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What Do Baby Stink Bugs Look Like – Important Tips

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Baby stink bugs are similar to adults, which come in different colors and sizes. The size of the adults ranges from 3 1/8 of to 1 inch in length, depending on the species.

Typically, these insects can be found throughout the U.S. and thrive since they have no natural enemies to control the population. Many adult bed bug types are considered pests since they feed on home crops.

Others are considered beneficial because they eat other parasites. Continue reading to know what do baby stink bugs look like?

What Do Baby Stink Bugs Look Like
It’s Baby Stink Bug Season! via Flickr

Growth of The Baby Stink Bugs

The growth of the baby sink bugs is through the process called incomplete metamorphosis. The life cycle has three life stages, namely egg, nymph, and adult. As nymphs grow, they need to molt where they peel off the outer shell of their body, called the exoskeleton.

Molting offers space for the nymph to become large. The baby stink bugs molt about five times before reaching adulthood. During the final molting, they develop wings and are later considered adults.

What Do Baby Stink Bugs Look Like?

Although the adult stink bugs are shaped like a shield, the baby stink bugs look different. They go through five stages before reaching adulthood.

The eggs usually hatch after 3-5 days, and each stage lasts about one week before reaching their final molting stage of adulthood. Baby stink bugs often feed on a host plant, where they molt until they move into a new food source. There are different species with different colors like:

1. Brown baby stink bugs

The U.S. is home to two primary species: brown baby stink bugs and green baby stink bugs. The brown baby stink bugs usually look dark around their head with black and orange/red striped body.

When the bugs pass to the nymphal stage, the body turns rusty red with black spots. Typically, the shape is similar to a mite, as the bug looks more oval with the red eyes.

Brown baby stink bugs What Do Baby Stink Bugs Look Like
Newly hatched eggs Brown stink bugs via Wikimedia
Brown stink bugs What Do Baby Stink Bugs Look Like
Adult Brown stink bugs via Wikimedia

2. Green baby stink bugs

Green baby stink bugs are more oval and predominantly black before turning yellow, green, and red as every molt moves the bug close to adulthood. No species can fly during young development.

Green baby stink bugs What Do Baby Stink Bugs Look Like
Nymph, early instar Stink bugs via Wikimedia
Green stink bugs What Do Baby Stink Bugs Look Like
Adult Green stink bugs via Wikimedia

What Do Baby Stink Bugs Smell Like?

The baby stink bugs smell is considered pungent. It is a smell, which is not strong like coriander. Many people do not know that the bugs’ smell comes from the chemicals found in various food additives. Of course, every species has a unique scent, which smells like the herbs’ mixture.

The chemicals in the scent of baby stink bugs are the same as cilantro. Fortunately, the smell of spices and herbs is not as bad as that of other animals and insects, which can go for hours.

Typically, if you suck the bug in the vacuum, it will also smell strongly inside. The adult, the flying stink bugs, gets out of danger when attacked, but still smells.

How Do You Get Rid of Baby Stink Bugs?

1. Keep the yard and surrounding areas free of debris and clean

The first thing you need to get rid of baby stink bugs is to remove the nearby overgrowth of weeds, as they are often used as a cover. Likewise, remove various hiding places such as logs, old boards, among others.

2. Seal or close all entries

If the baby stink bugs are a problem at home, you can take this step to keep them away. Make sure all windows and doors are covered with the screen.

Many people have also managed to rub their windows with the dryer sheets. This is more aromatic and also very important to combat these pests.

Because they are attracted to the light, they can help to close blinds or shades at night. You can fill any openings or cracks with caulk. Using insect repellants near the entrances can also help to control these pests.

3. Use natural repellant in the garden

Because these pests eat the garden plants and lay eggs there, you can spray them with the kaolin clay solution to control baby stink bugs.

This prevents them from laying eggs (because they will not attach) and eating the plants. Also, it is safe for plants because it involves the wash off and edible plants.

You can try to use pheromone sprays outside the house to repel baby stink bugs. This would be a short-term answer. At home, cedar sprays can help to control these pests.

4. Encourage the benefits of the garden

Baby stink bugs have many natural predators. You can reduce their numbers by enticing these helpful creatures to the zone. The common enemies of these bugs are praying mantises, minute pirate bugs, ladybugs, parasitic flies, lacewings, toads, spiders, and birds.

5. Place trap plants

Using decoy plants around the yard is best to keep bed bugs away from your more valuable garden plants.

They flock around the trap plants that can be removed, put in the garbage bag, and then left in the sun for some days before being thoroughly disposed of. Plants fond of baby stink bugs include sweet corn, Amaranth, okra, and mustard sunflower.

6. Include traps around the house

As bait, you can use the traps around the house to get rid of baby stink bugs. Pheromone traps are available that can naturally attract them.

Once trapped, these baby stink bugs can’t get out, but at one point, they will die. Place the traps in shrubs/trees or other hardy plants near your garden or home in early spring.

Make sure to position them so that the bottom and top of the traps are close to the plant. In this way, the baby stink bugs will be trapped and will not escape. You can also hang traps in stakes every 6 to 10 meters in your garden.

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Conclusion

Baby stink bugs hatch from the eggs under the leaves. They change five times before becoming adults and are very different at each stage. Typically, depending on their species, they may look different until they are adults.