Insects diurnal

Four-humped Stink Bug

Brochymena quadripustulata

A true master of mimicry, the Four-humped Stink Bug hides in plain sight on the bark of your favorite trees. Identifying one is a badge of honor for any backyard naturalist.

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Quick Identification

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Size

12 to 17 mm (0.47 to 0.67 inches) in length; roughly 6-8 mm in width.

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Colors

Mottled gray, brown, and charcoal black; cryptic bark-like pattern. Occasional orange or yellow speckling on the edges of the abdomen.

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Key Features

Four distinct tooth-like humps on the sides of the thorax
Rough, heavily pitted body surface resembling tree bark
Elongated, shield-shaped profile
Alternating light and dark bands on the outer edge of the abdomen

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 10 AM - 4 PM

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Season April-October

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Diet Primarily tree sap from species like ash, walnut, and cherry; occasionally predaceous on small, soft-bodied insects.

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Habitat Deciduous forests, orchards, and suburban backyards with mature hardwood trees.

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Behavior

The Four-humped Stink Bug is a master of camouflage, often referred to as a 'Rough Stink Bug' due to its textured exoskeleton. Unlike many of its cousins that prefer garden vegetables, this species is primarily arboreal, spending the majority of its life clinging to the bark of trees where it is nearly invisible to predators. It is a slow-moving insect that relies on its disguise rather than speed to survive.

While most stink bugs are strictly herbivores, the Four-humped Stink Bug is unique for its opportunistic feeding habits. It primarily uses its piercing-sucking mouthparts to drink sap from deciduous trees, but it has also been observed acting as a predator, occasionally feeding on soft-bodied larvae and caterpillars. They are generally solitary and do not form the massive, annoying indoor swarms associated with the invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.

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Camera Tips

To successfully capture a Four-humped Stink Bug on camera, you must focus on 'vertical' terrain. Instead of pointing your camera at a bird feeder or the ground, mount it directly onto the trunk of a mature deciduous tree—Black Walnut, Ash, or various fruit trees are ideal. Position the lens about 12 inches away from the bark. Because these bugs are so well-camouflaged, you will need high-resolution settings to distinguish them from the texture of the tree itself.

Use a side-lighting setup if possible. When the sun hits the tree from an angle, the shadows cast by the 'four humps' and the rough pits on the bug's back will make it pop against the flatter bark surface. If your camera has a macro mode or a close-focus lens, this is the perfect time to use it. They move slowly, so a lower frame rate is acceptable, but high image detail is a must.

For the best chance of a sighting, monitor your camera during warm, sunny afternoons in late summer. These bugs often crawl out from deep bark crevices to bask in the sun. If you want to lure them into the frame, you can try painting a small patch of the bark with a mixture of sugar water or fruit juice, which can encourage them to stop and feed right in front of your lens.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Four-humped Stink Bug.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Smoother shell and has white bands on the antennae; lacks the 'rough' bark-like texture and shoulder humps.

Brown Stink Bug

Usually found in fields and gardens rather than on trees; has a more uniform brown color without the heavy pitting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Four-humped Stink Bugs are diurnal, meaning they are most active during daylight hours. They are particularly easy to spot on warm, sunny afternoons between 10 AM and 4 PM when they move to the sunny side of tree trunks to regulate their body temperature.

The best way to attract Four-humped Stink Bugs is to maintain mature deciduous trees like Ash, Walnut, or Willow. Unlike other pests, they aren't usually attracted to garden crops, so having a 'wild' corner of your yard with natural bark surfaces is key.

They have a varied diet compared to other stink bugs. While they mostly drink sap from tree bark and twigs, they are also beneficial predators that may eat small caterpillars and beetle larvae they encounter on the tree.

Yes, they are very common across North America in suburban environments. However, because they blend in so perfectly with tree bark, most homeowners never realize they are there unless they are looking specifically for them.

The Four-humped Stink Bug has a very rough, pitted texture and small 'teeth' on the sides of its shoulders, whereas the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is smoother and has distinct white bands on its antennae.

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