Stink bugs

[Randy Rooster]

They seem unusually bad this year here- have damaged my sweet corn and my tomatoes and peppers and Ive been spraying with permethrin as usual - seems like its not doing a whole lot of good. Anyone else having this problem?

[Annie]

Randy, have you been finding them on ripe tomatoes, or does it matter? I've been on the lookout for them...a slew of them overwintered in my garden shed in every nook and cranny imaginable...but so far I haven't seen them on the veggies yet. I read where one can plant diversion crops for them, with sunflowers being one, so I put out some sunflowers but I'm afraid they're not going to bloom in time. I'm organic and hand pick and this bug is one I'm not looking forward to!

[parrotman]

This isn't directly associated with your post, but you can't even imagine the horror of the stink bug until you bite into one.
I had a pan of brownies sitting on the stove and I guess a stink bug came in through the exhaust vent above the stove and I didn't pay attention and bit right into one when I had a brownie. For what it's worth, they taste like they smell!

[partndn]

Originally Posted by parrotman

This isn't directly associated with your post, but you can't even imagine the horror of the stink bug until you bite into one.
I had a pan of brownies sitting on the stove and I guess a stink bug came in through the exhaust vent above the stove and I didn't pay attention and bit right into one when I had a brownie. For what it's worth, they taste like they smell!

Oh...

I had a bad year with them last fall. I guess they were all around my home, and as cool weather started, they began "coming in" for the winter. We only had success with some of the bug bombs you can set off for in home.

I know that many of them are hidden and didn't get fogged. This spring, I actually saw some inside my truck! For a couple weeks, there would be one a day or so. I bet they were living in crevices in my truck all winter?

To my shame, I think a lot of why they are hanging out at my place is that I have really let my property go since my dog died a few years ago. The weedy places are much more overgrown, and viney masses are out of hand, etc. I have lots of trees, and I think they love the vegetation. I haven't had vegetables this year except on the deck in a few pots, but haven't noticed them damaging there.

I have got to do some major whacking of vegetation around the home..

[simi-steading]

Here's some natural repellents to keep them off your plants..

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/natur...repellent.html

[Delrio]

Originally Posted by parrotman

This isn't directly associated with your post, but you can't even imagine the horror of the stink bug until you bite into one.
I had a pan of brownies sitting on the stove and I guess a stink bug came in through the exhaust vent above the stove and I didn't pay attention and bit right into one when I had a brownie. For what it's worth, they taste like they smell!

I did the same thing picking black raspberries. You know how you put two in the bucket and one in your mouth. It was a horrible taste. I quick grabbed an underripe berry just trying to mask that flavor. I sure watched what I put in my mouth after that.

[Randy Rooster]

Originally Posted by Annie

Randy, have you been finding them on ripe tomatoes, or does it matter? I've been on the lookout for them...a slew of them overwintered in my garden shed in every nook and cranny imaginable...but so far I haven't seen them on the veggies yet. I read where one can plant diversion crops for them, with sunflowers being one, so I put out some sunflowers but I'm afraid they're not going to bloom in time. I'm organic and hand pick and this bug is one I'm not looking forward to!

Annie

yes they have been on ripe maters

[Ed Mashburn]

Good morning to all- We have stinkbugs down here on the Gulf Coast to an incredible extent. I have found nothing that discourages them except the old thumb and forefinger squeeze- not pleasant for the bug, and not much better for me.
They are particularly attracted to my ripening tomatoes, and they ruin the skin and make woody parts under the skin.
I would appreciate anyone's success stories with dealing with these vile bugs. I just wish we could get the fire ants and the stinkbugs to get into a war and kill each other. Good gardening to all- Ed Mashburn

[Annie]

Originally Posted by Ed Mashburn

Good morning to all- We have stinkbugs down here on the Gulf Coast to an incredible extent. I have found nothing that discourages them except the old thumb and forefinger squeeze- not pleasant for the bug, and not much better for me.
They are particularly attracted to my ripening tomatoes, and they ruin the skin and make woody parts under the skin.
I would appreciate anyone's success stories with dealing with these vile bugs. I just wish we could get the fire ants and the stinkbugs to get into a war and kill each other. Good gardening to all- Ed Mashburn

So far I'm holding my breath, Ed, as I'm afraid it's the calm before the storm with my tomato plants as the tomatoes get ready to ripen. I've been trying to study their habit, but after finding them all winter hiding out in the shed, in motors in tools, and some crawling on the ceilings in the house, they have been non-existent outside this spring. I think they're waiting to pounce!

[Annie]

Originally Posted by parrotman

This isn't directly associated with your post, but you can't even imagine the horror of the stink bug until you bite into one.
I had a pan of brownies sitting on the stove and I guess a stink bug came in through the exhaust vent above the stove and I didn't pay attention and bit right into one when I had a brownie. For what it's worth, they taste like they smell!

I did the same thing with a bowl of ice cream and an asian ladybug. yuck. I've read where some cultures eat stink bugs and even use them to flavor stews....would have to be an acquired taste!