Stink bugs

[AshleyB]

We had a major stink bug infestation last year and they decimated our squash, pumpkins, and tomatoes. We have seen a few around the house this month, so it looks like it may be a bad year again this year. What can I do to protect my crops this year? I have no experience with pests, they've never been a problem before.

[Dave in Ohio]

From what I understand is that they are not natural to our country and therefore have no natural predators to keep in check....poisons(sevin) seems to work for everything else...

[salmonslayer91]

poultry?

[scarnucci]

I heard on the radio (unfortunately after my squash bug population killed all my plants) that a pesticide free solution is to lay scrap lumber like 2X4s or maybe lay some bricks along side your plants. The bugs will crawl under there (I dunno know when...night? day?) but you will lift the board and squish them every morning.

I plan on trying this in my garden this year. Good luck with yours.

[Callieslamb]

Are stink bugs the same as squash bugs? I use mint soap for squash bugs.

What ever you do, don't eat one...they taste just like they smell. I found a luscious blackberry once when I was a kid. It was the biggest berry ever seen by man. Only, when I turned it around, it had stink bug on it! Being a kid, I thought it was too good of a berry to pass by so I picked off the bug to give it a toss. Only, I got the two confused....into the mouth went the stink bug. Nasty!

[motdaugrnds]

Turn your ducks, geese and chickens into your garden. They may eat a few of your beans; but they will enjoy all the bugs they can find!

Ummmm never tried this with "stink bugs"; so not sure about fowl eating these.

[geo in mi]

Stink bugs have been around for a long time, but a new one appeared in Pennsylvania in the 90's, called the brown marmorated stink bug. There is one parasitic wasp that will attack it, and researchers are working on a pherenome to use in traps. For now, the only way to get rid of them is to be sure they don't overwinter inside your house or other warm places, (just like Asian lady bugs) and to hand pick eggs, nymphs, and adults when you see them on your plants. Some tenting or row covers can work, too. This article from Rutgers shows them and also lists some chemicals, if you are so inclined.
http://njaes.rutgers.edu/stinkbug/about.asp

Hope this helps,
geo

[sdnapier]

I noticed that my elderberries really seem to attract stink bugs. But I found a lot of praying mantis on the same bush so maybe they eat them??

[AshleyB]

Originally Posted by geo in mi

Stink bugs have been around for a long time, but a new one appeared in Pennsylvania in the 90's, called the brown marmorated stink bug. There is one parasitic wasp that will attack it, and researchers are working on a pherenome to use in traps. For now, the only way to get rid of them is to be sure they don't overwinter inside your house or other warm places, (just like Asian lady bugs) and to hand pick eggs, nymphs, and adults when you see them on your plants. Some tenting or row covers can work, too. This article from Rutgers shows them and also lists some chemicals, if you are so inclined.
http://njaes.rutgers.edu/stinkbug/about.asp

Hope this helps,
geo

Well I guess it's too late for me then. They have indeed overwintered in the house. I guess my best defense will be some ducks in the area, rocks and boards around the plants overturned every day and squashing the bugs. I really don't want to use chemicals, I wonder if there is a natural alternative.

All of the plants looked so beautiful last year and then the bugs swarmed in and destroyed everything.

[Mrs_stuart]

Originally Posted by scarnucci

I heard on the radio (unfortunately after my squash bug population killed all my plants) that a pesticide free solution is to lay scrap lumber like 2X4s or maybe lay some bricks along side your plants. The bugs will crawl under there (I dunno know when...night? day?) but you will lift the board and squish them every morning.

I plan on trying this in my garden this year. Good luck with yours.

This works very well! The best time to flip the board is in the evening when they are hiding. I would also add that you should look on and under the leaves of your plants for the eggs and squish the eggs as well.

Belinda

[MD Steader]

A couple of things will work. Chickens are the best thing to get, they will tear them up. I talked to my Ag exstention guy, sevin won't work. They have to ingest it as in eating a leaf. A stink bug pierces the fruit and gets past the sevin. He recommended Permethrin based products. I used a bonide product from sounthern states last year and it knocked the snot out of them, of course that was after they ate all my tomatoes and started eating the cayene peppers. I tried soap water, they laughed at it, tried tobacco water, they asked for a light. Nothing I did worked until the Permethrin.

http://southernstates.com/catalog/p-...uit-spray.aspx

[beccachow]

Hate to say it, but *most* birds don't eat them either and in fact, some animals become very sick when eating them. Joe mentioned Permethrin, I have heard this is efffective but I sure cannot use it in the house. Do NOT squish them, repeat, do NOT squish them...the obnoxious odor they emit when angered or squashed acts as a homing beacon for others to come on over.

I have a MAJOR MAJOR infestation IN MY HOUSE. Literally still killing hundreds per day, INSIDE. By picking them up and flushing them, tossing them outside, shop vac and dump outside. They don't die in winter, only hibernate, and as soon as you turn on your heat, they think it is a tropical vacation and come out en masse.

I might recommedn trying a heat light/trap thing, it might be your only hope.

These things might truly be the end of things as we know it here in the states, for a while. I know I have had to completely alter my life inside the house; I cannot eat at the table with the kitchen light on, since the light attracts them and they fall into the food. No more uncovered drinks. Lids on all food at meal times. Checking every individual napkin before laying it out, shaking boxes, having to dump all of DD's toys out to get rid of stinkbugs before her bath (a bathing stinkbug is a VERY unhappy stinkbug). Shaking shoes (they love dark warm areas).

Shop vac will get them, then take them somewhere and dump them into a large vat of dishsoap and vinegar. This is the ONLY thing that is effective so far that I have found. I worry, there is talk about bringing over their one natural predator (some type of wasp) and setting it loose on farms. SO we will be trading our slow moving obnoxious but non-biting crop killer for a stinging insect that is not natural to the states.

[Oldcountryboy]

Originally Posted by JoeHafner

I tried soap water, they laughed at it,.

http://southernstates.com/catalog/p-...uit-spray.aspx

You gotta make sure it's Dawn dish detergent. Last summer I use Dawn and water in a spray bottle and didn't have no problem killing them. Plus a lot of other creatures. Dawn has a formula that cuts grease and oil out the way. A lot of insects have a protective oily film covering them that repels water and deseases. When you spray dawn on them it removes this oily film and causes them to either drown or crawl off somewhere to die.

I've tried other dish detergents and did not have very good results but Dawn does a great job. It does a better job on our dishes too.

[AshleyB]

Originally Posted by beccachow

Hate to say it, but *most* birds don't eat them either and in fact, some animals become very sick when eating them. Joe mentioned Permethrin, I have heard this is efffective but I sure cannot use it in the house. Do NOT squish them, repeat, do NOT squish them...the obnoxious odor they emit when angered or squashed acts as a homing beacon for others to come on over.

I have a MAJOR MAJOR infestation IN MY HOUSE. Literally still killing hundreds per day, INSIDE. By picking them up and flushing them, tossing them outside, shop vac and dump outside. They don't die in winter, only hibernate, and as soon as you turn on your heat, they think it is a tropical vacation and come out en masse.

I might recommedn trying a heat light/trap thing, it might be your only hope.

These things might truly be the end of things as we know it here in the states, for a while. I know I have had to completely alter my life inside the house; I cannot eat at the table with the kitchen light on, since the light attracts them and they fall into the food. No more uncovered drinks. Lids on all food at meal times. Checking every individual napkin before laying it out, shaking boxes, having to dump all of DD's toys out to get rid of stinkbugs before her bath (a bathing stinkbug is a VERY unhappy stinkbug). Shaking shoes (they love dark warm areas).

Shop vac will get them, then take them somewhere and dump them into a large vat of dishsoap and vinegar. This is the ONLY thing that is effective so far that I have found. I worry, there is talk about bringing over their one natural predator (some type of wasp) and setting it loose on farms. SO we will be trading our slow moving obnoxious but non-biting crop killer for a stinging insect that is not natural to the states.

Wow! It sounds like you have it much worse than we do here. I'm praying it doesn't get to that level around here, I can't imagine.

[AshleyB]

Originally Posted by Oldcountryboy

You gotta make sure it's Dawn dish detergent. Last summer I use Dawn and water in a spray bottle and didn't have no problem killing them. Plus a lot of other creatures. Dawn has a formula that cuts grease and oil out the way. A lot of insects have a protective oily film covering them that repels water and deseases. When you spray dawn on them it removes this oily film and causes them to either drown or crawl off somewhere to die.

I've tried other dish detergents and did not have very good results but Dawn does a great job. It does a better job on our dishes too.

Can you give me specific instructions on using Dawn? How much soap to how much water, what did you use to spray it on, etc. Thanks!