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Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Stink Bugs

Green stink bug adult Stink bug injury (Peter Jentsch, Cornell University, Hudson Valley Laboratory, NY) Stink bug damage (WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, Wenatchee, WA 98801)
Click to enlarge.

Beginner

Scientific Nam
Acrosternum hilare

Identification
Eggs:

  • Laid in clusters,
  • Somewhat barrel shape,
  • Circular pattern of raised bumps on top.

Nymphs:

  • Oval,
  • Predominantly black, and become green as they age,
  • Later instar nymphs have obvious wing pads,
  • 12 mm in size.

Adults:

  • Relatively large insects,
  • Well-developed shield shaped bodies,
  • Small, narrow heads,
  • Green in colour,
  • Give-segmented antennae and a four-segmented “beak” for mouthparts,
  • 16-19 mm in size.

Damage:

  • Slight indented areas with a light brown corky area just under the fruit surface,
  • Cutting fruit open shows a feeding tube rarely more than half way to the core.

Often Confused With

  • Damage from other stinging insects- When fruit is cut open, tarnished plant bug feeding damage shows a characteristic tube rarely more than half way to the core which helps distinguish stink bug damage from other stinging insects.

Period of Activity
Stink bugs overwinter as adults in protected areas, becoming active when temperatures increase in the spring. They are usually present in orchards following bloom. Injury from stink bugs usually occurs later in the summer, and fruit tends to hang on though the harvest period.

Scouting Notes
There are no established monitoring techniques. Keep in mind that predatory stink bugs may also be present in the orchard.

Thresholds
None established.

Advanced

Scientific Name
Acrosternum hilare

Identification
Stink bugs are relatively large insects with well-developed shield shaped bodies and small, narrow heads. They have five-segmented antennae and a four-segmented “beak” for mouthparts. Eggs are laid in clusters and have a somewhat barrel shape with a circular pattern of raised bumps on top. Nymphs are oval, predominantly black, and become green as they age. Later instar nymphs have obvious wing pads. The green stink bug adult is, as the name implies, green.

Green stink bugs are the most common stink bugs found in Ontario apple orchards. Other stink bugs include brown stink bug (adult is brown to grayish brown and slightly speckled, 13 mm in size), dusky stink bug (dark brown with sharp shoulders, 10 mm in size). There are other stink bug species present in orchards, some of which are beneficial insects.

The brown marmorated stink bug (brown with whitish antennal segments, 17 mm in size), is a pest in orchards from northeastern PA, NJ and MD south to SC and west to WV, but has not been found in Ontario, but is expected to spread as it is an introduced species.

Injury to fruit occurs when adult stink bugs pierce the fruit skin to extract plant juices. The injury consists of slightly indented areas with a light brown corky area just under the fruit surface. Cutting fruit open shows a feeding tube rarely more than half way to the core.

Often Confused With

  • Damage from other stinging insects- When fruit is cut open, stink bug feeding damage shows a characteristic tube rarely more than half way to the core which helps distinguish stink bug damage from other stinging insects. Beneficial stink bugs can sometimes be distinguished from their plant feeding relatives by the thickness of their proboscis. Beneficial insects often have a very thick proboscis for puncturing and feeding on prey.

Biology
Stink bugs have a wide host range including ornamental and fruit trees, vines, weeds and other cultivated crops.

Period of Activity
Stink bugs overwinter as adults in protected areas, becoming active when temperatures increase in the spring. They are usually present in orchards following bloom. Injury from stink bugs usually occurs later in the summer, and fruit tends to hang on though the harvest period.

Scouting Notes
There are no established monitoring techniques. Keep in mind that predatory stink bugs may also be present in the orchard.

Thresholds
None established.

Management Notes

  • Stink bugs are not considered economically significant in Ontario.
  • They are occasionally a concern during hot, dry summers when alternate food sources such as broadleaf weeds are scarce.
  • Keep weedy areas along headlands mowed to prevent migration of stink bugs into orchards during dry, droughty summers.