What control methods are effective against stink bugs?

The stink bug, scientifically known as the true bug (family Pentatomidae), also called shield bug or stink beetle, is an insect of the order Hemiptera and family Pentatomidae, with more than 30,000 species, over 90% of which are agricultural pests. Their common features are a flattened body, ranging from large to tiny in size, and a beak-shaped mouthpart suited for piercing and sucking. Let us take a look below at the best ways to control stink bugs!

Manual control

Adults and nymphs mostly rest on the outer leaves or fruits of the tree canopy in the morning and evening or in rainy weather, and can be caught and killed in the morning or evening when the dew has not dried and they are inactive. Eggs are mostly laid on the leaf surface in egg masses and are very easy to find; during the adult egg-laying period from May to August, inspect the orange orchard thoroughly and remove the egg masses promptly. However, if a black ring is found under the egg cap, it means the egg has been parasitized by a parasitic wasp and should be retained in the field and protected so that it can reproduce naturally and increase the number of parasitic wasps in the orange orchard.

Biological control

Stink bugs have very many natural enemies in nature, and the known ones include weaver ants, parasitic wasps, mantises, spiders and many others, which should be protected and utilized.

Chemical control

If the pest population is too large and cannot be solved by manual control alone, spray with a 1000-fold dilution of 80% dichlorvos emulsion or an 800-1000-fold dilution of 90% trichlorfon crystal. If some pine-alkali mixture is added to the trichlorfon solution, the control effect can be improved, and control during the first and second instar nymph stages gives even better results.