Stink Bugs in Ohio

Stink Bugs are an invasive species that have only been in the United States for 25 years. In Ohio there are a variety of species of stink bugs and below are nine of the stink bugs in Ohio.

vertical photo of an Anchor Stink Bug, black and white color, on a green leaf

About Stink Bugs In Ohio

Whilst some Stink Bugs do indeed stink, some of them do not stink at all. Stink Bugs tend to only spray when they are nervous or feel threatened as a defense mechanism.

All of them will stink if you do decide to squash them! Some stink bugs can have a nibble as well. If they do, it feels like a nip and only lasts a few seconds.

Cindy’s Insider Ohio Tips!

The only advice I can really give anyone about stink bugs is ‘leave them alone!’ If you don’t want your sense of smell assaulted, you will take my advice!

Stink Bugs in Ohio

There are quite a few species of stink bugs in Ohio, we have taken a look into the habits of nine of them.

Rough Stink Bugs

Brochymena Quadripustulata

Rough Stink Bugs are a brown-gray color with orange spots. This species is one of the most common that can be found in Ohio. They also like to eat 18 different types of plants. The issue with this stink bug is that some of the crops that they like to eat include cereals like corn. They also like to eat fruit such as peaches and apples.

The Rough Stink Bug will eat at the edge of the crops and will not go too far into the fields of crops. The Rough Stink Bug tends to be seen in the warmer months, but due to the time it has spent in Ohio, it has also adapted to colder temperatures.

On rare occasions, they can be seen in homes, but it is not all bad news. They will not feed and reproduce in the home and once it gets warmer, they will go outside.

horizontal photo of a brown marmorated stink bug on a green pepper

Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs

Halyomorpha Halys

The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is brown on top and has a whitish area at the bottom of the body. Colors have been known to vary with this species, so don’t be surprised to see some individuals who may be copper, red, or grey. All individuals have a blunt head and pale ring on each leg.

Unfortunately, this stink bug is up there amongst the biggest pests in Ohio. It was first seen in the United States in 1998 and it was believed to be brought over in a shipping container from either China or Japan. Since they decided to make the US their home, the population has exploded as they like warm weather, and up to five generations of this stink bug can be produced in one summer.

The favorite habitat of this stink bug is places like parks, gardens, and farm fields. They like to eat all sorts of crops including various fruits and cereals. They can leave the plants diseased after they have eaten them as well. Not yet used to Ohio’s cold winters, when it starts to cool, they will try to make their way indoors.

They can get into your homes via doors, windows, and air vents. Fortunately though, they do not seem to harm humans, or pets or spread disease. One note of caution, try not to squash them or pick them up as they do stink when they spray and the odor is quite foul.

Black-and-Red Stink Bugs

Cosmopepla Lintneriana

The Black-and-Red Stink Bug has a very black body and two spots of red on the body. In some individuals, this color can also be orange. At the top of the abdomen, there is a band as that is normally red, but just as with the spots, some individuals will have an orange band.

This stink bug is not just in Ohio, but in all other parts of the United States as well.

They eat crops, and this can be a nuisance. These stink bugs like to eat mint, asparagus, and oats. They also like to feast on the milkweed plant and these are the most common stink bugs that you will find on this plant.

Spined Soldier Stink Bugs

Podisus Maculiventris

The Spined Soldier Bug is brown and with yellow legs. The Spined Soldier Bug is one of the stink bugs that is beneficial as they like to eat different bugs. Their name is also a clue to their behavior as they do behave like soldiers as they protect their surroundings.

This species of stink bug is common throughout Ohio and if you do have these guys in your garden, then they will do nothing but benefit your garden.

For food, they like to eat the larvae of different beetles and caterpillars. The larvae that they eat are considered to be an annoyance to gardeners. The other string that it has to its bow is that it will not harm plants.

Two-Spotted Stink Bugs

Perillu Bioculatus

The Two-Spotted Stink Bug can vary in color. Some individuals will have a white body, some will have a yellow body and some even have a black and red body. To the untrained eye, they can be difficult to spot, but one thing that all of these individuals do have in common is that their beak is twice as thick as their antennae.

Two-Spotted Stink Bugs have a unique mark on their backs that looks similar to a keyhole and they have two spots on their backs. If you remember about the keyhole and two spots, then they are easier to spot.

These stink bugs are very helpful in the garden as they love to feast on critters that are a nuisance for gardeners. This stink bug species is cannibalistic, so they will eat other species of stink bugs and other insects like beetles and caterpillars.

The beak of the Two-Spotted Stink bug is very strong, in fact, it can even crack the shells of nuts. This beak is important to them as they use it to paralyze their prey before they eat them.

horizontal photo of a rice stink bug on a leaf

Rice Stink Bugs

Oebalus Pugnax

The Rice Stink Bug is of a pale color and it has a yellow mark on its back that looks similar to a triangle. A previous couple of Stink Bugs above in this article are helpful to gardeners and farmers. Unfortunately, The Rice Stink Bug is not one of them.

Image credit: Judy Gallagher on Flickr

The Rice Stink Bug is a huge pest to rice crops. They eat the rice, and then to add insult to injury, they damage to seed head so no more rice can be produced and they can leave behind disease as well.

This stink bug also attacks other crops such as wheat, barley, and oat. They are quite mobile and they can live in colonies. They have a similar effect on crops as locusts. If you want to look out for these stink bugs, they can be found in large grass patches and in wild areas.

Anchor Stink Bugs

Stiretrus Anchorago

The Anchor Stink Bug can be quite difficult to identify as its color and patterns vary among its individuals. Some of them can be black, some can be orange and some can be bright pink. One thing they do have that can help identify them is that they all have a U-shaped pattern on the abdomen.

The best place to see these stink bugs is where there are various different plants like coneflowers.

This stink bug does have its uses. For example, they like to feast on some caterpillars that can be pests like the Mexican Bean.

Black Stink Bugs

Proxys Punctulatus

The Black Stink Bug can have quite easy characteristics to spot. They are black with black and cream legs. They have one white spot in the center of their shield and they have quite pointy shoulders. Investigations into these stink bugs indicate they do not harm crops and they can be found throughout Ohio.

Not only does it look like they do not harm crops, but studies have shown that Black Stink Bugs are actually quite useful. It looks like they go after beetles and caterpillars that are known to be a nuisance in gardens and on crop fields.

They like to feast on insect larvae and they can be found in fields that have fruit, cereal crops, and soybean.

This stink bug does like plant juice, but its population is not too large right now, so this is not considered to be a problem. In the winter months, they like to hibernate in colonies and can be found in old logs and tree stumps.

Blue Shield Stink Bugs

Zicrona Caerulea

The Blue Shieldbug has a very attractive blue shield with a green tinge. When they are at the nymph stage, they look very similar to ladybugs. These stink bugs are very pretty, but a lot of people who do not have experience in the field of stink bugs think they look like beetles.

If you are on the lookout for these stink bugs, you can find them on the edges of lush forests and in wetland areas. They feed on plants and the larvae of insects such as moths, beetles, and caterpillars.

horizontal photo of a green burgundy stink bug on a green leaf

More Stink Bugs in Ohio

There are a few more species of stink bugs that have been identified, and there is at least one species that has been spotted but is currently unidentified. Here are some others that can be seen in Ohio:

Green Burgundy Stink Bug (Banasa Dimidiata)
Mormidea Lugens
Green Stink Bug (Chinavia Hilaris)
Southern Green Stink Bug (Nezara Viridula)
Red-Shouldered Stink Bug (Thyanta Custator)
Dusky Stink Bug (Euschistus Tristigmus)

Spotting Stink Bugs in Ohio

Have you spotted any of these stink bugs in your travels around Ohio? We’d love to know! Leave a comment below telling us about any of these listed stink bugs, or any others you have spotted.

If you are interested in other animals that call Ohio their home, check out this post on Caterpillars and Beetles!

There are also many Ticks in Ohio!

You can even get some information on Frogs In Ohio, Snakes in Ohio, and Garter Snakes in Ohio!

Hello! We have done our very best to ensure that the accuracy of events, hours, addresses, etc, are up to date. Please know that information can change due to weather, updated health and safety challenges, etc. If you find incorrect information, please send us an email at [email protected], and we can get it updated.

To be updated and stay connected, subscribe to our newsletter.

Stink Bugs in Ohio

About Stink Bugs In Ohio

Cindy’s Insider Ohio Tips!