Surge in stink bug activity

Since the current heat wave began last weekend, we have been seeing a large increase in stink bug sightings in central Ohio. Stink bugs have not been commonly found for most of the summer even in known hot spots like Columbus. We are now finding stink bugs in late plantings of sweet corn (Figure 1), where their feeding results in shriveled kernels (Figure 2). We are also seeing them in bell peppers and apples (Figure 3) and soybeans , as well as around buildings. Most are the brown marmorated stink bug, but we are also finding some of our native green stink bug and brown stink bug. In soybeans last week, the majority of stink bugs that we found were large nymphs (Figure 4), with only a few adults, but in the past few days we are starting to see fewer nymphs and more adults. It is the new adults that are quite mobile that will be seeking protected places to overwinter. They are particularly active when temperatures are above 80 degrees, as they have been for the past week. Our trapping network has shown that stink bug activity is highly variable around Ohio; there are a few hot spots such as Columbus, but some locations have had no detection of stink bugs, and many locations with only light detection. Reports on catch of brown marmorated stink bug in our trap network can be found with this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LtyYFH06PRhb2OOij97pMULqDuL9zOnDRuNinI3dxzk/edit?usp=sharing . Growers with susceptible late-season crops should scout their fields to determine whether stink bugs are present.

Figure 1. Brown marmorated stink bug, nymphs and adults, on sweet corn ear.

Figure 2. Shriveled kernels of sweet corn caused by stink bug feeding through the husks.

 

Figure 3. Adult of brown marmorated stink bug on apple.

 

Figure 4. Nymph (immature stage) of brown marmorated stink bug on soybean.

 

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