The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has identified the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) as a new pest threatening Ontario landscapes. OMAFRA has confirmed that the insect has established breeding populations in Ontario and is successfully overwintering in homes in Hamilton, Toronto, Newboro and most recently Windsor.
In June and July, BMSB will be moving out of their overwintering sites and moving onto their host plants. Early in the season they will move to ornamental host plants such as buckthorn, tree of heaven and English holly. They may then turn to fruit and vegetable crops early to mid summer.
OMAFRA has put together a flyer to help with identification, as there are some other insects that may be mistaken for BMSB. Just click on BMSB-flyer.
Visit ontario.ca\stinkbug for additional photos, infosheets, ID postcards and potential management options.
If you think you have found BMSB, call the OMAFRA Agriculture Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or send an email to ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca.