Stink bugs found in Skagit County

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. – A brown marmorated stink bug, an agriculture pest that has devastated crops for a decade on the East Coast, has been captured in Skagit County for the first time.

The Skagit Valley Herald reported it was found last week in a Washington State University Skagit County Extension trap in south Mount Vernon.

Director Don McMoran says they’ll continue to monitor the bug.

The insect feasts on a variety of crops, including vegetables, fruits and berries.

The extension notified local farmers and gardeners urging them to monitor their fields and report sightings of the stink bugs.

Homeowners aren’t exempt from damages either. The pests release pheromones during the winter, causing them to huddle against buildings by the thousands.

Along with their bad smell, they’ll damage trees and home gardens.