OPINION: EXTENSION: Protect your crops from stink bugs

Janie Slaven, The Sentinel Echo, London, Ky.
·2 min read

Mar. 28—As their name implies, brown marmorated stink bugs are not just stinky—they can seriously harm crops. You must take action to keep this pest away, regardless of the size of your field or garden.

Although brown marmorated stink bugs have long been present in the eastern part of the state, since 2019 they have started appearing in more counties in Western Kentucky. This invasive species resembles native stink bugs in appearance, but it has a gray belly, and a brown, mottled top along with white bands on its antennas.

These stink bugs will consume any crop. Sweet corn, eggplant, peppers and tomatoes are a few of their favorite foods. They also prey on ornamental trees like redbuds and field crops like soybeans. Their feeding discolors crops, turns their insides corky, and—most importantly—makes them inedible.

Home and commercial growers should take prompt action to control brown marmorated stink bugs because of their capacity to quickly decimate crops.

Here are some quick tips:

—They smell strongly, so you don't want to smash them. Even if you inadvertently crush them, their odor will keep other stink bugs away from your crops. To eliminate them in large quantities, you can sweep them off plants and place them in buckets of soapy water.

—When stink bugs are small, homeowners can control them with insecticidal soap; for larger stink bugs, use products containing pyrethroids. You can also utilize physical exclusion techniques like netting or row covers to keep the stink bugs out of your yard. —When using row covers, timing is crucial because you don't want to use them to impede pollination.

—Since the brown marmorated stink bug most frequently infiltrates along field edges, commercial producers should concentrate their monitoring efforts there. In these circumstances, pyrethroid products can also be helpful.

—Throughout the summer, stink bugs will most likely produce two generations, so keep a careful eye on your crops. Early summer is when the first generation will emerge, and late summer or early fall is when the second generation does.

—Brown marmorated stink bugs may begin to appear in your home as the weather cools off and they seek cover from the elements. Toward the end of August, they can also begin to cluster on the exterior of homes. If homeowners spot these stinkbug parties, they can spray them with soapy water and kill them before they end up inside.

For more information on pest control, contact your Laurel County Extension office.