Welcome back to the latest Wild Fact of the week.  I am not going to lie to you, today’s animal fact is really going to stink –  and not just because I am writing it late at night.  Nope, it will literally smell since we are going to be learning about the pesky Stink Bug. The term “Stink Bug” is the common name used for an entire family of insects in which there are thousands of different species.  Sure I could of picked an individual species but I figured we would keep it broad and talk about the entire family of these stinky bugs.

With so many different species, you could have probably guessed that you can find a Stink Bug just about anywhere in the world.  This is great news since it means we don’t have to travel very far to learn about these interesting creatures.  Let me guess, by now you are wondering why they are called Stink Bugs? Believe it or not, they get this name since these critters have the ability to secrete a extremely foul smelling liquid.  Sure it may be tough for the Stink Bug to make friends but it is even tougher for them to get eaten by a predator since this smell thwarts the attempts of most potential attackers.  Let’s face it, nobody wants to eat something that smells terrible.  Actually, this may not be true since some birds have been known to tolerate the stench and horrible taste so maybe it just depends how hungry you are.

At this point, I am starting to wonder how a Stink Bug could ever attract a mate when they smell so bad.  Well, believe it or not, they actually attract their special partner using their unique odours.  This strong smell makes it easy for the mates to find each other and then flirt over a cup of coffee.  Not all Stink Bugs will rely on this smelly attractive force as some have been known to create sound by rubbing their legs or wings together.  Naturally, this beautiful cricket-like song attracts a potential mate into the area.  Once she gets close enough, I am sure she will smell him whether she wants to or not.

Even though today’s Wild Fact stunk, I hope you enjoyed it and I am looking forward to seeing you here tomorrow.  Enjoy the rest of your day.