The stink bug is also called Brown Marmorated stink bug that belongs to the family Pentatomidae and the Order Hemiptera. They are true bugs like cicadas and aphids that cause damage to garden plants besides releasing an irritating smell that seriously frustrates the gardeners, especially if they are present on indoor plants. An irritating smell associated with stink bugs resembles that of coriander, and their internal mechanism allows them to emit such odor as a defense against predators. The sting bugs' odor release may trigger when disturbed or injured. The stink bugs are migratory and feed on many plant species including, vegetables, fruit, berries, nuts, and ornamental plants. Usually, Stink bugs adopt a 3-prone strategy to damage garden plants; they kill nursery seedlings, cause stunting of the leaves, and suck sap from the terminal growth.
Stink Bugs are native to Korea, Japan, China, and other parts of Eastern Asia whereas, their first occurrence was reported from Pennsylvania in the US in 1998. After the first accidental introduction here, they spread their existence to other states. The stink bugs feed on more than 100 species of crop and orchard plants and emerged as dominating pests in the Eastern US with their presence throughout the year in orchards. Their spread in the Mid-Atlantic United States ruined apple and stone fruit crops worth $37 in 2010. They are now common garden pests in many parts of North America. They may be found on commercial crops, orchards, vegetables, and greenhouses throughout the US.
Adult stink bugs measure almost 1.7 cm in length and width with a heraldic shield over the body. Eggs are laid on the underside of leaves in a cluster of 28 which, are light green and turn white gradually. They look dark brown in a dorsal view, and their underside is creamy brown. Species colors vary, and they can be seen in red, grey, black, brown, and copper But, variegated. Body variegation is the unique feature that identifies them from other species. Antennae may have alternating light bands, and the outer edges of the abdomen contain dark bands. The legs remain brown with light banding. During the nymph stages, they look brown or black. Legs are also black in Nymphs bearing a white band. Newly molted nymphs of all stages are white with red markings on their bodies. Odor glands are present under the thorax between the first two legs.
Often, stink bugs take between 40 to 60 days from the eggs to the adults, which are temperature-dependent. Once hatched, first instar nymphs aggregate around the egg clutch and disperse after molting. Adults can produce many egg clusters throughout their life. Only the adults with sufficiently conserved food resources could go under diapause to survive in winter. Temperature increase in the spring allows them to leave overwintering sites searching for food. Most of their North American ranges allow them to produce one or two generations in a year. However, they can up to 6 generations per year in the states like California, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, and Texas.
Stink bugs are pests of concern for the agricultural industry since they caused damages to the fruit and crops across the Eastern United States in the recent past. They feed on several plant species including, cherries, pears, apples, apricots, grapes, corn, peaches, and tomatoes simultaneously. The stink bugs insert their stylets to pierce the plant tissue to extract the plant juices. Often, the plants lose essential nutrients that lead to the deformation of fruits and destruction of seedlings if the damaged field was a nursery. The stink bugs injuries also lead to delayed maturity, and the plants become susceptible to multiple fungal diseases. When stink bugs inject their saliva into the fruit membrane, it leads to rotting and deformation that reduces their market value.
Stink bugs are invasive pests that came from Eastern Asia a few years ago and became a pest of concern for the agriculture and gardening plants in the US. Additionally, they're capable of prolonged overwinters and can appear in the gardens at the end of spring throughout the US. Female stink bugs lay their eggs in clusters on the undersides of the leaves that hatch in a week to become nymph that takes another 5-6 weeks to become an adult after passing the molting process. Whenever the garden temperature becomes adaptable for their growth and reproduction, they show themselves and start damaging seedlings, leaves, and fruits together.
Complete prevention of stink bugs is somewhat hard. However, some practices can reduce their infestations to an extent. Here are a few of them;
Green Lacewings are the top predatory insects that go after their prey and eat them voraciously. But, in the case of sting bugs, they feed only on the eggs and can reduce a significant number of eggs waiting to hatch. Their predation on stink bug nymphs is almost zero. The number and frequency of Lacewings release could potentially reduce stink bug eggs. About 2500 Green Lacewing eggs are enough for 5000 square feet when released in the garden. But, if the infestation exceeds or they're readily present, double the number of Lacewings eggs released in the targeted areas.
Green Lacewing eggs can hatch in about 4 or 5 days. Releasing them immediately after they have hatched effectively handles stink bug eggs. Another species of predatory wasps, Trissolcus japonicas, lays her eggs inside the eggs of the stink bug and the wasp larva develops inside the stink bug egg. However, this strain may not be available commercially.
Cimexa Dust is a multi-purpose insecticide of non-chemical nature that derives from natural rock deposits and contains 100% silica. It could only kill sting bugs if the fine particles stay on the surfaces of the leaves and remains dry for an extended period. The rain or the overhead sprinkler irrigation could wash its particles and needs repeated applications. Additionally, this product is odorless and safe for applying to all vegetables and fruits. It applies both indoors and outdoors to controlling many urban and garden pests.
Silica’s mode of action involves disrupting the skin that results in dehydration of sting bugs that leads to killing. Dust on the surfaces of the leaves and areas where stink bugs infestation is higher.
Amid the latest resistance against many systemic insecticides, US EPA recommends the application of Azadirachtin for Stink bugs control throughout the country. It’s a ready-to-use product that contains Clarified Hydrophobic Extract of Neem oil, and Azadirachtin is the major ingredient that kills many soft-bodied insects and sting bugs. Azadirachtin also possesses a great ovicidal effect besides being an excellent fungicide and acaricide. It's also OMRI listed and approved for applying in organic gardening.
The product comes in a ready-to-use formulation and doesn't require mixing with water.
Natural Pyrethrins are botanical insecticides that extract from the family of Chrysanthemums. Typically, this concentrate contains 0.96% Pyrethrins mixed with 9.6% Piperonyl Butoxide which acts as an efficacy enhancer besides extending the pest control period. Pyrethrins are OMRI listed and the best alternative to Pyrethroids that leave long residual effects in the environment and edibles. Moreover, Pyrethrins break down quickly when exposed to precipitation and environmental extremes. Pyrethrins are safe to use on vegetables, fruits, ornamental plants, and landscapes. Additionally, there is no harm in applying them indoors for controlling greenhouse and urban pests.
Add 0.12 to 0.36 ounces of the product concentrate or a tablespoon per gallon of water, and apply to the plants' foliage in the evening.
Although many insecticides have failed to control stink bugs in the US climate and bugs are showing resistance against carbamates, neonicotinoids, pyrethroids, and many other classes of insecticides. It is advisable not to apply such chemicals to the foliage of the plants. Instead, insecticides banding or drenching may be more suitable. Safari 20SG is also from the neonicotinoids class and disrupts insects Central Nervous System (CNS). Feeding stops soon after applications, and the targeted pests die immediately. Since Dinotefuran is harmful to the bees and other pollinators an application during flowering should be avoided.
Add 7 to 9 ml per one gallon of water if applied on the outer edges of the garden to deter stink bugs.
Check out our other guides on common garden bugs.
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