Brown marmorated stink bug

6734.      I live in London, Ontario, on the top floor of a multiple storey apartment building. I found this spider on my countertop in the kitchen hiding near the teapot this afternoon. I was taken aback but managed to cover it with a small 2-inch high glass dish, 1 1/2 ” inside diameter at the bottom, which was on the top when I took the photo, and is visible. The spider appeared to have a flat, circular body, not plump, when I looked at first. I don’t see many spiders, and not like this. Could it have come in with potatoes from the store? There was freezing rain last night – car windshields needed scraping today. Was this just a pest coming in out of the cold? London, Ontario. Canada

 

Number 6734.  This is not a spider, but a brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). This is an introduced species that has become a pest, primarily in orchards, in many areas of North America. They will come indoors in search for shelter, but do no harm there. Click here for more detailed information.