The First Sign of Spring
Or yet another problem???

Somehow the “Stink Bug” in my above photo got into our Solar Room. To date, this is the only one I’ve ever seen, but I’m now a bit concerned.

The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is an insect in the family Pentatomidae, native to China, Japan, and other Asian regions.[2] In September 1998 it was found in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where it is believed to have been accidentally introduced.[3] The nymphs and adults of the brown marmorated stink bug feed on over 100 species of plants. It is now established in many parts of North America.

Ten days ago, we had double digit negative temperatures below zero Fahrenheit outdoors and below freezing inside the Solar Room. This weekend the temperatures were in the 50 and 60’s outdoors and in the 80’s inside the Solar Room. Chile found this lone bug on the floor in front of the screen door that was being used because of the warmer Spring like tempts. I have no idea of where the bug came from. Did it come in the door? Was it trying to go out the door? Does it have relatives inside our home? Was it alone?

Hopefully, no more are anywhere around. When I finally read about what I had photographed, I discovered that these insects can be quite invasive. Unfortunately, I turned this one loose outdoors. I should have squished it! But I tend to not kill bugs that might help the environment. Since I had no idea initially what kind of bug this was, I didn’t realize that it was one that is best eliminated.

Although I didn’t notice any smell, supposedly these bugs can give off an extremely foul odor. The stink bug's ability to emit an odor through holes in its abdomen is a defense mechanism meant to prevent it from being eaten by birds and lizards. However, simply handling the bug, injuring it, or attempting to move it can trigger it to release the odor. The stink bug's body fluids are toxic and irritating to the human skin and eyes. Stink bugs are able to survive long periods of time in hot or cold conditions.

The brown marmorated stink bug is also a serious agricultural pest that has been readily causing damage to crops. They feed on a wide array of plants: including house plants This makes them extremely versatile, as they do not require a specific plant on which to feed.

This is not a bug I want in my yard or home... Hasn’t the events of this past year been bad enough? Is nowhere now safe? Please, don’t let there be more of these bugs!!!

So far, this has been a really horrible year.
I certainly don’t need another problem.
What’s next in 2021?

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COVID US News One Year Ago Flashback

February 28, 2020
“Donald Trump held a rally in South Carolina on February 28, 2020,
where he called the coronavirus or COVID-19 outbreak the Democrats’ ‘new hoax.’”

“Trump one year ago on COVID:
"It's going to disappear one day. It’s like a miracle - it will disappear."

Also Trump one year ago on COVID: "Only a very small number in U.S.,& China numbers look to be going down." (Trump already knew that COVID was more contagious and deadly than the flu as he told Woodward on Feb 7, 2020)

“Reviewing these moments in history will do nothing to bring back the lives of those lost, or change the trajectory of the virus in the US and elsewhere. But it’s a good reminder of the kind of intentional skepticism that got us into this mess, and the people who intentionally downplayed the significance of what’s been a deadly and difficult year for so many.”

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Forward to the Present Time
Updated Feb 28, 2021

Current CDC “Real Life” Statistics
Confirmed US COVID Cases 28,833,039
+71,298 New COVID Cases

Confirmed US COVID Deaths 517,204
+2,066 New COVID Deaths

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