"That stinks..........!"

This creature showed up, uninvited, in my kitchen and was preceded by several relatives since October.

You just never know who will show up at your front door, or invite themselves in for a little warmth and rest. Since the late 1990's the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys) has been increasing it's presence in the states east of the Mississippi River and the Pacific Coast states.  The BMSB damages fruit by piercing the fruit with it's beak which produces a non-sellable mark on fruits such as apples and peaches. A true bug, this insect has the distinctive "shield" shape of all stink bugs and emits a foul odor when handled or disturbed. The alternate brown/white markings of the feelers and body margins distinguish this stink bug from those bugs native to the US. The BMSB is a native of China, Korea, Taiwan and Japan and damages fruits, vegetables and farm crops as well as becomes a pest by seeking cold weather shelter in homes and buildings. The best way to prevent these invaders from taking up residence in your living room is by sealing entry points and removing existing visitors with a vacuum.