Stink bugs

[Tomatovator]

Cla
I don't know the names of the products off the top of my head. I really wasn't looking for insecticides for my plants but I was looking for something I could spray on my lawn to protect my dogs from fleas and ticks. I ended up not buying anything. If I see any of the products again I'll make note of the names and let you know.

[snappybob]

Has anybody used a product called Diatect. I claimes to kill stink bugs. It is not selective but if all you have right now is stink bugs destroying your garden and no or few good bugs then I might give it a try. It's organic and breaks down quickly they say. $20 bucks for 16 oz. Free shipping.

[duajones]

I have my PM millet growing in a container, spaced too close I think but hopefully will give it a test as a trap crop for the fall and give me seeds for the spring.

[CLa]

Never heard of it but I will have a look thanks Snappy

[duajones]

I have removed all but 1 plant each in my two beds. And they were loaded with stink bugs. I have killed many with soap spray over the past few days. I decided to leave the two plants as trap plants hoping the will leave my cherokee purple alone, which is unaffected at this point and still has tomatoes on it. They are a formiddable foe for sure

[feldon30]

I have ripe fruit on the vines, but I'm not interested in them because of rain splitting and stink bug bites. I just need to go out there with gloves and garbage bags and start tearing the garden down.

[Warren]

will the plants not put out more fruit?

why are you tearing down?

[duajones]

some of the plants had plenty of fruit on them, but they were mosty mishappen or badly damaged by the stink bugs. Plus the plants had taken a turn for the worse with fungal or other problems.

[feldon30]

Originally Posted by Warren

will the plants not put out more fruit?

Fruitset on all but cherries is pretty much non-existent in Houston from June through September. You're wasting water and garden space if you keep your plants in the ground for 4 unproductive months.

Originally Posted by Warren

why are you tearing down?

The plants have given all the good-looking fruit already and the plants all have fungal disease pretty bad after the rain we've had recently.

There is no point in keeping the plants in the ground for 4 months except as a stink bug factory.

In Houston, the plants go in the ground Feb 25-March 10th and come out July 1st or sooner depending on the year.

[Tomatovator]

How do you guys see stink bugs??? I see what looks like it could be very minor damage from a stink bug but I never see any bugs?? Are they that obvious that if you have them you see them??

[duajones]

I for sure see them with the infestation Ive had. Last year during the fall, I had them but not all that bad. And even when I didnt see them I could tell they had been around. Heres a look at a tomato from last year that had minor damage

[feldon30]

Adults (on a Beefy Boy) in the process of making...


nymphs (on a Sungold)

Should be able to see either one from about 8 feet away.

[Warren]

feldon, are you doing a fall crop?

[Husbear]

feldon
I could not agree more. The rain we have had here in Houston has been a bit much for most everything in the ground. I cut out all but 2 tomato plants last evening and the leaf footed stink bugs were not bad... but I had a few which I promptly dispached less they move to the watermelons in the tier garden.
Looks like I will be cooking up some green tomato salsa again.

[Tomatovator]

Morgan,
Yes, even I could see those if I had them. I may have seen ONE similar bug last year but it was fast. I never did catch it. They look pretty big. Would some sort of physical barrier work to keep them out? Some sort of netting, cloth,...??