
another way to eliminate stink bugs is using the safer® brand stink bug magnet . the stink bug magnet features a quick release pheromone to attract and trap stink bugs quickly .
“it’s all they can recognize as food , ” hoelmer said . “if they can’t find brown marmorated stink bug eggs , they die . ”
when the unwelcome brown marmorated stink bug infiltrates human - occupied spaces , its size is quickly overshadowed by the smelly impression it leaves behind .
[ 5 ] “ how to identify brown marmorated stink bug . ” rutgers new jersey agricultural experiment station , accessed april 24 , 2012 .
indirect damage ( bacterial rot ) on tomato caused by brown marmorated stink bug . ( photo by doug inkley , national wildlife federation . )
the brown marmorated stink bug ( halyomorpha halys ) is native to asia . it has been an agricultural pest in china , japan and korea .
most likely brought here in a shipping container from asia five years ago , the brown marmorated stink bug has spread throughout the mid - atlantic .
the reproductive behavior of the brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha mista uhler ( heteroptera : pentatomidae ) . 1 . observation of mating behavior and multiple copulation
inkley db ( 2012 ) characteristics of home invasion by the brown marmorated stink bug ( hemiptera : pentatomidae ) . j entom sci 47 : 125–130 .
fig . 5 . flattened soybean pods caused by feeding of brown marmorated stink bug . image by jeff graybill , penn state extension , lancaster co .
mottled - brown , shield - shaped bug ½ to ¾ inches in length .
jacobs s . ( may 2009 ) . brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys . insect advice from extension , pennsylvania state university . ( 17 february 2017 )
brown marmorated stink bug ( bmsb ) has recently been introduced from asia into the northeastern u . s . it was first detected in 1996 in allentown , pennsylvania
participate in a nation - wide survey to gather information from farmers and growers on the economic impact of the brown marmorated stink bug ( bmsb ) on agriculture .
as an invasive species in north america , the brown marmorated stink bug is the subject of ongoing scientific study , particularly by researchers in regions the species colonized .
brown marmorated stink bug damage on lima bean pods ( phaseolus lunatus l . ) . ( photo by thomas kuhar , virginia polytechnic institute and state university . )
damage to field corn by brown marmorated stink bug , which feed through the husk on individual kernel . ( photo by galen dively , university of maryland . )
the brown marmorated stink bug is an invasive asian insect that began its destructive path in pennsylvania . it is native to china and taiwan . the brown marmorated stink bug was accidentally introduced in the u . s . circa 1998 and first seen in michigan and boston in 2011 . while 2014 monitoring revealed that the stink bug was not detected in significant numbers , it has since infested certain areas .
malinoski , m . k . 2013 . tips for dealing with brown marmorated stink bugs . univ . of maryland extension .
the rice stink bug is easily distinguished from brown stink bugs by their golden color and narrower body . the spines on the shoulders of rice stink bugs are also more pronounced .
napis ( may 2009 ) . reported status of brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys . national agricultural pest information system pest tracker . ( no longer available online )
farmers have been hard hit by stink bug damage since the brown marmorated species was first spotted in pennsylvania in 2001 , but the numbers have exploded in recent years .
pest alert : brown marmorated stink bug ( aug 2013 ; pdf | 5 . 92 mb ) oregon department of agriculture . see also : pest alerts for more pests
the tachinid fly , bogosia sp . ( diptera : tachinidae ) , as a parasitoid of the brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha mista uhler ( heteroptera : pentatomidae )
for more tips on managing them in your home , see our tip sheet on stink bug identification and management in homes or read this article ,
managing brown marmorated stink bugs in homes .
both grieshop and delfosse are collecting live adult brown marmorated stinkbugs to aid them in their research .
detected in 33 states and the district of columbia , brown marmorated stink bugs munch on hundreds of varieties of plants and trees .
figure 8 . nymphs of the brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys stål , feeding on green beans in allentown , pennsylvania . photograph by deepak matadha , rutgers university .
– homeowners can discourage the brown marmorated stink bug from entering the home by sealing as many entryways as possible . cracks around doors and windows can be sealed with caulk .
american / western fruit grower ( 2011 ) brown marmorated stink bug causes $ 37 million in losses to mid - atlantic apple growers . april 14 , 2011 . available :
leskey tc , hamilton gc , nielsen al , polk df , rodriguez - saona c , et al . ( 2012 ) pest status of the brown marmorated stink bug ,
the brown marmorated stink bug is 1 / 2″ to 3 / 4″ in length . the characteristic most troubling , however , is its ability to assemble in mass quantities . the brown marmorated stink bug is able to increase a population to tens of thousands individuals seemingly overnight . these numbers are alarming considering it sucks juices from fruits and vegetables .
figure 10 . two adults and a nymph of the brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys stål , feeding on one of its main hosts , princess tree in allentown , pennsylvania . characteristic feeding damage of the brown marmorated stink bug is also evident . late instar nymphs of leaf - footed bugs ( hemiptera : coreidae ) are often mistakenly submitted as brown marmorated stink bug samples . the coreidae pictured is probably the western conifer seed bug , leptoglossus occidentalis heidemann . photograph by gary bernon , united states department of agriculture , animal and plant health inspection service .
hamilton gc , shearer pw . ( september 2003 ) . brown marmorated stink bug - a new exotic insect in new jersey . rutgers cooperative extension . ( 17 february 2017 )
across north america , brown marmorated stink bug has been found in most states as well as canada . impacts across this area vary from none to household nuisance to agricultural pest .
leskey t , hamilton gc , 2010 . brown marmorated stink bug working group meeting held at appalachian fruit research station , kearneysville , west virginia , june 15 - 16 . urltoken
the united states is home to several native bugs in the stink bug family , such as the common green stink bug ( acrosternum hilare ) . but the brown marmorated stink bug ( halyomorpha halys ) is a native of asia . it first showed up in allentown , pa . , in the late 1990s and has spread rapidly .
brown marmorated feeding damage on bell pepper . ( photo by peter shearer , oregon state university . )
the stink bug magnet should be used at first sign of stink bugs in your garden and other outdoor environment .
epa has approved requests under the fifra section 18 emergency exemption program for use of the insecticides bifenthrin and dinotefuran on tree fruit to help manage populations of the brown marmorated stink bug .
sept . 6 bmsb report - fruit and vegetable growers across the southern lower peninsula should be scouting and , in some cases , actively managing for brown marmorated stink bug this season .
at the same time , guédot pointed out that wisconsinites should be mindful that many bugs resemble the brown marmorated stink bug and be sure they know what they’re looking at before overreacting .
“stay - green” syndrome caused by brown marmorated stink bug feeding on the edge of a soybean field near lancaster , pa . ( photo by jeff graybill , penn state extension . )
does the brown - marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys ( stål ) ( heteroptera : pentatomidae ) reproduce by feeding on the cones of japanese cedar , cryptomeria japonica d . don ?
s . v . joseph , j . c . bergh , s . e . wright , and t . c . leskey , “factors affecting captures of brown marmorated stink bug .
aldrich jr , khrimian a , chen x , camp mj ( 2009 ) semiochemically based monitoring of the invasion of the brown marmorated stink bug and unexpected attraction of the native green stink bug ( heteroptera : pentatomidae ) in maryland . florida entomologist 92 : 483–491 .
adult brown marmorated stink bugs are ½ - inch - long shield - shaped insects from the true bug order ( hemiptera ) . they have long piercing - sucking mouthparts held under the body between the legs , and often release an odor when disturbed or crushed . the name ' brown marmorated stink bug ' describes their appearance : they are brown with a marmorated ( marble - patterned ) exterior . nymphs ( young ) are more colorful , with red and orange markings .
brown marmorated stink bugs , which took a $ 37 million bite out of 2010’s mid - atlantic apple crop , have awakened from hibernation .
inkley db , 2012 . characteristics of home invasion by the brown marmorated stink bug ( hemiptera : pentatomidae ) . journal of entomological science , 47 ( 2 ) : 125 - 130 .
leskey tc , hamilton gc , nielsen al , polk df , rodriguez - saona c , bergh jc , et al . ( 2012 ) pest status of the brown marmorated stink bug ,
. the brown marmorated stink bug , ” tech . rep . , united states department of agriculture , animal and plant health inspection service , center for plant health science technology , 2004 .
unlike other stink bug traps available , the stink bug magnet works immediately and lures bugs quickly by releasing the pheromone much faster . the stink bug magnet’s lures are replaceable , allowing you to continue refilling and using the trap as often as needed .
stink bugs acquired the name because of the smell they emit when frightened or killed . grieshop said the smell of a brown marmorated stink bug , when disturbed , is similar to a mix of cilantro and dirty sweat socks .
j . r . aldrich , a . khrimian , x . chen , and m . j . camp , “semiochemically based monitoring of the invasion of the brown marmorated stink bug and unexpected attraction of the native green stink bug ( heteroptera : pentatomidae ) in maryland , ”
monitoring indicates that brown marmorated stink bug numbers are on the rise in minnesota . experiences in other states suggest that household nuisance problems generally precede agricultural pest problems caused by brown marmorated stink bug . in 2016 it appears that stink bugs were beginning to cause some household nuisance issues in the twin cities . this means that there is also increasing risk to crops in these areas , particularly to apples , grapes and vegetables .
brown marmorated stink bugs , which took a $ 37 million bite out of last year’s mid - atlantic apple crop , have awakened from hibernation .
figure 7 . early and late instar nymphs of the brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys stål , feeding on asian pear in allentown , pennsylvania . photograph by deepak matadha , rutgers university .
t . c . leskey , s . e . wright , b . d . short , and a . khrimian , “development of behaviorally based monitoring tools for the brown marmorated stink bug ,
leskey t , hamilton gc , 2012 . brown marmorated stink bug working group meeting held at alson h . smith jr . agricultural research and extension center , winchester , virginia , usa , november 27 , 2012 . brown marmorated stink bug working group meeting held at alson h . smith jr . agricultural research and extension center , winchester , virginia , usa , november 27 , 2012 . urltoken
fig . 3 . brown marmorated stink bugs aggregating on an ear of field corn . bug feeds through the husk on developing kernels . image by jeff graybill , penn state extension , lancaster co .
zobel es , hooks cr , dively gp . seasonal abundance , host suitability , and feeding injury of the brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys ( heteroptera : penatomidae ) , in selected vegetables .
the stink bug magnet uses a fast release pheromone to quickly trap stink bugs in the more competitive outdoor environment . this trap ' s color and pheromone prove to be the perfect combination for stink bug control .
due to unpleasant odor , large size , and sheer numbers , brown marmorated stink bug can be a nasty home invader as well . large numbers will congregate and invade buildings in search of overwintering sites .
a key natural enemy of brown marmorated stink bug is the egg parasitoid trissolcus japonicus , also known as the “samurai wasp” . these stingerless warriors search for and destroy 60–90 % of bmsb eggs in asia .
npr’s ari shapiro talks with kathryn schulz , who writes about the brown marmorated stink bug in the latest issue of the new yorker . source : npr all things considered , mar . 7 , 2018 .
includes a lecture by tracy leskey on the
sudden emergence of brown marmorated stink bug as a serious agricultural pest in the mid - atlantic . presentation includes , video and slides presented in chapter form .
khrimian a , zhang a , weber dc , ho h - y , aldrich jr , vermillion ke , et al . ( 2014 ) discovery of the aggregation pheromone of the brown marmorated stink bug (
an increase in the population of brown marmorated stink bug is troubling because they are known to cause damage to many different fruit and vegetable crops , meaning finding a way to control their population is essential .
the adult brown marmorated stink bug is shield shaped with brown mottling . it is between 14 and 17 mm long , roughly the size of a u . s . dime . its abdominal edges and last two antennal segments have alternating broad light and dark bands .
if you don ' t yet know what a brown marmorated stinkbug ( halyomorpha halys ) is , consider yourself lucky .
figure 1 . an egg mass of the brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys stål , and newly emerged 1st instar nymphs are shown . photograph by karen bernhard , lehigh county extension , pennsylvania state university .
pest alert - brown marmorated stink bug ( may 2011 ; pdf | 692 kb ) florida department of agriculture and consumer services . division of plant industry . see also : plant industry pest alerts for more pests
zhu gengping , bu wenjun , gao yubao , liu guoqing , 2012 . potential geographic distribution of brown marmorated stink bug invasion ( halyomorpha halys ) . plos one , 7 ( 2 ) : e31246 . urltoken
in asia , a parasitic wasp keeps stink bug populations under control by attacking their eggs .
the brown mottled color and banded antennae are distinctive , but several native stink bug species look very similar ; nymphs brightly colored with red and black .
m . w . brown and b . d . short , “factors affecting appearance of stink bug ( hemiptera : pentatomidae ) injury on apple , ”
brown marmorated stink bug typically has two generations per year , beginning with adults laying a cluster of small faint green eggs on the underside of leaves . as with other stink bugs , after hatching these developing juveniles pass through five nymphal instars , which show a progressive darkening from yellow - red to brown and eventually black coloration . adult brown marmorated stink bugs resemble native stinkbug species , with typical “shield” shaped bodies approximately 15mm in length that are mottled brown , but with abdominal edges and antennae that have alternating light and dark bands .
female ( left ) and male ( right ) brown marmorated stink bugs . males have claspers on the terminal abdominal segment . ( photo by ian grettenberger . )
at orchard a , a total of 3 brown marmorated stink bugs were recovered from limb jarring samples , 4 from visual observations and 0 from sweep net ground samples season - long . no brown marmorated stink bugs were collected in sweep net or limb jarring samples at orchard c and a total of 14 brown marmorated stink bugs were observed in visual samples between 25 may and 7 june with no other bugs documented for the remainder of the season ( figure 4 ( b ) ) .
figure 3 . a 2nd instar nymph of the brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys stål . the white marking on the antennae is possibly the best field identification characteristic . photograph by deepak matadha , rutgers university .
virginia’s fruit industry has a new weapon in the fight against the brown marmorated stink bug , a thumbnail - sized pest that has made headlines over the past year for the trouble it caused growers and homeowners alike .
utah pests fact sheet - brown marmorated stink bug ( may 2011 ; pdf | 968 kb ) utah state university extension ; utah plant pest diagnostic laboratory . see also : tree fruit insects fact sheets for more species
here in pennsylvania the brown , marmorated stink bug can only accomplish one generation per year . there are parts of its native range , though , in which it can go through five generations in a single year !
ask any biologist and he or she will tell you that invasive species stink . in the case of the brown marmorated stink bug , biologists really mean it . chances are you’ve had the “pleasure” of meeting and smelling this latest invasive insect in your home .
figure 6 . six 5th instar nymphs of brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys stål , with one 5th instar nymph of green stink bug , acrosternum hilare ( say ) in allentown , pennsylvania on black cherry . photograph by gary bernon , united states department of agriculture , animal and plant health inspection service .
the minnesota department of agriculture ( mda ) has a joint project with the university of minnesota ( u of m ) to facilitate monitoring for brown marmorated stink bug in minnesota , identify developing problem areas and research potential biocontrol . the mda has conducted risk - based surveys for brown marmorated stink bug since 2014 using ground pyramid traps baited with an aggregate pheromone for this insect . developing problem areas have been identified in the twin cities and many new confirmations have been made through citizen reports . the u of m is evaluating wasp species that parasitize brown marmorated stink bug in its native range for cold hardiness , to see if they can survive minnesota’s cold winters .
hamilton , g . c . , p . w . shearer and nielsen , a . l . 2008 . brown marmorated stink bug : a new exotic insect in new jersey . rutgers university cooperative extension . fs002 .
pacific northwest plant disease management handbook - emerging pest : brown marmorated stink bug - a threat to pacific northwest agriculture ( mar 2016 ) oregon state university . extension service . see also : pacific northwest plant disease management handbook
wiman ng , walton vm , shearer pw , rondon si , lee jc , 2013 . observations on flight activity of oregon populations of brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys ( hemiptera : pentatomidae ) . environmental entomology .
– besides being an agricultural pest , the brown marmorated stink bug is often a pest in homes . in late summer , the adult bugs gather on homes . the bugs are seeking sheltered places to spend the winter .
according to north dakota state university , there are 4 , 700 species of stink bugs in the world , with about 250 in the u . s . and canada . our pest is known as the brown marmorated stink bug ( halyomorpha halys ) . it gets its name from the brown marbling pattern on its back .
adult brown marmorated stink bugs , like other pests , can enter homes through cracks and crevices . a few simple tips to help keep them from entering homes are :
in addition to being a nuisance in homes , brown marmorated stink bugs are also problematic for businesses , especially businesses that ship products overseas . for example , cars and other vehicles manufactured in areas of the united states where brown marmorated stink bugs are present must be fumigated or heated to temperatures over 122ºf for several hours before they are allowed into some international ports . the cost of these measures , which are intended to prevent introductions of brown marmorated stink bugs to new countries , can be significant .
many are hanging their hopes on a wasp — from the trissolcus genus — that is an effective predator against brown marmorated stink bugs in china , japan and korea .
look for gaps around window air conditioners or holes in window screens and block them off – these are easy access points for brown marmorated stink bugs to enter homes .
aug . 1 bmsb report - fruit and vegetable growers across the southern lower peninsula should be scouting and preparing to actively manage for brown marmorated stink bugs this season .
the first find of brown marmorated stink bug in minnesota was in 2010 . since then it has been detected in a number of areas throughout minnesota and reproducing populations have been confirmed in several areas of the twin cities . trap - based monitoring and citizen reports indicate that stink bug numbers increased substantially from 2015 to 2016 .
figure 4 . fifth instar nymph of the brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys stål , on raspberry in allentown , pennsylvania . photograph by gary bernon , united states department of agriculture , animal and plant health inspection service .
milonas pg , partsinevelos gk , 2014 . first report of brown marmorated stink bug halyomorpha halys stal ( hemiptera : pentatomidae ) in greece . bulletin oepp / eppo bulletin , 44 ( 2 ) : 183 - 186 . urltoken
fig . 2 . brown marmorated stink bug nymph . note the whole abdomen is visible due to the absence of wings , which only develop in adults . image by steve jacobs , dept . of entomology , penn state university
the term
marmorated
refers to the marbled pattern of coloring , with flecks of white interspersed with the background of brown .
haye t , abdallah s , gariepy t , wyniger d , 2014 . phenology , life table analysis , and temperature requirements of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys , in europe . journal of pest science . urltoken
stereoisomeric libraries of 1 , 10 - bisaboladien - 3 - ols and 10 , 11 - epoxy - 1 - bisabolen - 3 - ols for semiochemical discovery . aggregation pheromone of brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys ( stål )
cornell university entomologist peter jentsch holds a brown marmorated stink bug at the hudson valley research laboratory in highland . jentsch and other entomologists are studying and monitoring the invasive insect because it poses a serious threat to area state orchard crops .
orchard a yielded a total of 12 brown marmorated stink bugs in limb jarring , 21 in sweep net , and 77 in visual samples season - long . at orchard c , 9 brown marmorated stink bugs were collected in limb jarring samples , 14 from sweep nets , and 49 in visual observations season long ( figure 4 ( a ) ) .
there is nothing worse then having stink bugs invade your home and eliminating stink bugs in your home is a tough task . luckily , we have the victor® ultimate stink bug trap as a poison free solution to eliminate stink bugs .
m . w . brown , s . s . miller , and k . s . yoder , “stink bug ( pentatomidae ) feeding preferences among apple cultivars , ”
fig . 4 . damage to field corn kernels by brown marmorated stink bugs feeding through the husk . image by image by jeff graybill , penn state extension , lancaster co .
for homes and businesses , stink bug treatments generally focus on two species that are very bothersome : the brown marmorated stink bug ( bmsb ) and the kudzu bug . both of these insects create troubles for home and business owners when the pests fly to structures looking for overwintering sites . therefore , pest management professionals focus on treatment methods that will control the bugs or help prevent them from getting inside .
t . c . leskey , b . d . short , s . e . wright , and m . w . brown , “diagnosis and variation in appearance of brown stink bug ( hemiptera : pentatomidae ) injury on apple , ”
in field crops , damage caused by brown marmorated stink bug is not usually evident immediately upon visual inspection . for instance , in corn the stink bugs feed through the husk , piercing kernels and sucking out the juice resulting in shriveled kernels . stink bug feeding in soybeans is similar to corn , where the bugs pierce the pods and suck juices out of the seeds . one visual symptom of brown marmorated stink bug feeding in soybeans is referred to as the “stay green” effect , where injured soybean plants stay green later into the season while other plants in the field senesce as usual . additionally , stink bug infestations in field crops are usually characterized by an “edge effect” , where stink bugs infest plants mostly in the first 30 to 40 feet from the edge of a field .
early this year , a few news organizations reported that the brown marmorated stink bug was at the top of an agriculture department most - unwanted list , the nation’s no . 1 invasive species of interest , the most wanted fugitive among bugs .
leskey t , hamilton gc , 2010 . brown marmorated stink bug working group meeting held at alson h smith research and extension center , virginia agriculture experiment station , virginia tech , winchester , virginia , usa , november 17 , 2010 . urltoken
citation : harris c , abubeker s , yu m , leskey t , zhang a ( 2015 ) semiochemical production and laboratory behavior response of the brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys . plos one 10 ( 11 ) : e0140876 . urltoken
xu j , foneseca dm , hamilton gc , hoelmer ka , nielsen al , 2013 . tracing the origin of us brown marmorated stink bugs , halyomorpha halys . biological invasions . urltoken
brown marmorated stink bugs feed through the bark of ornamental trees releasing sap that stains the tree attracting ants and stinging hymenoptera . ( photo by michael raupp , university of maryland . )
you many also be interested in safer® brand’s stink bug magnet , which is an outdoor trap to attract and catch stink bugs without the use of dangerous chemicals . the stink bug magnet is for use in your garden without worrying about damaging plants and crops .
stink bugs have been known to completely ravage gardens and other outdoor crops , making your outdoor living space a haven for stink bug breeding . this is the reason why we have released the safer® brand stink bug magnet . this fast release pheromone attracts stink bugs faster then competitor traps and traps more stink bugs then any other trap on the market .
fiola ja , 2012 . brown marmorated stinkbug in grapes and wine . good fruit grower , 63 ( 16 ) : 44 - 46 .
figure 9 . adults of the brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys stål , feeding on peach in allentown , pennsylvania . characteristic damage is evident . photograph by gary bernon , united states department of agriculture , animal and plant health inspection service .
pest notes : brown marmorated stink bug university of california . statewide integrated pest management program . see also : pest notes are peer - reviewed scientific publications about specific pests or pest management topics , directed at california ' s home and landscape audiences .
moore a , 2014 . brown marmorated stink bug halyomorpha halys ( stal 1855 ) ( hemiptera : pentatomidae ) . guam new invasive species alert no . 2014 - 01 , no . 2014 - 01 . , guam : university of guam . urltoken
pheromones for bmsb have not been identified , thought it responds to pheromone components of another stink bug species .
hoelmer is studying four different species of these wasps in a quarantined lab in delaware . under current guidelines for introducing an invasive insect into the wild , they won’t consider releasing the wasp unless they know it will only attack the brown marmorated stink bug and not other stink bug species . there are more than 200 species of stink bugs in north america ; some are important predators of other insect pests .
if you suspect you have seen brown marmorated stink bugs , contact your state department of agriculture , university diagnostic laboratory or cooperative extension service for further advice on effective treatment and control recommendations .
last year , usda scientists and researchers pinpointed a pheromone that male brown marmorated stink bugs emit while feeding ; it attracts other males , females and even babies called nymphs to the meal .
“the first appearance in america was in pennsylvania , ” grieshop said . “fall 2010 is when they surfaced in michigan . my mother and i were eating dinner outside at a restaurant in okemos . a bug landed on her salad plate , i grabbed it and realized it was a brown marmorated stink bug . ”
the stink bug’s scientific name is halyomorpha halys , and there are thousands of types of stink bugs worldwide . the kind that is most damaging to north america homes and gardens are called brown marmorated stink bugs , or bmsb for short . they are considered an invasive species because they were introduced to north america from asia during the late 1990s .
as they waited last year , nature produced a breakthrough . native wasps that had showed no interest in brown marmorated stink bugs started to develop a taste for their eggs , just as they preyed on the eggs of native stink bugs .
figure 5 . two adults and one 5th instar nymph of the brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys stål , in allentown , pennsylvania on crab apple . photograph by gary bernon , united states department of agriculture , animal and plant health inspection service .
figure 11 . telenomus podisi ( hymenoptera : scelionidae ) , a generalist stink bug parasitoid that was recently recorded for the brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys stål . the host plant in this photo is a princess tree , paulownia tomentosa , in allentown , pennsylvania . photograph by gary bernon , united states department of agriculture , animal and plant health inspection service .
holtz t , kamminga k , 2010 . qualitative analysis of the pest risk potential of the brown marmorated stink bug ( bmsb ) , halyomorpha halys ( stal ) , in the united states . , usa : usda - aphis - ppq , 33 p .
loeffler , a . september 2014 . stink bugs beware ! homemade stink bug traps squash store - bought models , virginia tech researchers find . virginia tech news .
by releasing pheromones , this outdoor trap will lure stink bugs from up to 30 feet away . you can place the stink bug magnet on the ground in your garden to attract nymph stink bugs and trap them . you also have the option of hanging the stink bug magnet from a tree with the included hanging mechanism .
the ultimate stink bug trap should be used at the first sign of stink bugs and can be kept on year round as a preventative and early detection device .
the brown marmorated stink bug was first found in the western u . s . in oregon in 2004 . it is now established reportedly in the region surrounding portland , including a portion of southern washington . this insect has been trapped in california , in solano county in 2005 and multiple times since then in parts of southern california ( e . g . , pasadena ) . despite these finds it remains unclear whether the brown marmorated stink bug has formally established in california and , if so , what is its distribution .
bmsb adults may be confused with rough stink bugs ( brochymena spp . ) and brown stink bugs ( euschistus spp . ) . however , both rough and brown stink bugs lack the two white bands on the antennae and have toothed edges on the pronotum ( heavily toothed in rough stink bugs ) ( figure 6 a - c ) .
brown marmorated stink bug ( bmsb ) is an invasive bug that is a serious pest of fruit , vegetable , and other crops . it also becomes a nuisance pest of homes as it is attracted to the outside of houses on warm fall days in search of protected , overwintering sites and can enter houses in large numbers .
figure 2 . first and 2nd instar nymphs are shown dispersing from an egg mass of the brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys stål , in allentown , pennsylvania . photograph by gary bernon , united states department of agriculture , animal and plant health inspection service .
some interesting observations that deborah and i have made on our
own
stink bug populations include the leftover exoskeletons of stink bugs eaten by our basement pholcid spiders , aggressive web - spinning spiders wrapping up captured stink bugs in their silk ( here ' s a video of this ) , and a chickadee repeatedly flying up to one of our stink bug - covered house windows , grabbing one stink bug at a time and taking it off to a feeding roost to eat it . we speculate that our local predators may be becoming inured against the bug’s protective secretions and increasingly aware of the growing stink bug feast around them !
the adult stage of the brown marmorated stink bug has the 5 - sided shield - shape common to most stink bugs . they are about 5 / 8 inch long and 3 / 8 inch wide . the upper body is mottled brown and grey with alternating light and dark bands on the edges of the abdomen . one of the diagnostic characters for this stink bug is that the antennae have two light bands on the last two segments . eggs are laid in clusters and are barrel - shaped and green . nymphs are oval with yellow , brown , black and red coloration .
kuhar tp , doughty h , kamminga k , wallingford a , philips c , aigner j , 2012 . evaluation of insecticides for the control of brown marmorated stink bug in bell peppers in virginia experiment 1 , 2011 . arthropod management tests , 37 : e37 . urltoken
kuhar tp , doughty h , kamminga k , wallingford a , philips c , aigner j , 2012 . evaluation of insecticides for the control of brown marmorated stink bug in bell peppers in virginia experiment 2 , 2011 . arthropod management tests , 37 : e38 . urltoken
kuhar tp , doughty h , kamminga k , wallingford a , philips c , aigner j , 2012 . evaluation of insecticides for the control of brown marmorated stink bug in bell peppers in virginia experiment 3 , 2011 . arthropod management tests , 37 : e39 . urltoken
kuhar tp , doughty h , kamminga k , wallingford a , philips c , aigner j , 2012 . evaluation of insecticides for the control of brown marmorated stink bug in bell peppers in virginia experiment 4 , 2011 . arthropod management tests , 37 : e40 . urltoken
wiman ng , shearer p , walton v , rondon s , 2013 . documenting an invasion : brown marmorated stink bug in oregon . in : 87th western orchard pest and disease management conference , january 9 - 11 , portland , oregon , usa . , usa .
because brown marmorated stink bug is a newly established invasive species , management programs for this pest are still being developed . in 2010 , no specific management recommendations were in place and only a single laboratory study evaluating a select number of compounds against brown marmorated stink bug had been conducted [ 12 ] . growers were forced to rely on recommendations made for native stink bugs , which did not result in satisfactory control [ 8 ] . in general , pyrethroid insecticides , considered to be effective against native stink bugs , but are a poor fit in ipm programs because of their negative impact on beneficial arthropods [ 13 , 14 ] were applied .
the wasps attack like creatures from the movie , “alien , ” hoelmer said . they lay their eggs inside clusters of stink bug eggs . when the wasp eggs hatch , the larva consumes the stink bug egg from the inside out .
he added that some virginia growers have discarded entire batches of wine after discovering the stink bug on grapes during processing .
predatory sand wasp ( astata sp . ) gathering stink bug prey to provision her nest . photograph by kyhl austin .
continued monitoring of stink bug numbers is important so that areas where agricultural pest problems might develop can be anticipated . the mda and u of m will continue to facilitate trap - based monitoring during 2017 at sites at high - risk for damage such as apple orchards . in addition , citizen reports are an important tool in keeping tabs on stink bug numbers as well . if you observe an insect that looks like brown marmorated stink bug please take a picture or sample and contact the mda’s arrest the pest .
in mid - atlantic states , where brown marmorated stink bug is a severe problem , an integrated pest management approach is being employed that uses a combination of monitoring , insecticide use , and other natural means . research is ongoing on the development of biocontrol throughout the country .
brown marmorated stink bugs are named for the grey and brown marble patterns on their back . they feed by inserting a straw - like mouth part called a stylet , into the fruit . the stylet pierces and sucks sap from the plants , while they inject their own salivary juices .
oda m , nakanishi y , uesumi y , 1982 . ecological studies of stink bugs attacking fruit trees . report 4 : fluctuations in the hibernated population of the brown - marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys ( stal ) and seasonal prevalence of the adults after hibernation . bulletin of nara agricultural station , 13 : 66 - 73 .
in addition to plant damage , brown marmorated stink bug is considered a significant nuisance pest because of its tendency to use homes as overwintering sites . adults abandon orchards in the fall , frequently moving into nearby artificial structures for shelter . these seasonal migrations can lead to dramatic infestations within homes . although stink bugs are not a direct threat to humans , if disturbed the insects will release a strong , unpleasant odor , hence their common name , stink bug .
arakawa r , namura y , 2002 . effects of temperature on development of three trissolcus spp . ( hymenoptera : scelionidae ) , egg parasitoids of the brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys ( hemiptera : pentatomidae ) . entomological science , 5 ( 2 ) : 215 - 218 .
those egg masses are the stink bug’s weak spot . deposited in clutches of 24 eggs on leaves , they are vulnerable to a natural predator not much bigger than ground pepper–a tiny wasp from asia that implants its own young in stink bug eggs .
h . sugie , m . yoshida , k . kawasaki et al . , “identification of the aggregation pheromone of the brown - winged green bug ,
little - leaf symptom development in the periwinkle infected with paulownia witches ' - broom mycoplasma - like organism by the yellow - brown stink bug , halyomorpha halys stål ( h . mista uhler ) . korean
duthie cd , michael t , stephenson b , yamoah e , mcdonald b , 2012 . risk analysis of halyomorpha halys ( brown marmorated stink bug ) on all pathways . wellington , new zealand : biosecurity risk analysis group , ministry of agriculture and forestry of new zealand , 57 p .
kawada h , kitamura c , 1992 . the tachinid fly , bogosia sp . ( diptera : tachinidae ) as a parasitoid of the brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha mista uhler ( heteroptera : pentatomidae ) . japanese journal of applied environmental entomology and zoology , 4 : 65 - 70 .
qiu l - f , 2007 . studies on biology of the brown - marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys ( stal ) ( hemiptera : pentatomidae ) , an important pest for pome trees in china and its biological control . phd dissertation . beijing , china : chinese academy of forestry .
fig . 6 . stay - green syndrome on a field edge induced by heavy populations of brown marmorated stink bug . note that the middle of the field is senescing regularly , but the edge shows few signs of maturity . image by jeff graybill , penn state extension , lancaster co .
one of the main characteristics that makes the stink bug such an undesirable blight is the foul smell it releases . as a defense mechanism , the stink bug will discharge a sticky , odorous substance to fight off its predators when it comes under attack .
in the united states , the highest concentrations of brown marmorated stink bugs occur in the mid - atlantic region , and they have been identified in 38 states and the district of columbia . they cause major economic damage to fruit , vegetable , and field crops in the mid - atlantic region . however , while farmers in other regions of the country are concerned about the presence of the brown marmorated stink bug , they are currently not a significant agricultural pest in most areas outside of the mid - atlantic region .
khrimian a , shearer pw , zhang a , hamilton gc , aldrich jr . 2008 . field trapping of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug , halyomorpha halys , with geometric isomers of methyl 2 , 4 , 6 - decatrienoate . journal of agricultural and food chemicals 56 : 197 - 203 .
impact - brown marmorated stink bug prefers fruits as a food - source , but will feed on nearly all plant parts . injury caused by feeding produces small necrotic areas on the outer surface of fruits and leaves . in apples , feeding by this insect creates cork - like dead spots that can become sunken and render the fruit unsuitable for market . all damage done is superficial and the fruit is safe to eat , however not preferred by consumers . most damaged fruit is sent off for processing . significant injury caused by brown marmorated stink bug in orchards can result in large economic losses .


paroligolophus agrestis is a species of harvestman .

it occurs in europe , including the united kingdom .

mature females have bodies about 6 mm long , mature males are smaller at about 4 mm .

as with almost all havestmen , the second leg is longest , being around 14 – 20 mm when fully extended .

the patellae and tibiae have distinct angles rather than being rounded .

the upper surface of the body is usually brown with grey and red shades , with a line of whitish markings along the centre .

the tendency to red is regarded as a useful identification character .

there may be darker markings at the rear with lighter lines across the body .

the area between the eyes is notably light in colour .

on the underside , the genital plate is notched , particularly in the female – a distinctive feature of this species .

paroligolophus agrestis

platybunus triangularis and paroligolophus agrestis : two phalangids introduced to north america ( arachnida , opiliones ) p . d . bragg . 1974 . journal of arachnology 2 ( 2 ) : 127 .
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over time , all information will be checked against modern literature and corrected if need be . soon , the colour
. - the body of a harvestman is not only so characteristic that the animals are easy to recognize ; it is also unique , or at least it is unlike the body of any other arachnid . the cephalothorax is composed of six somites and it bears the six pairs of appendages common to the whole class . in the abdomen ten somites may with difficulty be recognized . there are no appendages ; moreover , the tergite , above , and the sternite , below , of the same segment are not always placed vertically opposite to each other .
this is the unique peculiarity . it may be described by saying that the fore - edge of the first sternite has been dragged forward until it has reached the line of the coxae of the second pair of legs . this has dragged forward the sternites behind it , has brought the anus from from its primitive terminal position to a ventral one , and has bent downwards some of the posterior tergites . in consequence , the tergite primitively above the anus now lies behind it , and the sternite primitively below the anus lies in front of it . there is no other arachnid like this . it is a fundamental reason why most opiliones have short round bodies , while most of their allies are long and narrow .
on the upper surface of the cephalothorax the most conspicuous feature is the ocular tubercle , placed not far from the fore - edge . it carries two simple eyes , placed back to back so they stare sideways with the unblinking gaze of a fish . at the sides , close to the coxae of the second pair of legs , the openings of a pair of odoriferous glands are visible . these glands , which secrete an irritating or nauseous liquid , are characteristic of the harvestmen and are found in no other arachnida . the glands themselves can be seen in some species , showing through the carapace as dark spherical objects , and more than once they have been mistakingly described as a second pair of eyes .
the region between the ocular tubercle and the fore - edge , which may be called the clypeus , is generally covered with pointed spines . these may be scattered over the area ; but in sub - family
three of them are placed conspicuously in front , forming a trident which is characteristic of the group . the relative lengths and positions of the trident spines is often helpful in determining the species [
fewer features are noticeable on the upper surface of the abdomen , where transverse grooves or rows of spicules indicate segmentation . in the families
it is covered by a single chitinous shield composed of the fused tergites of the cephalothorax and first five or six abdominal segments . as a result one finds that the whole dorsal surface can be removed , and mounted for examination , whereas nothing of the sort is possible with the softer species .
there is in many harvestmen a central dark band which forms a good example of that kind of pattern which provides it with a degree of inconspicuousness against its natural background , by breaking up the outline or obvious appearance of the animal ` s shape .
as in spiders , the lower surface of the body shows much more detail than the upper . in front it is composed of the eight coxae , the gnathobases of the pedipalpi and anterior legs and the genital operculum , projecting forwards from the abdomen . this is really composed of the fused sternites of the second and third abdominal segments . the first sternite is represented by a pair of chitinous plates lying in front of or outside of the operculum and called the arculi genitales . they are the most easily distinguishable in
. four sternites follow the operculum , numbering 4 , 5 , 6 and 7 . the arrangement of the eighth and ninth is different in the different families ; the tenth is absent .
the chelicerae are composed of three strongly chitinized segments , the third of which works against a prolongation of the second to form a pair of sharply pointed forceps . there are no poisonous - glands within ; the limbs themselves move freely in a longitudinal direction with the forceps , working transversely , to tear to pieces the harvestman ` s food .
the pedipalpi are like short legs . they have six segments - coxa , trochanter , femur , patella , tibia and tarsus . they are used in manipulating the food and their setae are probably organs of touch . the coxa bears a gnathobase which works against its fellow and helps to crush the food .
by the systematist the pedipalpi are used in characterizing the families accordingly to the relative length of the tibia and tarsus and the character of the tarsal claw when present .
harvestmen , unlike spiders , do not have the complex sex - organs in the male pedipalpi , but a hitherto undescribed sex difference is found in nearly all the british species . this is a group of short spicules on the outer side of the male tarsus .
the legs are composed of seven segments , the same as the pedipalpi plus a metatarsus . the coxae of the first legs carry gnathobases which assist in mashing the food ; the coxae of the second pair also carry gnathobases in some genera , but they do not appear to be normally used in feeding . the other segments sometimes show false articulations and this is especially true of the tarsus which , in the longest legs , may consist of more than a hundred pieces . the legs all end in a plain claw . the tarsi may be quickly twisted around grass - stems as the animal runs ; to assist the cylinders of chitin which make up the tarsus are longer above than below and a muscle running from the claw to the metatarsus coils up the segment .
in some harvestmen the tibiae of the legs have accessory breathing spiracles , leading to the tracheal system . very little is known , however , about the respiration of these animals .
the bodies and limbs of all harvestmen are more or less covered with spines or setae of different appearances , and probably of different functions . as far as outward appearance goes , these dermal structures can be divided into four groups , which may well be named as follows :
are the solid bristle - like objects such as occur on the legs and generally more familiar on the legs of spiders , where they are supposed to have a tactile function .
are much finer than setae and are found on the tarsi and other leg segments of some species ; they may be erect or may lie flat like the true hairs of a mammal . in spiders , long erect trichobothria are supposed to have an acoustic function .
the sexes of harvestmen are not very different from each other . males as a rule have longer legs and smaller bodies . the sex organs are not normally visible but they may easily be made to protrude by gently squeezing the body , when they appear at the tip of the genital operculum . the ovipositor is a broad tube , the penis is finely pointed .
it is as a rule only by careful searching that one can find harvestmen in england in the spring . in march and april captures are of three kinds -
, if brought into the laboratory , prove to be very inactive and soon die of old age .
hatch form their eggs in fall and pass the winter as small juveniles . in spring they moult and grow rapidly and are mature in may . by the end of june
is hardly to be found out of doors , but in captivity they are known to last until august .
, young specimens of which begin to be seen in early june . they mature by the end of july and are very plentiful in hedgerows during august and september . in the laboratory they survive until january or later .
and is usually the most conspicuous of all british species in the late summer . it seems generally to disappear , often rather suddenly , during october .
these species are constantly moulting throughout june and august . they are mature in september and october and are the dominant genera of the latter month , but the lower temperatures of november bring them to an end out of doors . in cages i have known
the hibernation of a few species is interesting : harvestmen are much more resistant to cold than heat . more than once , i have suffered the loss of captive specimens when by inadvertence there cage has been left where the sun could shine on it . the result is the death of all specimens in a comparatively short time . on the other hand records show that
has been found under snow . some of these were put out over - night in a box , the temperature of which fell to - 20c . the animals became torpid , with there legs stretched vertically upwards in a close bundle , but when placed on a warm hand , they recovered in a few moments .
in january , which could be instantly re - awakened by breathing gently upon them . taken indoors they became quite lively and mated with each other as if it had been early spring .
the general behaviour of all harvestmen is a pattern of reflexes and tropisms with scarcely a suggestion that any consciousness determines there actions . they seem to be even more mechanistic than spiders , for a spider catching a fly or courting a mate does present an outward appearance of purposiveness , which many biologists have liberally interpreted , while a harvestman never seems to respond to anything save obviously external stimuli .
for example , they are strongly photogenic and collect in the darkest corners of there cage . this is particularly true of young specimens . direct light checks movement , so that many species are not active during the day ; but
harvestmen also react quickly to the movement of an image across the retina of the eye . if one ` s two hands are moved up and down at the sides of a harvestman , the animal rises and falls on its long legs in a remarkable and rather ludicrous manner . a cage full of
is particularly sensitive in this respect and will react to the movement of one ` s head if one stoops to look at them . the formally quiescent creatures are suddenly galvanized into activity : they race round and round the cage , their bodies rising and falling and striking the box , tap - tap - tap as they go , until after a few seconds they all settle down again into there usual somnolence .
harvestmen respond keenly to moisture . they are very dependent on water , and in houses are often found in baths and wash - basins , just as spiders are , attracted there during there nightly wanderings and discovered , unable to escape , in the morning . moisture also guides them to a spot suitable for egg laying , as will appear later .
harvestmen share with many other animals the tendency to creep into contact with solid surfaces , called stereo tropism and generally rest in the corners of the cage . the species
in particular shows this behaviour , and if there are five or six specimens in a box together will rest during the daytime all pressed together in a corner .
the response to chemical compounds is also well developed and occasionally brings harvestmen to the notice of entomologists , for they may be among visitors to the patches of sugar spread out at night to attract moths .
the study of harvestmen is a study of legs . of the eight characteristically long legs , the first , third and fourth are habitually used for walking , while the legs of the second pair , which in all british species are the longest , are generally stretched out in front , tapping the ground and clearly acting as organs of touch . a moving harvestman often stops and touches the ground ahead with its second legs before proceeding ; and a resting harvestmen may be seen moving its second legs about as if they were constant sentinels against the approach of danger . i have seen a quiescent harvestman respond to the banging of my laboratory door by raising its second legs with a sudden jerk . i have seen a thirsty harvestman put its fourth leg into water , turn and touch the water with its second leg before moving forward to drink .
a harvestman that has lost one of these longest legs does not appear to be seriously handicapped , but if both legs are lost its behaviour is very different . there are no rapid movements , no hastening to eat , drink or mate . a harvestman so mutilated among a number of others resembles nothing so much as a blind man feeling his way among a crowd of headless companions .
it is a remarkable fact that limbs so vital to the animals well - being should be so easily lost , and when lost should never be restored . yet such is the case . a harvestman sheds its legs on the least provocation , so that it is hardly an exaggeration to say that at the end of the autumn one finds fewer harvestmen with a full compliment of eight legs than with any other . specimens with only two legs can run quite rapidly .
as has long been known , a leg forcibly removed or automized continues for some while to jerk spasmodically at the tibial - metatarsal joint . this curious detail has received a delightfully teleological explanation . it is imagined that the foe grips the hunted harvestman by the leg , the limb is thus detached , and by its repeated jerkings so occupies the attention of the predator that the harvestman has time to escape . this is therefore the
purpose
of the jerks !
like spiders , harvestmen carefully clean their legs . a leg is held in the chelicerae , which open and shut as the long joints are pulled through them . by the time the tarsus is reached the leg is almost bent into a circle , and it finally shoots out like a bent spring . the pedipalpi are cleaned in the same way . the chelicerae themselves are largely cleansed by washing in the drinking water , and in a cage food - particules and other debris collect in the vessal , which must be scoured at intervals .
the food of harvestmen is varied , nor need it be living at the time of capture , in nature it would seem probable that harvestmen could scarcely rely on finding sufficient dead materials to supply their needs , for the dead bodies of small animals are uncommon in the undergrowth where harvestmen live , and no doubt exists that much of a harvestman ' s food is caught and killed by itself . the strength of the cheliceral muscles is considerable ; they have been known to easily lift half a gram .
when the food is obtained the pedipalpi rest upon it , the chelicerae are sunk into it and slowly move up and down , detaching small fragments . unlike spiders , harvestmen are more inclined to feed little and often , though one meets occasional exceptions to this . i have know a young
spider at one sitting and as a result to swell up exactly as a spider would have done in similar circumstances . another , a male
, spent four hours eating the spider . at the end of this time there was only a scrap of skin left of the abdomen , the legs , chelicerae and pedipalpi were detached and in part sucked dry , and the carapace was polished clean inside . this particular harvestman ate a second spider six hours later .
though they appear to be ill - provided with weapons of attack , harvestmen have a remarkable and efficient method of defense . the existence of odoriferous glands in the cephalothorax has already been mentioned , but the fact that their secretion is not very noticeable to the human nose prevented for many years a general recognition of there function . recently the glands and their function have been the subject of a paper by
. he has observed that some species can either expel the mixture rapidly in the form of a fine jet , or more slowly as a large drop accumulating at the orifice of the gland . he makes it quite clear that secretion is a defense action , a response to irritation of the animal either by pressure on its body or by seizing its limbs . among european species recorded instances of the use of this gland are few .
, was seen to secrete a small drop of liquid from one gland while she held it . an offensive odour lasted for two minutes .
it is possible , but not certain , that the secretion produced may be responsible for the anaesthesia which overcomes a crowd of harvestmen in some conditions . it is my custom when working in the garden to keep to hand an empty jam - pot and to drop into it all harvestmen that i meet . when these are brought indoors to the laboratory they seem to be aneasthetized , intoxicated or narcotized by each other . while they remain close together at the bottom of the vessel the state of insensibility persists , but very soon after they ' re thrown out on to the floor of the cage they recover and move away .
one of the commonest methods of protection in spiders , the habit often spoken of as
shamming dead
, seems to be very rare among harvestmen . i have , however , been told by
that some african species will show this cataleptic state . when grasped by the hand or forceps they become completely rigid . there legs may often be bent so as to assume the most extravagant positions , which they will maintain for several minutes at a time . for example , the legs may all be turned upwards and the animal inverted and stood with its ventral surface uppermost , its body resting on its legs as on a
tripod
of eight parts .
at all times harvestmen are subject to attacks of parasite and to the adherence of of passengers that use them as a means of transport . commonest among the parasites is the small red mite ,
, which often occurs on other animals as well . these mites hold on by there probosces to the body or legs , and often three , four or five mites maybe found on the same harvestman . internal parasite , such as nematode worms and gregarines , also occur .
, which may sometimes be found holding to the legs of flies . it does not very often make use of the harvestman in this way , but in september 1936 i caught on successive days two specimens of
like spiders and other arthropoda , harvestmen grow by a periodic casting of
skin
or exoskeleton . the harvestman hands itself up by its fourth legs and begins a series of convulsive wriggles which split the skin . the chelicerae and the femora of the legs immediately spring out of the gap , followed by the rest of the body , which draws the legs after it . the final freeing of the legs is done is done by the palpi and chelicerae . the former hold the bundle of legs together under the mouth and support the out - drawn limbs ; the chelicerae grasp the legs and pull them out , so that the leg - bundle bows out into a circle and all the limbs are preened and kneaded by the jaws as they pass . this preening continues for some hours after the moult is accomplished .
with a long series of young harvestmen that arrived in a colleague ' s bathroom during the spring of 1937 , i noticed the interval between the moults averaged ten days . once the animal was seen to be eating its cast skin , but this appears to be exceptional , and is certainly not the custom of harvestmen that are otherwise well fed .
spiders and other arthropoda often show at the time of moulting the power of regenerating limbs which have been lost . harvestmen appear to be unique among the arachnida in being unable to recover lost limbs in this way . even the short pedipalpi are not reproduced in two or three moults . the wound left by the lost limb is closed and the animal remains short for the rest of its life .
observes that if a limb is lost at the trochanter in early youth , the growth of the coxa ceases and remains
like a thin sausage among its neighbours
. if only the tarsal joints are lost , the rest remains in use .
it is curious that animals which lose the legs so readily should be unable to regenerate them in the same way as their relatives can . if a spider ' s leg is crushed or cut , the stump is seized by the chelicerae and pulled off ; but harvestmen do not do this . i have met individuals with injured legs that dragged helplessly and hampered the animals movements , but which were never amputated .
one of the most striking differences between spiders and harvestmen lies in the relation between the sexes . spiders mate rarely and give us the impression of a serious process , not without risks , to be undertaken only after elaborate courtship . harvestmen mate freely and frequently , even in captivity ; there is no courtship either visual or tactile , and the sexes unite almost as soon as they meet . their union only occupies a few moments , and both partners , wandering on , are
to mate again , either with each other or other inhabitants of the cage . the species of
are particularly insatiable , and when well fed spend the evening in no other occupation .
it has been reported that at the breeding season the males fight
bloodless battles
with each other , and this has been witnessed many time . i have never witnessed anything of the kind in my laboratory , even when the number of harvestmen in a cage gave opportunity and encouragement for such a display . on the contrary i have seen two
approach a female simultaneously , and while one of them mated with her the other stood by and awaited the opportunity of which he availed himself as soon as his rival had moved .
harvestmen are known to lay their eggs underground . early in august 1935 a harvestman in one of my cages laid her eggs in the water provided for drinking , and this fact led me to believe that oviposition is stimulated by moisture in much the same way as several malodorous compounds stimulate egg - laying in blow - flies . accordingly , i placed in a cage a shallow tray of moist sand and by the end of the month found that three batches of eggs had been laid under the sand . the females usually die very soon after they have laid their eggs , but the males survive them .
the eggs are pale - green spheres , rather less than half a millimeter in diameter , not adhering to each other and not covered or protected in any way . i have found that eggs of odiellus spinosus laid in november hatch early in the following february , producing tiny harvestmen , their bodies smaller than a pin ` s head . i have fed them on moist bread - crumbs and mutton fat , which they ate , but they seem to be difficult to rear .
the two thousand known species of harvestmen are divided into three sub - orders , only one of which , known as palpatores , is represented in the british fauna . it has been divided into two tribes ,
, the former of which contains four families , two only of which are british , and the latter one . the separation of our harvestmen into families is therefore an easy task , accomplished thus : -
this ' taxonomy ' may need checking - many times additional families are defined - probably best to present two or three popular schemes side by side .
, for they lack the forwardly directed hood , they have longer legs and their eyes are borne on an ocular tubercle . moreover , the second segment of the chelicerae is vertical and not horizontal . their abdomens , however , retain nine tergites and ten sternites ; the last three tergites are free , while the rest are united with those of the cephalothorax to form a continuous dorsal shield , and the corona analis consists consists of four sclerites , as in the
. also , as in that family the pedipalpal tarsus is shorter than the tibia and has no terminal claw ; while the genitalia show the shorter ovipositor and immovable glans penis .
the structural features which are characteristic of the family are the large size of the genital operculum , the existence of false articulations on the femora and the absence of the gnathites from the coxae of the second legs . the most remarkable feature is the form of the setae on the pedipalpi . these setae end in minute spherical knobs , giving them a drumstick appearance which is found in no other british harvestmen . the terminal sphere is produced by a secretion : immediately after casting of a skin the new setae are of ordinary appearance , and the spherical tip only appears after the lapse of some time . incidentally , too , the knob is invisible on limbs mounted in canada balsam - evidently the substance of which they are composed has the same refractive index .
have caused some confusion about their occurrence on the british isles over the years .
might possibly be present in the east nevertheless , but overlooked . so , although to our present knowledge
the general appearance and colouring of both species makes them immediately recognizable and distinct from other genera . the small rotund body , 2 . 5mms . long , with rather short legs , and its prevailing black colour with two large white patches on the cephalothorax , are quite distinctive . in some specimens the patches are pale yellow , sometimes they are cream - coloured and sometimes silvery . although somewhat variable the shape of the patches is a good indication for the species : indented for
. the legs are strong ; in colour they are dark with paler metatarsi and tarsi . the dorsal side of the femora of the 4th pair of legs bears strong denticulations on
the sexes can be fairly easily distinguished by a close look at the chelicerae , as on the males these carry extra characters . on
is found everywhere in the british isles , including the channel islands and orkney and several other small islands . it also occurs on the tops of mountains at heights above 2 , 500 feet ; and abroad it extends over the whole of europe from the arctic to the mediterranean .
does not seem to resemble the last very closely , but like it , it is easy to recognize . its body is 3 mms . long , but its pedipalpi are twice this length , a peculiarity that makes it at once identifiable . the peculiar knobbed setae on the pedipalpi have been mentioned above . the dorsal sclerites of the abdomen are a rich yellow - brown colour , dotted with small silvery or golden spots and carrying denticulae on the hinder edges . the legs are relatively longer than those of the last species .
may be found at all times of the year , even in midwinter . it occurs all over britain , has been recorded from inverness and in wales accompanies
to the tops of the mountains of snowdonia . there is only one record from ireland . abroad , it extends all over europe .
group of m . chrysomelas . inset : 2 stages of juveniles ( not to scale ) found at the same time .
and the variability within the whole ranges would not render enough distinctiveness . nevertheless many recent references such as
is the only species found in britain and it was only discovered relatively recently , in the 1980 ' s . yet , like the continental
- species , it is believed to be a relict of the
tertiary
geologic period rather than a new introduction . since it ' s discovery it has been found scattered over various sites , mostly in the south of wales .
the species of sabacon are found in moist , cool habitats , high altitudes or temperate climates . they prefer woodland , especially wet , shaded dingles , and can be found under decaying logs and in leaf litter . they are sometimes found in caves .
are the most primitive harvestmen found in this country . they have always been described as very rare , but they lead inconspicuous lives generally in chalky places . a sufficiently careful search among fallen beach leaves would almost certainly reveal them in many localities in the south of england .
the chief outward character of the family is , as mentioned above , the existence of a hood extending forward from the cephalothorax and covering the chelicerae and palpi . there is no ocular tubercle , the eyes lying flat on the surface of the carapace . the body is protected above by a shield formed from the fused tergites of the cephalothorax and the first six segments of the abdomen , the posterior edge of the sixth forming the apparent end of the body as seen from above . the seventh tergite is a narrow transverse strip forming the posterior surface ; the eighth and ninth lie at the sides of the anus , forming with the small oval tenth part of the corona analis .
on the ventral side the first abdominal sternite is a small vestige dorsal to the genital operculum , which is composed of the second and third sternites . this is followed by four normal and separate sternites , numbers 4 to 7 . the eighth and ninth form a narrow plate in front of the anus . the tenth is missing .
in having a short tarsus without a claw . the legs are much shorter than is usual among the opiliones and the tarsi are composed of 2 , 2 , 3 and 3 pieces only . the coxae are immovable and all are fused together , forming a strong nearly semicircular piece on each side of the lower surface . those of the first legs carry gnathobases separated from the fixed part by a strip of softer membrane which gives them some mobility . the second pair of coxae have no such gnathobases .
the reproduction are also different in this family . the ovipositor is a short broad tube , without the rings that characterize it in the
, and terminating in a pair of very short forceps . the penis has not the so - called
glandular
part at the end .
is 6mm long , its body narrow and flattened , with short rather robust legs . its general colour is brown , but the tarsi are darker . the single shield over its dorsal surface and the concealment of the chelicerae and pedipalpi under the hood makes this and the next unlike the other british harvestmen in general appearance . in addition it moves slowly and is habitually covered with pieces of dirt . the younger stages are a striking violet colour . it occurs only in the south of england , save for a single record in buxton . it is commoner in europe .
is a smaller animal , 3 . 5mms . long , darker in colour and not so flattened in appearance . it has the same general appearance of
and is just as dirty . both the species are probably to be found in an adult state at all seasons . records of
have come from the south - coast as well as surrey , warwick and derby , and from north and south wales .
the most obvious feature which distinguishes the group are the length of the legs . the legs of the second pair , which are always the longest , are at least five times as long as the body , sometimes seven or eight times as long , and in a few species even longer than this . in addition as well as those of the first pair the second pair also carry gnathobases which are rudimentary or absent in the
more careful examination shows a further reduction in the number of somites . on the dorsal surface of the abdomen eight tergites are only present , followed by the anal operculum : on the ventral surface there are five sternites behind the genital plates . these are numbers 3 to 7 , and the edge of the seventh borders the anus , which is terminal and not ventral . the first tergites are more or less closely united ; the last three are free and can often be seen to be distinct and to form as it were a short triangular
tail .
this however , depends on the sex of the animal , the state of repletion or hunger , and of the development of the eggs in the ovary .
in addition to these , the claw on the palpal tarsus , the teeth or setae on the palpal femur and the spur on the firs segment of the chelicerae are features which are important because they are used in separating the sub - families which the group contains .
. for example , the cephalothorax and first five abdominal segments are covered by a single shield and the segments behind the fifth are sharply bent down to form the posterior and part of the ventral surface . the true first sternite is clearly to be seen in this group , where it is represented by two plates of chitin in front of the genital operculum . the curious row of four blunt tubercles on the posterior edge of the fifth tergite make the sub - family unmistakable .
is our only species of the sub - family and is recognizable by the characteristic pattern , composed of four rows of dark squarish spots each with a lighter tubercle in the middle . the two central longitudinal rows , each of four spots , are generally more clearly marked than the row on each side , which also consists of four spots . besides the four posterior tubercles , there is a central beak - like tooth on the fore - edge of the cephalothorax : in some some specimens it bears small lateral spines . the setae on the legs are broad and blunt , rather more like blades than spikes .
, has sharper tubercles on the abdomen , spines on the tibiae , and a second tooth , directed downwards , below the beak of the cephalothorax .
is a southern species , on record for ten english counties of which worcestershire is the most northerly . it has not been found in ireland or scotland . its also occurs in south europe and north africa .
is 3 or 4 mms . long and the second leg is about 60mms . long , or nearly twenty times the length of the body . the segmentation of the abdomen is almost indistinguishable , as the exoskeleton is smooth and devoid of all but the smallest denticulae . the ocular tubercle is smooth and spineless . the claw of the pedipalp , as in
are very common in long grass in early autumn , and a striking feature is the speed with which they move . a harvestman when once seen does not often evade capture , but with
closer attention than most other is called for . no harvestmen live communal lives , but
in particular is liable to congregate in numbers where the conditions are favourable . in devon i have found clumps of thirty or forty individuals , none of them paying much attention to the others .
is at once betrayed by the length of its black legs . the body of the female , 5 to 7 mms . long , is a smooth oval shape , brown in colour , with a dark median dorsal band which is broadest posteriorly . the ocular tubercle is smooth and each eye is surrounded by a black ring .
the body of the male is smaller and more rounded , and its uniform red - brown colouring is unrelieved by an median or other marking . this species occurs all over england , wales and ireland , as well as the channel islands ; and extends to the canaries and to africa .
is closely allied to the foregoing , but the body of the female is usually a little smaller . it is easily distinguished by a white line or band which runs forward from the ocular tubercle to the edge of the cephalothorax , and , more conspicuously , by a white band circling each eye . the abdominal markings of the female are like those of
there are no spines on the ocular tubercle , no trident is present , and a claw can be seen on the pedipalp .
i have known specimens so bright so that at a little distance they were at first mistaken for ladybirds .
, but its actual records are not so numerous . it is found in western europe , but not in africa .
. it can further be distinguished from the two foregoing species by a dark spot at the distal end of each coxa , by its pale trochanters without lateral teeth , the shorter leggs ( pale brownish with yellow annulations ) and by the two rows of small denticulae on the ocular tubercle .
, adult male , december 2008 . note that the whole animal is quite dark , including the ocularium that would usually be more silvery .
( 1988 ) has the species in britain only on a number of 10km squares , with maybe a slight preference for coastal areas . there are no records from northern ireland , but some from the republic . it seems to be recorded from quite diverse habitats , but often in grassy situations and on walls . outside of britain the species is known from northern spain and france to denmark and sweden , but rare and scattered mostly everywhere .
adults can be expected from july onward , but probably won ' t make it through the winter - their eggs will hatch in the following spring .
the systematic place seems to be somewhat ' open for discussion ' . the species is also often placed in the subfamily
is a quite long legged species , with especially the second pair reaching up to 5 cm , stretched out sideways in a peculiar manner when resting . the bodies of the males has a length of up to 4 mm long and females up to 6 mm . the patellae of the pedipalpi carry a distinct elongated apophysis that reaches almost to the end of the tibia . this makes the pedipalpi look forked . their body is brownish with dark markings , the females being lighter colored .
the forked pedipalps and the resting posture , with the legs stretched to the sides , makes this species easy to identify , although the traditional method of collecting invertebrates does not prove adequate : of 103 individuals captured in belgium , only one was found in a pitfall ; all others were collected by hand .
adults can be found from august to november , mostly in gardens and on outer walls , but sometimes also inside .
this group , characterized by a small ventral tooth on the basal segment of the chelicerae and a trident of spines near the front of the cephalothorax , is the largest of the british sub - families . its eight species include some of the commonest of our harvestmen , as well as the only ones which require fairly minute examination to determine the identity of the species . moreover , some of the specific features are developed only when the animal is mature so that , as is usually the case with spiders , immature specimens may be difficult to name .
is a very distinctive animal . the female , which is 8 mms . long , is a creamy yellow colour and the median dorsal band is deep brown or black . the band is produced forwards along the center of the cephalothorax , where it is wider in front . the two portions of the band thus produce an hour - glass like pattern which is not difficult to recognize . it often has a pale median longitudinal stripe . the legs and pedipalp are a dull yellow with brown marks . the femur of the pedipalp bears a short blunt apophysis , covered with setae . the ocular tubercle slopes slightly backwards and the spines of the trident are very small and wide apart .
the male is 5 mms . long and squarer in appearance . its legs and pedipalpi are much darker than those of the female and the whole creature is more nearly black in colour , save for its transverse rows of white denticulae . in fact the sexes differ more in this harvestman than in any other british species .
, is an upland variety in which the first tibiae are more strongly armed with spines and the third metatarsi in the male are thickened in the middle . the other ,
, has no spines on its legs and the dorsal band is longitudinally divided by a pale strip .
is found all over the british isles as far as the orkney ' s . it reaches the summit of our highest mountains , is the only harvestman recorded from greenland , and also exists in iceland and spitzbergen . it crosses the whole of europe to siberia and on to china and persia ( iran ) , and is also found in north america .
is an extremely abundant species and easy to identify . its abdominal pattern is based on a greyish silvery background , with brown and often reddish markings . the medial dorsal band is usually well - defined and has yellow , brown or red edges . it is this tendency to a red colour that provides the first means of identification . on the ventral side the genital operculum supplies the second : a small semicircular notch on its anterior margin , as if a bite had been taken out of it .
the legs are not long and their femora are rounded , a fact the helps to distinguish this species from the next . the trident of spines , a feature of this sub - family which is a great help in distinguishing the species , is as described in a comparative note below . the species is widespread all over britain , and in europe generally .
, is duller in colour without the red tinge in its markings , and the genital operculum is smoothly rounded in front . the femora of its legs are angular . this species is as widespread as the above .
the third member of the sister - genera , is not so commonly found nor so widely distributed . it is about the same size as the other two , the female being 6 mms . long , and the make 4 mms . long . it has the rounded genital operculum of
is a most interesting species , recognizable at a glance . its body is large , 9 . 5 mms . long in the female , 7 mms . in the male , and broader in proportion than is customary , so that the animal has a flattened appearance , similar to that of crab spiders , as if it were accustomed to hide itself in crevices . the three spines of the trident are broad , bluntly pointed and lie almost horizontally , projecting forwards over the edge of the cephalothorax from a small area of chitin , which is readily separable from the rest of the carapace . the denticulae on the ocular tubercle are very small . the median band on the abdomen is sharply and squarely terminated behind .
this is a southern species , its most northerly record so far being lancashire . it is a peculiar creature , more often found in gardens and cultivated places than in wilder surroundings . it extends to spain , italy and algeria .
is much smaller , the female being only 5 mms . long , and the male 3 . 5mms . the median dorsal band is broad and has almost parallel sides - it is obsolete in some specimens - and the abdomen on which it lies is quite smooth . the short legs are of a pale - brown colour , ringed with dark bands - an obvious recognition mark . the pedipalpi also help to identify this species , for the patella has a short apophysis covered with setae . the denticulae on the ocular tubercle are long and pointed .
, the smallest of the sub - family , is 3 . 7 mms . long in the female and 2 mms . long in the male . the medial dorsal band is often composed of a number of confluent spots and the abdomen , in contrast to that of
, has a conspicuous rows of strong white teeth on the edge of each segment . the trident has a very long central spine . it is the only harvestman peculiar to britain .
is between 5 and 6 mms . long . it bears a more distinct pattern than most , for its abdomen is a creamy yellow , bearing a strongly marked median band of dark brown or black with parallel sides . the band is sharply and squarely truncated behind , as in
; and in fact the two species bear a distinct general resemblance , as if one were a smaller version of the other . this species may be further identified by the small size of the denticulae on the ocular tubercle , and , in addition , the femora , patellae and tibiae are darkened at there distal ends .
has a widespread distribution in england , scotland , wales and ireland . in europe it reaches austria and italy .
as stated above , the differences in the form of the trident provide valuable help in characterizing the species of this group . in two species ,
, with its broad spines , the distinctive character is obvious under a hand lens . for the other species a microscope is helpful .
they are equal in length . in the four remaining species the three spines are set in a straight line . in