HARRISBURG - The Kudzu bug is now in Maryland and Delaware. This
relative of the marmorated stink bug is moving north from Atlanta where is was
introduced into this country from China. Can Pennsylvania be far behind?
And like the marmorated stink bug, the kudzu bug also emits a
strong odor that some say smells like mercaptan, the chemical that is put into
natural gas and propane to make the gas detectable by smell.
The bug is attracted to white surfaces and is likely to be
brought into Pennsylvania hitchhiking on a white semi-trailer coming up from
the South. It will mass on houses, especially with white siding, but doesn’t seem
to want to come inside, like its marmorated stink bug relative.
The bug is a major soybean pest, but also is attracted to
wisteria. It is not known if it is attracted to other ornamentals.
For more information go to http://www.kudzubug.org/.
If you sight a kudzu bug, call the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at
717.772.5200.
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