There are various species of stink bugs. It hosts on trees such as the apple, peach, pecan, cherry, as well as blackberries and some vegetables. As the name suggests, it can emit an offensive odor when disturbed.

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Appearance:

  • Many different species such as green, brown marmorated, southern green stink bug, and the harlequin

  • Colors range from green through brown and grey, often with various patterns of lighter colors

  • Stink bug adults have shield-shaped bodies and sucking mouthparts. 

  • Young nymphs may differ in color from adults

Damage:

  • Damage to fruit causes scarring, pitting, and distortion.

  • Damaged fruit have a mealy or “corky” texture, making the raw consumption of the fruit undesirable.

  • The bug sucks the juice from fruit and leaves.

Timing:

  • While the feeding of stink bug nymphs can damage fruit, most damage is caused by adult feeding

  • Adults may feed as early as April, and later generations can damage fruit late in the season.

Treatment:

  • Remove weeds that serve as hosts for stink bug

  • Know the life cycle: eggs are easy to remove, young stink bugs are more susceptible to pesticides

  • Plant an insectary garden to attract beneficial predators, which may decrease the population

  • Plant trap crops on the edges of an orchard to intercept stink bugs and reduce damage to fruit crops.

  • Trap crops can include: sunflowers, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, zucchini, sweet peppers, sweet corn, and green beans.

  • Spray a 1% Neem Oil solution (effective on younger instars [a phase between two periods of molting in the development of an insect larva but not adults)

  • Spinosad spray

Sources: Patrick Byers, Horticulture Specialist and Michael Phillips, “The Holistic Orchard”