Federal Stink Bug Census Underway

FAIRFAX, Va. (September 23, 2014) – A special federal census is underway in an effort by the U.S. government to gain more knowledge on stink bug populations in the Washington, D.C. area. The Agricultural Department is circulating forms for a voluntary month-long investigation that will hopefully garner information to help find a solution to the stink bug problem plaguing at least 40 U.S. states. Originally from Asia, stink bugs are considered a serious agricultural threat and have been blamed for extensive crop damage across the country.

The questionnaire for the stink bug census contains detailed questions about how many of the bugs respondents have seen on a daily basis. There are also questions aimed at better understanding the stink bugs' preferred habitats, such as the color and structural material of houses where stink bugs have been detected.