(Describer) An insect with a flat head and tiny black dots all over it waves its antennae forward. Title: Deep Look. It stands on some wood.

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(narrator) Can anything stop this stink bug?

(narrator) Can anything stop this stink bug? Oh, what? It doesn't look so bad? Oh, what? It doesn't look so bad? Think again. Think again. The brown marmorated stink bug The brown marmorated stink bug is a fearsome invader, a relentless force, is a fearsome invader, a relentless force,

(Describer) Trees stand in an orchard.

wreaking havoc on fields and orchards wreaking havoc on fields and orchards across the country. across the country. These stink bugs are originally from Asia, These stink bugs are originally from Asia, but probably made it to the U.S. but probably made it to the U.S. as stowaways in shipping containers a few decades ago. as stowaways in shipping containers a few decades ago.

(Describer) Its body is also flat on top.

Marmorated, by the way, means "marbled." Marmorated, by the way, means "marbled." See that pattern on their backs? See that pattern on their backs?

(Describer) Some of the dots are grouped together.

They have a huge appetite, They have a huge appetite, eating just about any kind of fruit eating just about any kind of fruit or vegetable out there. or vegetable out there.

(Describer) They stand on some.

They use this-- a long proboscis-- They use this-- a long proboscis-- to pierce the skin. to pierce the skin. It makes a tiny hole. It makes a tiny hole. Dainty eater, you might think? Dainty eater, you might think? Nope; underneath, it's squirting in chemicals Nope; underneath, it's squirting in chemicals to dissolve the fruit. to dissolve the fruit. Then it sips up the juices like a smoothie. Then it sips up the juices like a smoothie. The fruit looks okay on the outside, The fruit looks okay on the outside, but now it's ruined, but now it's ruined, rotting on the inside. rotting on the inside.

(Describer) An apple has brown spots.

Stink bugs can even pierce the hard shell of a hazelnut. Stink bugs can even pierce the hard shell of a hazelnut.

(Describer) Lines point to white spots of damage inside one.

Just squish them, you think? Just squish them, you think? Yeah, you don't want to do that. Yeah, you don't want to do that. They genuinely stink. They genuinely stink. When disturbed, they can release an olfactory bomb When disturbed, they can release an olfactory bomb from small glands. from small glands.

(Describer) They're under the thorax and abdomen.

The smell? The smell? Well, some people say it's like dirty socks Well, some people say it's like dirty socks or rotting cilantro. or rotting cilantro. These stink bugs have spread to 44 states now, These stink bugs have spread to 44 states now, and, oh yeah, in the winter, they might just show up and, oh yeah, in the winter, they might just show up in your house where it's warm. in your house where it's warm.

(Describer) One walks along a window blind.

What could possibly stand up to them? What could possibly stand up to them?

(Describer) A black insect has transparent wings.

Hello, samurai wasp. Hello, samurai wasp. This tiny wasp, also from Asia, This tiny wasp, also from Asia, is an old enemy of stink bugs. is an old enemy of stink bugs. It unleashes a stealth attack. It unleashes a stealth attack.

(Describer) One takes off from a leaf.

A female wasp finds a mass of stink bug eggs. A female wasp finds a mass of stink bug eggs.

(Describer) She crawls over them.

Then, one by one, she lays one of her own inside them. Then, one by one, she lays one of her own inside them. The parasitic wasp larva grows secretly inside, The parasitic wasp larva grows secretly inside, feasting on a tasty egg breakfast feasting on a tasty egg breakfast until the developing stink bug is no more. until the developing stink bug is no more.

(Describer) A group of empty eggs have holes in them. A wasp cuts another hole.

Then the grown-up wasps chew their way out, Then the grown-up wasps chew their way out, nibbling the edges away like fingernail clippings. nibbling the edges away like fingernail clippings. In their native range in Asia, In their native range in Asia, 60% to 90% of stink bug eggs 60% to 90% of stink bug eggs are parasitized this way, keeping them in check, are parasitized this way, keeping them in check,

(Describer) It crawls out.

so researchers in the U.S. want to recruit the wasps so researchers in the U.S. want to recruit the wasps as long as they don't become a pest too. as long as they don't become a pest too. The wasps have already been found in Oregon, The wasps have already been found in Oregon, so scientists at Oregon State University so scientists at Oregon State University are studying them as a kind of biological control. are studying them as a kind of biological control.

(Describer) A man studies some.

After all, using wasps is targeted since they primarily After all, using wasps is targeted since they primarily go after brown marmorated stink bugs. go after brown marmorated stink bugs. Maybe someday, they could release the wasps Maybe someday, they could release the wasps in places where there are lots of stink bugs. in places where there are lots of stink bugs. Today, farmers use pesticides, Today, farmers use pesticides, but that can kill lots of other helpful organisms. but that can kill lots of other helpful organisms. Researchers know that sometimes your enemy's enemy Researchers know that sometimes your enemy's enemy is your friend, so soon, the samurai wasp is your friend, so soon, the samurai wasp could be doing its part could be doing its part to beat back the stink-bug onslaught one egg at a time. to beat back the stink-bug onslaught one egg at a time.

(Describer) As a stink bug crawls over an apple, titles: Producer/Writer: Jenny Oh Cinematographer: Josh Cassidy Narrator/Writer: Lauren Sommer Original Music: Seth Samuel A KQED Production Copyright 2019 KQED Inc. Accessibility provided by the US Department of Education.