# Bug identification assistance **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 9, 2011, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bug-identification-assistance/566962 "2011-01-09T08:33:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Shig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shig)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bug-identification-assistance/566962/1 "2011-01-09T08:33:05Z")
Can anyone tell me what this little creature is? I don’t recall having ever seen a bug quite like this around here. I looked up at the ceiling today, and there it was, slooooowwly wlking along. He’s not at all quick, but seems very strong. Thanks [![](https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b342/Shiggar_Fraggar/bug1.jpg) ](https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b342/Shiggar_Fraggar/bug1.jpg) [![](https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b342/Shiggar_Fraggar/bug2.jpg) ](https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b342/Shiggar_Fraggar/bug2.jpg) [![](https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b342/Shiggar_Fraggar/bug3.jpg) ](https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b342/Shiggar_Fraggar/bug3.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bug-identification-assistance/566962/2 "2011-01-09T09:32:41Z")
Looks like a [stink bug](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentatomidae). ---
**Author:** ![Shig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Shig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shig)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bug-identification-assistance/566962/3 "2011-01-09T10:04:36Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > Looks like a [stink bug](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentatomidae). Well damn, that’s dull! Haha. I see those sometimes, and this one just looks different, but probably just a slightly different species or something. The thing just looks so prehistric and moves all slow and strong-like. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bug-identification-assistance/566962/4 "2011-01-09T10:18:00Z")
> [@Shig](#): > > Well damn, that’s dull! Hey, he can stink so that’s something…he’s doing the best he can! On the grand scale of bug abilities that’s not too bad - maybe not quite as cool as a venomous sting or glowing in the dark, but he can stink up the room something fierce. Give him another 20 million years, he’s working on a new act. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bug-identification-assistance/566962/5 "2011-01-09T18:12:27Z")
Specifically the [Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.](http://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Brown-Marmorated-Stink-Bug) It has recently been introduced to North America from Asia. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bug-identification-assistance/566962/6 "2011-01-09T18:35:52Z")
Nasty things. We’ve had a population explosion of them in The DC area this year. I hate htem with the fire of a thousand suns. Every so often for no discernible reason I come home to a house reeking of a combination of vomit and dirty socks. Smells like my ex has been around. Yuck! ! ! ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bug-identification-assistance/566962/7 "2011-01-09T19:32:54Z")
Aside from the horrible stench they produce, they’re relatively harmless. They don’t breed indoors, they don’t bite or sting, and they don’t bother you if you don’t bother them, well, aside from the nasty odor. Squish one, OTOH, and you will find a LOT more. The stink is an attractant. Don’t squish them, just pick them up in a paper towel and throw them outside to be someone else’s problem. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bug-identification-assistance/566962/8 "2011-01-10T18:05:24Z")
They do so bother me. They fly around and smack into things, sometimes into people, with an annyoing thwack! sound. Fortunately they are usually slow crawlers and flyers. When I catch them I wrap them in tissue and flush 'em. I hope they suffer. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bug-identification-assistance/566962/9 "2011-01-10T19:37:31Z")
Found one of these guys in the bathroom this morning. I did what **MLS** does and grabbed him (GENTLY!) with a piece of toilet paper and flushed him. I’m hoping he doesn’t have any relatives living with him…