January 6, 2012

Hi there- my name is Stinky!
I was quite surprised to find that many of the insects I have photographed in the past two years are actually Stink Bugs in various stages of their life cycle.
The following is part of an article copied from www.stinkbugsguide.com

"These insects get their name from a foul-smelling liquid that they produce. They use the smell as a defensive mechanism. If a stink bug is mishandled or threatened it can release the liquid from specialized glands. The smell is suppose to prevent the bug from being hurt or eaten. The liquid is also released when the bugs are squashed. Though the smell is strong, it usually can be removed with simple soap and water. As with many other bugs, stink bugs go through a life cycle. Female stink bugs lay eggs on the under side of leaves. Once the eggs hatch, they are called stink bug nymphs. The nymphs look a lot like the adults, but are wingless. Finally, after about 4-5 weeks, the bugs become full adults equipped with wings. One female stink bug can produce up to 5,000 bugs in two generations.

There are many different types of stink bugs. Most stink bugs have a brown, green, or gray coloring. These bugs can easily blend into their surroundings to hide from predators. Some stink bugs, such as the Harlequin Bug, have bright coloration to ward off would be predators."