Loudoun County Master Gardeners

Seasonal Alerts

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug – Halyomorpha halys

Stink Bugs: The BMSB adult is approximately ¾”. They have a “shield” shaped body, almost as wide as they are long. The name “stink bug” comes from the scent glands that can emit an unpleasant odor.  

Problem: The BMSB has become a serious pest on fruit, vegetables and farm crops in the Mid-Atlantic region. It is probable to become a pest of these products in other areas of the United States . Injury in tree fruits can be severe

BMSBs are a domestic pest when they are attracted to the inside and outside of houses on warm fall days searching for protected, overwintering sites. The BMSB may reappear during warmer sunny periods in the winter, and again as it emerges in the spring. 

Benefits: There are no benefits of BMSB.  There are other stink bugs (green stink bug) that are native and do not cause the damage the BMSB does.

Solutions:

Inside:  The best solution is prevention.  Seal cracks around windows, doors, chimneys, siding, trim, and fascia to keep stink bugs from entering your home.  Remove window air conditioners.  A vacuum (such as a hand-held car vac) is the best control once they are inside. 

Outside:  Spray as soon as BMSBs appear. 

In the garden:  Spray with an insecticide containing acetamiprid on leafy vegetables, fruiting vegetables, cole crops, citrus fruits, pome fruits, grapes, and ornamental plants and flowers (per the EPA).

For specific vegetables from the VA Tech Pest Management Guide:

Vegetable

Active ingredient

Treatment

Beans

(snap and lima )

Bifenthrin

Esfenvalerate

 

3-day wait before harvest for both

Cucurbits

Bifenthrin

Carbaryl

Esfenvalerate

Treat when seedlings emerge from soil if dam­age appears. Repeat at 5-day intervals as needed. Make application in late afternoon.

Bifenthrin: 3-day wait

Read label for carbaryl – may kill bees when applied between 10 am and 2 pm

Esfenvalerate: 3-day wait – not labeled for cantaloupe or watermelon

Lettuce

Bifenthrin

Carbaryl

Permethrin

Bifenthrin: 7-day wait.

Carbaryl: 3-day wait for head lettuce, 14-day wait for leaf lettuce

Permethrin: 1-day wait

Tomato

Bifenthrin

Carbaryl

Cyfluthrin

Esfenvalerate

Treat when damage appears or when insects appear in damaging numbers.

Bifenthrin: 1-day wait

Carbaryl: 0-day wait

Cyfluthrin: 0-day wait

Esfenvalerate: 1-day wait

Cautions:

Read the label on each pesticide container before each use. Follow the printed instructions to the letter; heed all cautions and warnings; note precautions about residues.

Store pesticides in the containers in which you bought them. Put them where children and animals cannot get to them preferably locked-up and away from food, feed, seed, and other materials that may become harmful if contaminated.

Dispose of empty pesticide containers properly.

 

References:

For general information about stink bugs see Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Virginia Tech, 2009

Articles on what to do about stink bugs.

Loudoun County Survey on Stink Bugs