Polk County Master Gardeners
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Stink Bugs
This year the stinkbugs have been a major pest in my garden and I have been
looking up ways to control them. These shield shaped bugs are from 3/8” to ¾”
long and come in shades of green or brown. They are equally adept at damaging
tomatoes, peppers, squash, cabbage, green beans, peaches, and probably several
other plants. They have sucking mouthparts and damage plants and fruits both by
mechanically piercing them and by injecting a fluid that helps them extract the
sap. Tomatoes will have hard, whitish spots just beneath the skin, and the skin
may have yellow spots. The fruit is still usable, but you will need to remove
the damaged parts.
They also are likely to migrate inside the house for the winter, so it is
best to get rid of them in the garden as early as possible if you do not care to
have uninvited guests.
You can help minimize the infestation by practicing good garden maintenance.
Build the soil with compost or other organic material to promote healthy plant
growth. Keep your garden free of debris and weeds, either of which can harbor
pests. Clean your tools and wash your hands after working with infested plants.
Clean tools thoroughly before putting them away for the winter.
A thorough garden cleanup after you have harvested everything from your fall
garden will help to avoid giving them a home over the winter. They can produce
two crops of bugs per season, so it is important to make life as difficult for
them as you can!
All of this may help to remove the welcome mat in your garden, but it
probably will not be enough to prevent stinkbug damage. Check your garden supply
source for insect sprays that say they will control stinkbugs and use them
carefully according to the directions. I have found that Sevin is fairly good at
controlling them, although it seems to take repeated applications. Again, be
very sure that you follow the instructions for dilution, frequency of spray, and
time required after spraying before harvest.
By Barbara M. Tobias
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