Stink Bugs

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Matt_from_Pittsburgh

Registered:1232252573
Posts: 227

Posted 1285649971	Reply with quote #1

Hate them. They're ugly, they're invasive, they stink when you squish them (or just whenever because they're jerks), they destroy crops, they have no known predators in the U.S., and this time of year all they want to do is get into your house. If you frighten them or squash them, they release a nasty odor, which actually attracts more stink bugs. They can live for years, and can breed multiple generations per year. They're always hanging around my pepper plants and fig trees. I kill maybe 10 a day outside and two or three inside, and there are always more. I'm thinking that they might be a vector for FMV. They're "true bugs" with sucking mouth parts. According to Penn State's agricultural extension website, they prey on figs. Here's some info for those of you lucky enough not to know what they are: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/27/us/27stinkbug.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=homepage http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/brown-marmorated-stink-bug http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_marmorated_stink_bug __________________ Matt Pittsburgh, PA Zone 6ish

TucsonKen

Registered:1246833094
Posts: 1,298

Posted 1285650873	Reply with quote #2

Wow! They sound like a real pain! I thought I had it bad, but they sound as bad or worse than any of the fruit-eating pests in my neighborhood. __________________ Ken Tucson, Arizona Zone 8b

Matt_from_Pittsburgh

Registered:1232252573
Posts: 227

Posted 1285651433	Reply with quote #3

We have native stink bugs up here, too, but they really aren't a nuisance. These new stink bugs are awful, though. I saw a few the past couple summers, but this year they are everywhere. I went out on my deck last night with my laptop, and the glow of the screen attracted so many I had to go inside. I think citronella attracts them, too. Supposedly there's some parasitic wasp that keeps them in check in Japan. The government might introduce the wasp here, but it could take years for them to run the tests that would permit that. In the meantime, fire ants don't sound so bad. At least most of them can't fly. __________________ Matt Pittsburgh, PA Zone 6ish

nypd5229

Registered:1290455653
Posts: 1,903

Posted 1301693208	Reply with quote #4

Just saw a report said they are suppose to be 10x worse this year. They're a nuisance but are they that invasive to attack figs? If that's the case I may be in trouble! __________________ Dominick Zone 6a-MA

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1301699076	Reply with quote #5

They are awful. They over-winter in exterior walls and wake up as the temps rise and move inside rather than outside because it is warmer. Sealing up the exterior of your house is the only way to keep them out. We used to have elder beetles here but the stinkbugs evicted them. I know a guy living in a real old house in the sticks and he has been at war with them since January. He was burning them with torch but he said that he got sick from the fumes and had vertigo for 2 days. The other day one crawled into his bowl of potato salad and turned his mouth numb. He doesn't have nearly as many as the photo in the NY Times, that looks real bad. Maybe the hot summer last year increased their numbers. I did notice lot's of that damage on local apples this past fall, had to sieve it out of the apple sauce. __________________ 7a, DE

nypd5229

Registered:1290455653
Posts: 1,903

Posted 1301708773	Reply with quote #6

My wife thinks we have it bad! Compared to stories like that and some from others, she has no idea how good we have it. __________________ Dominick Zone 6a-MA

GeorgiaFig

Registered:1272917158
Posts: 584

Posted 1301712310	Reply with quote #7

Hi Dominick. Humans have been growing and enjoying figs for thousands of years. The stinkiest Stink Bug in the world isn't going to change that. Enjoy your figs my friend. And Matt, the Red/Green Unknown cuttings rooted and leafed out nicely. Thank you. Hope you are well my friend. John North Georgia Piedmont Zone 7b

GeorgiaFig

Registered:1272917158
Posts: 584

Posted 1301712420	Reply with quote #8

P.S. Dominick. The rooting in water thing is working great for us. And the kids really enjoy being able to see what is happening with their fig cuttings. Best wishes. John

Dieseler

Registered:1215735852
Posts: 8,252

Posted 1301712831	Reply with quote #9

I could have sworn i seen that bug in my yard last season around my veggies when i was pulling weeds. It caught my attention because i never seen it before and it had that prehistoric look to it. I should have taken a picture, maybe if i see another i will . But last season we had a abundance of lady bugs flying all around and they were pesky because of there increased numbers. Seems like each season there are a lot of one type then it changes the following year for us here to another type.

nypd5229

Registered:1290455653
Posts: 1,903

Posted 1301753745	Reply with quote #10

Yeah they had a report on Boston TV showing how bad last year it was for local tomato crops. Then there was one on my counter 2 days ago! Hey John thanks for the kind words but really I got the idea from others here about using water. __________________ Dominick Zone 6a-MA

Matt_from_Pittsburgh

Registered:1232252573
Posts: 227

Posted 1301762242	Reply with quote #11

I have a few year and two year-old trees that came out of dormancy early in the kitchen. I find a stink bug every couple of days on one of the trees. I really, really hate those things. John-Glad to hear you got the cuttings to root. I hope they do well for you this year. The unknown yellow cuttings you sent me rooted and leafed out nicely. One shot up a foot in a matter of a couple weeks. Definitely a top prospect for 2011. __________________ Matt Pittsburgh, PA Zone 6ish

gorgi

Registered:1188888396
Posts: 2,864

Posted 1301763532	Reply with quote #12

Last fall, I opened up my deck umbrella to air it out before winter-storing it in the garage. Within the folds, there were tons of these new alien brown sting-bugs. Being still early in a (chilly) morning, I quickly half-filled a cup with water added some detergent (they drown in it) and scoped them all up. Some of them do find a way to make it inside the (warm) house. I have seen a few of them 'lousy' fliers by my night lamp. So far no six-footed bomb has landed on my face or my wife's yet (eeek!). Also, I have seen some (spring) squirming baby-ones, ~1/16" by a window. They look exactly as the adults. They then later (starved) died - mama figured a way in, but could not figure a way-out of the house! http://njaes.rutgers.edu/stinkbug/ __________________ George, NJ_z7a.

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1301773982	Reply with quote #13

I read in one of those articles that they respond to pheromone traps when young, or only in the fall when mature. Milky spore and phorid flies are supposed to be working well on japanese beetles and fire ants so let's hope to see those wasps soon. Dominick, that looks like one of our natives stinkers, forgot what they looked like actually. The new one from China is "marmorated" with banded antennae and white spots. __________________ 7a, DE

drivewayfarmer

Registered:1260287641
Posts: 773

Posted 1301774648	Reply with quote #14

Anyone tried kaolin clay/water spray (Surround) to help control them on plants ? Worked effectively for controlling cucumber beetles for us when we grew acres of veggies for sale. __________________ Kerry Zone 5 NH Wish list :Galicia Negra , Col de Dame Blanca/Negra .

nypd5229

Registered:1290455653
Posts: 1,903

Posted 1301776122	Reply with quote #15

The Brown ones are what we get up here but there are a few others. __________________ Dominick Zone 6a-MA

satellitehead

Registered:1257988353
Posts: 3,687

Posted 1301784055	Reply with quote #16

I had a ton of the new invasive ones lAst year homing up in my grill tarp..... __________________ Jason Atlanta/Grant Park area - z8

Pami225

Registered:1301242774
Posts: 79

Posted 1301844035	Reply with quote #17

I didn't know what those things were. I saw one last October on my door frame. I took a picture of it. Hadn't seen another since, but DBF said he found a dead one the other day when he was moving some furniture. Apparently they also serve as cat toys. __________________ Pami Zone 6

Figluvah

Registered:1297432492
Posts: 1,111

Posted 1301844969	Reply with quote #18

What does DBF stand for.......??? It would be easy for me to let my imagination run WILD __________________ Cecil (Z 8b?) in the sticks of E.Tx (Elkhart/Palestine TX)

Pami225

Registered:1301242774
Posts: 79

Posted 1301845409	Reply with quote #19

Quote: Originally Posted by Figluvah What does DBF stand for.......??? It would be easy for me to let my imagination run WILD LOL- it's "dear boyfriend" __________________ Pami Zone 6

Figluvah

Registered:1297432492
Posts: 1,111

Posted 1301845544	Reply with quote #20

Thanks Whew......I was really worried there for a minute.......HEHE, can ya tell I'm damn near 74 years old? __________________ Cecil (Z 8b?) in the sticks of E.Tx (Elkhart/Palestine TX)

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