I sleepily padded into the kitchen this morning and poured myself a steaming mug of coffee. Allowing it a few moments to cool, I carried it over to the window and looked out at the new day. Autum leaves drifted down from almost-bare hardwoods, framed against a brilliant azure sky. I love fall.
The coffee aroma completed my contentment, and I took my first sip. The bitter taste jolted me.
I sputtered, “What the . . .???”
Barry’s voice wafted from the kitchen. “Look what I found in my coffee!”
I hurried to my husband's side. A large, brown blob floated in his cup, six tiny legs in the air. When he emptied the contents of the cup into the sink, we saw one very dead stinkbug.
I dumped the rest of the coffee and poured myself a glass of orange juice.
“Looks like it’s time for another Nature Nugget on the ol’ blog,” I said, heading for my laptop.
A cursory search indicated that the offender is probably the brown marmorated stinkbug (Halyomorpha halys), accidentally introduced from Asia during the 1990s, and since spread across most of the U.S. Roughly the size of a dime, this uninvited guest sports a shield-shaped body mottled in earthy browns and grays—perfect autumn camouflage. Its antennae are banded with white, and its underside is a pale tan, often hidden unless you’re unlucky enough to find one belly-up in your beverage.
As temperatures drop, it seeks warmth—and apparently it considers my house to be prime real estate. These fellas don’t bite, sting, or cause structural damage, but they do release a pungent odor when disturbed. Think cilantro meets burnt rubber, with a dash of regret.
Stinkbug Survival Tip: Before brewing your morning coffee, check the coffee pot. These bugs love to perch on warm surfaces and sneak into cozy crevices. Your taste buds will thank you.
#stinkbug #coffee #autumn
Image generated with Microsoft Copilot
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