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Stink Bugs Adults stink bugs are shield shaped, green, tan or gray, approximately 1/2in (1cm) in size. Most species are smooth, but a few are spiny or rough textured. They overwinter in weeds in waste areas. Females lay 300-500 barrel shaped eggs each when the winter warms. They hatch in a week into wingless nymphs that look similar to adults. Nymph stink bugs develop to adults in about five weeks. Susceptible Plants- Brassicas, beans, peas, sweet corn, tomatoes, peaches and raspberries Symptoms- Stink bugs suck plant sap from leaves, flowers, fruit and seeds. Since nymphs are not winged, it is largely the adults which injure fruit. Early feeding during bloom through shuck split will cause the flower or developing fruit to abort. Feeding from the shuck fall stage until fruit is about 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter will cause a deep catfacing.
Feeding on larger fruit during mid to late summer may cause various types of damage There are four types of injury possible. Brown and dusky stink bugs feeding will result in brown, fuzzless, depressed corky areas. Fresh injury may appear as small bleeding spots of gum exuded out as droplets or strings.
This may or may not be accompanied by small water-soaked areas, which are dark green areas on the skin, characterized by a water-marked appearance up to several mm deep. Green stink bugs may exhibit a behavior of multiple probing and feeding at many sites on a single fruit. Immature fruit will appear dimpled, and mature fruit will have depressed lines and multiple corky areas resulting in a gnarled and mottled appearance. Prevention and Control- Control weeds in susceptible crops; remove or mow weedy areas adjacent to garden beds or orchards. Attract native parasitic wasps and flies by planting, small flowered plants Pesticide Control- Safer Brand End All., OMRI listed it contains Potassium Salts of Fatty Acids (1.00%), Clarified Hydrophobic Extract of Neem Oil (0.900%) and Pyrethrins (0.012%) as active ingredients. It kill stinkbugs at all stages. Biological Controls Ladybug Beetles: Hippodamia convergens,
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