The Truth About These Stink Bug 'Lookalikes' in the Hudson Valley

Spring has sprung in the Hudson Valley, and while the optimists might be focusing on the blooming flowers and the joys of lawn maintenance, others are wringing their hands at the though of another yearly ritual: the return of active insects.

While some of these creepy crawlers are helpful for the local environment, others are invasive species that can wreak havoc on neighborhood plants. The key is knowing which one is which.

The spotted lanternfly s one of the most recognizable invasive species in New York State (Canva)

Invasive Insects in the Hudson Valley

Of course one of the most famous invasive species in New York is the spotted lanternfly (above), and experts ask New Yorkers to destroy both the eggs and the insects themselves on sight. Other examples aren't so cut and dry.

Fireflies are a native species in the Hudson Valley and shouldn't be killed (Canva)

Helpful Insects in the Hudson Valley, NY

While nearly everyone knows how to spot a lanternfly, other, more helpful creatures can be more difficult to identify. Fireflies, for example (above), might look like a pest in the daylight, but they provide a strong benefit to local wildlife and should not be bothered. But back to stinkbugs...

Recently, a hard-to-identify insect caused many Hudson Valley residents to misidentify it as a stinkbug or even an invasive Japanese beetle (Canva)

Sudden Appearance of "Mystery Insects" in Ulster County

An Ulster County resident recently took to Facebook for help identifying an insect that had reportedly "popped up out of nowhere" at their home. Soon, commenters misidentifying the insect were urging the author to kill them.

Cerotoma trifurcata, AKA the bean leaf beetle, mostly targets soybean plants and can be found in the Hudson Valley (Canva)

Misidentified Insects in the Hudson Valley, NY

"Japanese beetle very invasive kill them", said one commenter. "Stink bugs. Time of year for them", offered another. Further digging, however, showed that neither of these identifications were correct.

Bean Leaf Beetles in New York State

Judging by the marking on the insects, the Ulster County resident was likely playing host to bean leaf beetles. Luckily, they do not pose the same invasive threat as previously mentioned species like the Japanese beetle, stink bug, and spotted lanternfly.

Get our free mobile app

Identification is key when deciding which plants or animals belong in your backyard, and tools like Google Lens can be a helpful when deciding who stays and who goes. Check out some more potential garden dangers below, and keep scrolling to see the largest insects on the planet.