This is a stinky situation.
A new study warned that “invasive” stink bugs are spreading quickly, and the “foul-smelling invaders” could become more widespread around the country.
Scientists from Washington State University warned that the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), a “foul-smelling, voracious, wide-spread pest,” is already “readily established throughout much of the United States.” But thanks to climate change, suitable habitats for the pest could increase further, by about 70%.
“Invasive species threaten the productivity and stability of natural and managed ecosystems,” authors wrote in the study, published in the journal Pest Management Science.
“Every system will change with climate change,” lead author Javier Gutierrez Illan said in a statement.
“So the fact that you can grow garbanzo beans, lentils or wheat without these pests now, doesn’t mean that you will not have them in a few years.”
The study, which took place in 17 states over a three-year period, found that the mid-Atlantic areas surrounding the Great Lakes and several areas in California and Idaho will be adversely affected as the stinker moves “northward.”
The stink bugs appeared in the US about 20 years ago and have spread to nearly 46 states and are classified as a pest in 15 states.
According to researchers, the stinky pest’s spread may have been aided by humans who inadvertently transported the bugs in vehicles to new places they could not reach otherwise.
The stink bugs appeared in the US about 20 years ago and have spread to nearly 46 states and are classified as a pest in 15 states. Getty ImagesWhile stink bugs are not deadly to humans, according to Terminix.com, as they cannot bite or sting, they can release liquids that smell like burnt tires or cilantro and could cause nausea and vomiting if the liquid is swallowed.
Many homeowners may find the bugs inside during the winter, researchers noted, but the pest is an “herbivore” and “known to feast on nearly 170 different plants including crops and ornamental plants.”
The study, which took place in 17 states over a three-year period, found that the mid-Atlantic areas surrounding the Great Lakes and several areas in California and Idaho will be adversely affected as the stinker moves “northward.” Getty Images
According to the study, the stink bug is showing an inclination to move northward as temperatures increase. Wiley Online LibraryStink bugs have been shown to react adversely to cold weather but due to rising global temperatures and global warming, scientists fear a potential stink bug population explosion.
“By analyzing future climate scenarios, we showed that BMSB populations have a large potential to continue to expand within the US, and particularly northward,” the scientists wrote.
“There are mitigating things that we can do, but it is wise to prepare for change,” added Illan.
