The Infamous Stink Bug Strikes Again

M.C. Millman

The brown marmorated stink bug, known more commonly as the stink bug, is back again for another season with no end in sight. 

Stink bugs have been found in 47 states and 4 Canadian provinces. In their 50-day lifespan, stink bugs can cause a lot of damage to plants. According to Stop BMSB, an organization focused on the management of stink bugs in US specialty crops, the bugs prefer snacking on fruit orchards and vegetables like peppers, tomatoes, and sweet corn. 

Stop BMSB research reports that specialty crops at the highest risk of damage from stink bugs include apple, Asian pears, beans (green, pole, snap), beebee tree, edamame, eggplant, European pear, grape, hazelnut, Japanese pagoda tree, nectarine, okra, peach, Peking tree lilac, pepper, redbud, sweet corn, Swiss chard, and tomato. See a gallery of images here https://www.stopbmsb.org/where-is-bmsb/bmsb-damage-gallery/ showing stink bug crop damage. 

Getting rid of stink bugs has proven to be quite the task. Even Rutgers reports that there are no viable strategies for control of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, saying that insecticide effects are very short-lived and there is evidence that stink bugs are becoming resistant to them. 

For tips on keeping stink bugs out of the house, see the Rockland Daily article here: