FIRST RECORD OF BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG 
(HALYOMORPHA HALYS (STÅL, 1855)) (HEMIPTERA: 
PENTATOMIDAE) IN SLOVENIA
Mojca ROT, Marko DEVETAK, Branko CARLEVARIS, 
Jan ŽEŽLINA, Ivan ŽEŽLINA
KGZS, Kmetijsko gozdarski zavod Nova Gorica, 
Pri hrastu 18, SI-5000 Nova Gorica (mojca.rot@go.kgzs.si)
Abstract - The brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) was
recorded for the first time in Slovenia in spring 2017. A single specimen was caught
on the pheromone trap in Šempeter pri Gorici in mid-April 2017. A week later another
specimen was accidentally found on the parking area of a shopping centre in Nova
Gorica. During the summer 2017 the brown marmorated stink bug was discovered in
some other localities in the area around Nova Gorica. The discovery of this new alien
species is the result of methodical monitoring, which has been carried out in Primorska
region since 2016. The new pest presents a severe threat for many agricultural impor-
tant crops in the area, as well as in other parts of the country.
KEY WORDS: Halyomorpha halys, brown marmorated stink bug, Slovenia
Izvleček - PRVA NAJDBA MARMORIRANE SMRDLJIVKE (HALYOMORPHA
HALYS (STÅL, 1855)) (HEMIPTERA: PENTATOMIDAE) V SLOVENIJI
Marmorirana smrdljivka Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) je bila prvič odkrita v
Sloveniji spomladi leta 2017. Eno samo odraslo stenico smo ujeli na feromonsko
vabo v Šempetru pri Gorici sredi aprila 2017. Teden dni kasneje smo vrsto še enkrat
naključno našli na parkirišču trgovskega centra v Novi Gorici. Tekom poletja smo
marmorirano smrdljivko odkrili na več lokacijah na Goriškem. Odkritje nove vrste
stenice je rezultat sistematičnega spremljanja, ki ga na Primorskem izvajamo od leta
2016. Nov škodljivec lahko povzroči pomembno škodo v pridelavi številnih kmetijskih
kultur na območju, kot tudi drugod po državi.
KLJUČNE BESEDE: Halyomorpha halys, marmorirana smrdljivka, Slovenija
5
ACTA ENTOMOLOGICA SLOVENICA
LJUBLJANA, JUNIJ 2018                      Vol. 26, øt. 1: 5–12
Introduction
Brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys Stål, 1855; Hemiptera: Pen-
tatomidae) is an East Asian species, native to Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan (Lee
at. al 2013). The term 'marmorated' refers to the colour pattern of the insect, which
resembles marble. In the mid-1990s it was introduced into the USA, first detected in
1996 in Pennsylvania (Hoebeke & Carter 2003). Within a few years has rapidly
spread across the United States and Canada (Fogain & Graff 2011). In Europe, it was
first recorded in Lichtenstein in 2004 (Arnold 2009) and in Switzerland in 2007
(Wermelinger et. al. 2008). In the following years it has spread to neighbouring coun-
tries; Germany, France and Italy (EPPO, 2013, Maistrello et. al. 2014), Greece
(Milonas & Partsinevelos 2014), Hungary (Vétek et. al. 2014), Romania (Macavei et.
al. 2015), Serbia (Šeat 2015), Austria (Rabitsch & Friebe 2015) and also in the
territory between Black and Caspian seas; in Southern Russia, Abkhazia and Georgia
(Gapon 2016). In 2016 was first recorded in Slovakia (Hemala & Kment, 2017) and
Spain (Dioli et. al. 2016), in 2017 in Croatia (Šapina et al. 2018) and Slovenia. 
Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is a highly polyphagous invasive species
with more than 100 host plants reported (Bergmann et. al. 2016). Adults and nymphs
feed on buds, leaves, stems and fruits of wild and cultivated plant species causing se-
vere damage in agricultural production (Hoebeke & Carter 2003, Lee et al. 2013,
Bariselli et. al. 2016, Valentin et. al. 2017, Vétek & Korányi 2017, Leskey & Nielsen
2018). The species is also considered as nuisance pest (Lee & Leskey 2015). A large
number of adults invade homes and human-made structures in the autumn to overwinter
inside protected environments (Inkley 2012). After the emergence from overwintering
shelters in early spring, the adults start searching for suitable hosts for feeding (Zobel
et.al. 2016). It is multivoltine species, with more generations per year in its native
range in Asia (Rice et. al. 2014) and it has one to two generations the Mid-Atlantic
region of United States  (Nielsen et. al. 2008). The  first observation carried out in
central Italy (Emiglia Romagna) shows that in Mediterranean climate 2 generations
per year are present (Bariselli et. al. 2016).
Materials and methods
The monitoring of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug was carried out in the Western
part of Slovenia. In 2016 BMSB was monitored by visual observations, based on
canopy shake sampling and beat sampling. Monitoring was mainly focused on agri-
cultural plants (pome fruit orchards, soybean, tomato and pepper plants) and some
ornamental plants. Several visual inspections were made during spring emergence in
May, at peak population spikes (July and August) and in autumn (from September to
November) in the period when stink bugs seek for overwintering sits. In 2017 the ag-
gregation pheromone-baited traps have been used to monitor BMSB in the period
from the beginning of April to the end of November. We used Pherocon® BMSB
STKY™ Dual Panel Adhesive Traps, which we placed in the hedges around orchards
and fields with host plants. The traps were hung in tree canopy at approximately 2
Acta entomologica slovenica, 26 (1), 2018
6
meters height. The lures were changed every 12 weeks, the traps were checked
weekly.  
Basic morphological characteristics of Halyomorpha halys and its similarities
to the native species Rhaphigaster nebulosa
The adult specimens of H. halys range from 12 to 17 mm in length. It has brownish
or greyish, mottled dorsal coloration with dense and dark punctuation, variable in
size and colour. Key identifying characteristics of the BMSB include the two light
bands on the dark antennae, absence of ventral spine and typical banding pattern of
the abdominal margins (connexivum).
Detailed descriptions of adults are provided by Hoebeke and Carter (2003) and
Wyniger and Kment (2010). 
Halyomorpha halys can be easily confused or mistaken for Rhaphigaster nebulosa
(Poda, 1761), common European species, which has the same size, similar appearance,
habitat preference and behaviour. Key distinguishing characteristics of BMSB and
Rhaphigaster nebulosa are listed below for the purpose of quick distinguishing and
identifying both species.
Results and discussion
The brown marmorated stink bug was recorded for the first time in Slovenia in
Šempeter pri Gorici in mid-April 2017. A single adult specimen was caught on
pheromone trap. A week later another specimen was accidentally found on the parking
area of a shopping center in Nova Gorica. During the summer 2017 H. halys was
Halyomorpha halys Rhaphigaster nebulosa
Ventral spine absent.
Long ventral spine, which arises from
2nd abdominal sternite and extending
forwards between base of hind and
middle legs.
Two white bands on antennae; first at
the base of the segment IV, second at
the apex of segment IV and base of
segment V. 
Three white bands on antennae; at the
base of segments III to V.
The membrane of fore wing with
distinct longitudinal dark marks on the
veins.
The membrane of fore wing with dark
round spots, arranged irregularly.
Connexivum with yellow medial spots
triangular.
Connexivum with yellow medial spots
rectangular.
Tarsal segments in posterior legs white Tarsal segments in posterior legs black
Mojca Rot, Marko Devetak, Branko Carlevaris, Jan Æeælina, Ivan Æeælina: First record of brown marmorated stink bug
7
found on other five localities in the area around Nova Gorica. In July it was caught
on pheromone trap placed in soya been in Bilje. In August it was detected by visual
observation of olive tree in Podmark. At the same time in August it was caught on
pheromone traps in Miren and Kromberk. In the middle of September, it was detected
in urban area in the commercial building in Kromberk. Only single specimens of H.
Acta entomologica slovenica, 26 (1), 2018
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Fig. 2: H. halys nymph on Hibiscus syriacus, Šempeter pri Novi Gorici, 2017
Fig. 1: H. halys, Kromberk, 2017
halys were caught in most locations, except in the location Šempeter pri Gorici,
where the first spring detection was followed by continuous catches during the
summer till the late autumn. The occurrence of H. halys in Western part of Slovenia
in 2017 is closely related to presence and expansion of the species in neighbouring
Italian regions. Since the first occurrence in Italy in 2012, the pest has spread in the
Po Valley causing severe damage in the regions of Emilia-Romagna (Modena, Reggio
Emilia and Bologna provinces), Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto and Friuli (Bariselli
et. al. 2016). The region of Friuli Venezia Giulia bordering Slovenia on the east, has
been dealing with H. halys since 2014.  By the end of 2016 it has spread eastward to
the area of Province of Gorizia and reached the Slovenian border. Considering brown
marmorated stink bug flight capacity, traffic flow and density in the border area, it
was only a matter of time before it would enter Slovenia.
Mojca Rot, Marko Devetak, Branko Carlevaris, Jan Æeælina, Ivan Æeælina: First record of brown marmorated stink bug
9
Fig. 3: Population dynamics of Halyomorpha halys on the location Šempeter pri
Gorici in the period April- November 2017
Fig. 4: Map of Haly-
omorpha halys detections in
Western Slovenia
Table 1: The results of H. halys monitoring with pheromone traps in 2017
Conclusions
The first occurrence of H. halys in Western Slovenia presents a serious risk for
agriculture production in the area. According to the damage reported from other coun-
tries severe yield losses could be expected on the following crops: peaches, pears,
apples, kiwi, corn and soya bean. Considering that the spread of the pest cannot be
stopped, its expansion in whole territory of the country is expected in a short period.
Establishment and increase in the pest population can cause significant economic
losses in Slovenian agriculture and can also create nuisance problems in urban areas. 
Acknowledgements
This work was financially supported by Administration of the Republic of Slovenia
for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector and Plant Protection (AFSVSPP), Ministry of
Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Acta entomologica slovenica, 26 (1), 2018
10
Trap
No.
Locality name:
Coordinates: Type locality/ nearby
host plant
H. halys
status 
Detection date:
Y X
1 Sužid 13.556543 46.246418 apple orchard Absent -
2 Staro selo 13.532095 46.247462 fruit garden absent -
3 Vipolže 13.526675 45.972929 peach orchard. vineyard absent -
4 Kromberk 13.686544 45.962317 sweet cherry /fig orchard present August 31. 2017
5 SC Bilje 13.630261 45.894877 peach / plum orchard absent -
6 Miren 13.602069 45.891144 peach /pear orchard present August 31. 2017
7 Bilje 13.674428 45.895604 soya been present July 24. 2017
8 Postojna 14.221731 45.773098 railway station absent -
9 Vogrsko 13.705111 45.918004 highway cross absent
10 Šempeter 13.645309 45.932240 greenhouse present April 11. 2017
11 Brje pri Komnu 13.717726 45.785155 fruit garden absent -
12 Velika Bukovica 14.220695 45.546326 fruit garden absent -
13 Nasirec 13.910586 45.615188 fruit garden absent -
14 Beka 13.900656 45.597284 apple orchard absent -
15 Strunjan 13.617208 45.527360 fig orchard absent -
16 Bivje (Sp. Škofije) 13.785966 45.561944 pear orchard absent -
The data of other detections of Halyomorpha halys by visual observation
Nova Gorica 13.653538 45.954686 parking place present April 18. 2017
Podmark 13.643611 45.936580 olive orchard present August 30. 2017
Kromberk 13.658634 45.960896 commercial building present September 9. 2017
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