Stink Bugs in Tomato

Plant Health Clinic Disease Note Issue 20

Sherrie Smith and Jason Pavel

Tomato Stinkbug Damage-Pentatomidae. Photo by Sherrie Smith, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture 

Tomato Stinkbug Damage-Pentatomidae. Photo by Sherrie Smith, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture 

Adult stink bugs are shield-shaped insects with piercing sucking mouthparts. They get their common name “Stink bug,” from the strong odor they emit when disturbed. Several species of stink bugs feed on tomato fruit as well as on many other vegetables, fruits, nuts, and field crops. Stink bug species in Arkansas include the Green stink bug, Acrosternum hilare (Say), the Southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (Linnaeus), the Brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say) and the Rice stink bug, Oebalus pugnax (Fabricius).

Stink Bug Damage in Tomato

Stink bugs pierce tomato fruit and inject enzymes from their salivary glands to liquefy and pre-digest the plant material. Damage to green tomato fruit appears as dark pinpricks surrounded by a light discolored area. On ripe fruit the area around the feeding site usually turns yellow. If the skin of the fruit is peeled back, white spots may be observed on the flesh of the tomato.

Control Options

Green Stinkbug-Acrostemum hilare. Photo by Sherrie Smith, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture 

For stink bug control, homeowners may use Ortho Max Flower, Fruit, Citrus, and Vegetable Insect Control, or Bio Advanced Insect Control, or Spectracide Insect Control, or permethrins. Scouting and handpicking can eliminate a few. Stinkbug traps are also available.

Take Aways:

• Apply insecticides in spring to early summer as soon as newly hatched stink bugs are detected.

This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program [grant no. 2017-70006 27279/project accession no. 1013890] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

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