10 Invasive Stink Bugs and Related Species (Pentatomoidea)
populations of the three most recent invasive pentatomoids, Bagrada hilaris, Halyomorpha halys, and
Megacopta cribraria.
1.9.1 History of Invasive Pentatomoids in America North of Mexico
1.9.1.1 Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister), Bagrada Bug or Painted Bug
This species (Chapter 3) was described by Burmeister as Cimex hilaris in 1835 (p. 368). Although the
locality was not given, and the type was lost, Fabricius had described the same species in 1775. But the
name he proposed, Cimex pictus, was invalid because it was a primary homonym of Cimex pictus Drury
(1770). The locality of this specimen was given as India.
This stink bug, which somewhat resembles a small harlequin bug, has an Old World distribution of
Asia (including India), Africa, southern Europe, and the Middle East (Taylor et al. 2015). First reported
in the United States from southern California in June 2008, Bagrada hilaris has extended its range
north and south in California and east to Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas
(Reed et al. 2013).
Bagrada hilaris prefers cruciferous crops (Halbert and Eger 2010, Reed et al. 2013) and has reached
economic importance in California and Arizona (Palumbo and Natwick 2010). It attacks broccoli, cab-
bage, cauliflower, kale, collards, and radish but also will injure sunflower, corn, and cotton, among others
(Reed et al. 2013).
1.9.1.2 Halyomorpha halys (Stål), Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
This Asian species (Chapter 4) was described by Stål as Pentatoma halys in 1855 from China (p. 182)
and now is considered a recent invasive in Europe (Rabitsch 2008, Milonas and Partsinevelos 2014) and
North America (Hoebeke and Carter 2003, Fogain and Graff 2011). It first was reported in the United
States by Hoebeke and Carter in 2003 from sightings in Allentown, PA, in fall 1996 (Adams Island),
September 1998, and January 1999. It has spread rapidly in the intervening years and now occurs in more
than 41 states and the District of Columbia (Leskey et al. 2012, Wallner et al. 2014) and in Ontario and
Quebec, Canada (Fogain and Graff 2011). It is highly polyphagous, feeding on a wide variety of agri-
cultural and nonagricultural plants including ornamentals, hardwood trees, field crops, tree and small
fruits, vegetables, and wild plants (Nielsen and Hamilton 2009, Wallner et al. 2014). It also is considered
a significant nuisance because it overwinters in houses, garages, offices, and other similar enclosures
(Inkley 2012, Leskey et al. 2012).
1.9.1.3 Megacopta cribraria (F.), Kudzu Bug
This species (Chapter 5), although not a stink bug, is member of the pentatomoid family Plataspidae.
Described by Fabricius as Cimex cribraria in 1798 from India (p. 531), it later was reported from various
localities in Asia and the Indian subcontinent (Eger et al. 2010). It first was reported in the United States
in 2009 from Georgia and, as of 2012, had spread to seven states in the Southeast (Ruberson et al. 2013)
and, as of 2013, as far north as Maryland and the District of Columbia (Leslie 2014). The preferred host
plants are kudzu and soybeans, both of which are legumes.
1.9.1.4 Murgantia histrionica (Hahn), Harlequin Bug
This species (Chapter 6) apparently was the first invasive stink bug for the United States and certainly
the first for which substantial records are available. Described by Hahn as Strachia histrionica in 1834
from Mexico (p. 116), it first was reported in the United States by Walsh (1866) from specimens col-
lected in 1864 from Washington Co., TX. Its spread was monitored closely after its detection because