More on stink bugs
There is another reason why stink bugs are such a nuisance - they have no natural predators.
Jon Traunfeld of the University of Maryland Extension adds these insights about the damage stink bugs can do.
Stink bugs insert their slender mouthparts and suck plant sap, mostly from fruit and seedpods, although [they] also apparently feeds on leaves. They leave behind toxins that cause “catfacing” of fruits and the “cloudy spot” symptom in tomato and pepper. While one or two stinkbugs on a tomato or pepper will cause only superficial damage, 25 or 30 stinkbugs on a tomato, pepper, or bean will ruin the fruit. Unfortunately, heavy stinkbug activity can allow fungi and bacteria to enter and ruin the fruit."
And Traunfeld offers this advice for getting rid of them:
"Some organic solutions include spraying pyrethrins (effective against the nymphs, but only marginally effective against the adults), hand-picking adults and nymphs, and tapping plants or individual leaves to dislodge them over a waiting bucket of soapy water. You can exclude this pest with a floating row cover if it’s left on all season. Removing all plant debris from the garden during and after the growing season can also help by eliminating overwintering habitat. Unfortunately, stinkbugs love the shade, moisture, and protection afforded by organic mulches, so spreading newspaper, straw, and leaves thickly in the garden can exacerbate the problem."
Comments
I had some that were attracted to the light in my house and all summer had been flying to the skylight outside my house. annoying because I would hear them hit the window and see the crawling out there. I would see 6 or more out there a night. Been here for 10 years and I have never seen stinkbugs until this year. Well, all of the sudden on the past few weeks - no stink bugs. I have just not seen them out there. I am happy, but I wonder what happened. I hope the moved on and not INTO the house someway.
Posted by: Tammy | September 14, 2010 7:43 AM
Chester County, PA: Blasted bugs are coming on stronger this year. Had a few dozen on my screen yesterday (unusually hot day) went outside with two cans of scrubbing bubbles and opened up with both barrells. Kills 'em quick and no poison either. Inside I use lysol - takes a while but it neutralizes the stink as it ruins their central nervous system. Correction they do have a natural predator here - chickens.
I also heard that if you spray Fabreeze on your screens, they will stay away.
Posted by: Elias | September 24, 2010 2:01 AM