A recent study found that climate change could make parts of America more palatable to brown marmorated stink bugs and lead to a sharp increase in the invasive pest.
Climate change has been found to cause a host of problems—everything from worsening natural disasters to affecting human health and changing weather conditions. Climate change can negatively affect animals in some areas, such as impacting polar bears in Arctic regions where ice is more prone to melt due to global warming. In other cases, climate change makes areas more appealing, such as with the brown marmorated stink bug, an invasive species from Asia that is now established in the United States and targets dozens of crops.
Researchers found that climate change could contribute to a 70 percent increase in suitable habitats for the pest. The study from Pest Management Science examined 543 sites over a three-year period and then estimated the stink bug's suitable habitat under various climate scenarios. Results found that the bug's habitat could increase greatly under various climate change scenarios.
"Many invasive insect species have wide host ranges and broad environmental tolerances, allowing them to rapidly expand their range in invaded regions," the study said. "Moreover, empirical evidence has shown that climate change has caused many species, including insects, to shift their native distributions or realized niche."
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a webpage about the insect that said it was introduced into the United States in the 1990s, where it likely stowed away on a shipping container. The Asia-native insect causes "major economic damage" to fruits, vegetables and field crops.
Brown marmorated stink bugs are most drawn to areas in the Mid-Atlantic region, the Great Lakes, southeastern states and valleys of the West Coast.
"These regions include highly productive croplands that are vulnerable to significant economic losses due to [brown marmorated stink bugs] each year," the study said.
Currently, the pests aren't much of a problem outside of the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, but that could change in the next 60 years if climate change makes other areas more habitable for the insect.
The study found that as climate change affects U.S. weather, there could be an increase in brown marmorated stink bugs in northern states. Other areas will see a decline in habitat suitability for the bug, such as some parts of the Sacramento Valley.
"According to our models, [the brown marmorated stink bug] may expand its range considerably in future decades, threatening crops in regions where it has not yet been detected," the study said.
The brown marmorated stink bug differs from other stink bugs, some of which are native to America. The brown marmorated stink bug can be identified by its brown coloring and banded brown and white antenna. True to their name, the insects, which can migrate indoors during the winter months, release an unpleasant smell when threatened or squashed.
Newsweek has reached out to multiple bug experts for comment but has not received a response.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Anna Skinner is a Newsweek senior reporter based in Indianapolis. Her focus is reporting on the climate, environment and weather ... Read more
