If you’ve noticed odd, discolored spots on your ripening tomatoes, you might be wondering: do stink bugs eat tomatoes? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. These shield-shaped insects are a common garden pest that can damage your tomato plants and fruit. This guide will help you identify their damage and give you practical, effective ways to control them.
Stink bugs use their piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed. They don’t chew holes like caterpillers. Instead, they poke into the fruit, inject digestive enzymes, and suck out the juices. This leaves behind tell-tale signs that are easy to recognize once you know what to look for.
Do Stink Bugs Eat Tomatoes
Understanding their feeding habits is the first step to control. Both adult stink bugs and their younger nymphs will feed on tomatoes. They prefer the fruit, but will also sometimes target stems and leaves.
How to Identify Stink Bug Damage on Tomatoes
Look for these key signs on your plants:
* Yellow or White Blotches: Under the skin of the tomato, where the bug fed, you’ll see pale, cloudy spots. These are often called “cloudy spots.”
* Pinprick Marks: Tiny, dark specks on the surface of the fruit surrounded by a lighter yellow area. This is the actual puncture site.
* Distorted Growth: If they feed on very young fruit, it can become misshapen as it grows.
* Hard, White Tissue Inside: Cut into the tomato. The areas beneath the surface spots will be hard and white, unlike the normal soft, juicy flesh. This makes the fruit unpleasant to eat.
* Early Drop: Severely damaged young tomatoes may fall off the plant prematurely.
Why Stink Bugs Are a Problem Beyond Your Tomatoes
Stink bugs are not picky eaters. While we’re focusing on tomatoes here, they can attack a wide range of garden crops. This makes controlling them important for your whole garden.
Common targets include:
* Peppers
* Beans
* Corn
* Squash
* Okra
* And many fruit trees like peaches and apples
Effective, Garden-Safe Stink Bug Control Methods
A good pest control strategy uses multiple tactics. Start with the least harmful methods and escalate only if needed.
1. Prevention and Early Intervention
Stop the problem before it starts. Keep stink bugs out of your garden in the first place.
* Remove Weeds and Debris: Clean up garden edges in fall and spring. This eliminates their favorite overwintering spots near your plants.
* Use Floating Row Covers: Cover young tomato plants with a lightweight fabric. This creates a physical barrier. Remember to remove it when plants flower so pollination can occur.
Plant Trap Crops: Plant something stink bugs love more than tomatoes, like sunflowers or mustard, at the garden’s edge. They will gather there, making them easier to deal with away from your main crop.
* Seal Up Your Home: In late summer, check windows, doors, and siding for gaps to prevent them from moving indoors.
2. Manual Removal Methods
For light infestations, your hands are your best tool.
* Hand-Picking: Drop stink bugs into a bucket of soapy water. They drown quickly. Do this in the early morning when they are slower.
* The Shop-Vac Trick: Gently use a handheld vacuum to suck them off plants. Empty the canister into soapy water immediately. This is very effective but can be a bit noisy for the garden!
3. Natural and Organic Solutions
These options have minimal impact on beneficial insects like bees and ladybugs.
* Insecticidal Soaps: These work best on the young nymphs, not the hardy adults. You must spray it directly on the bug to be effective.
* Neem Oil: A natural insecticide that can disrupt feeding. It needs to be reapplied every 7-10 days, especially after rain. Always follow the label instructions.
* Encourage Beneficial Insects: Many native predators eat stink bug eggs and young nymphs. Attract them by planting diverse flowers. Good predators include:
* Parasitic wasps (tiny and harmless to people)
* Spiders
* Praying mantises
* Birds (put up a birdhouse or bath)
4. Chemical Controls (Last Resort)
Synthetic pesticides can harm pollinators and other good bugs. Use them only as a last resort and with extreme care.
* Always Read the Label: Ensure the product is labeled for use on tomatoes and specifically lists stink bugs.
* Spot Treat: Never spray your whole garden. Only spray plants where you see active bugs.
* Timing is Everything: Spray in the early evening when bees are less active. Avoid spraying when plants are in full bloom.
A Seasonal Action Plan for Gardeners
Follow these steps through the year for best results.
1. Spring: Clean up garden debris. Install row covers on young plants. Monitor for the first adults, which emerge from winter hiding.
2. Early Summer: Check the undersides of tomato leaves for clusters of tiny, barrel-shaped eggs (often light green or white). Crush any egg masses you find. Begin hand-picking adults.
3. Mid to Late Summer: This is peak damage time. Be vigilant with manual removal. Deploy trap crops. Apply organic sprays like neem oil if infestation grows.
4. Fall: After harvest, remove old tomato plants and other spent crops. Till the soil lightly to disturb any bugs planning to overwinter there. Seal home entry points.
FAQ: Common Questions About Stink Bugs and Tomatoes
Q: Are tomatoes with stink bug damage safe to eat?
A: Yes, they are safe. Simply cut away the hard, discolored tissue. The rest of the tomato is fine to consume.
Q: What smells do stink bugs hate?
A: They are repelled by strong scents like mint, garlic, and chrysanthemum. Planting these around your garden may help deter them, but it’s not a foolproof solution.
Q: How do I keep stink bugs off my tomato plants naturally?
A: The most effective natural combo is manual removal combined with row covers and encouraging predatory insects. Consistency is key.
Q: What is the main predator of the stink bug?
A: In many areas, a parasitic fly and tiny wasps are important natural enemies. Birds also eat them. A diverse garden supports these predators.
Q: Can stink bugs kill a tomato plant?
A: It’s rare for them to kill an entire plant. Their primary damage is to the fruit quality. However, severe feeding on stems can weaken a plant.
Controlling stink bugs takes patience and persistence. By regularly inspecting your tomatoes, using physical barriers, and removing bugs by hand, you can protect your harvest. Remember, a clean garden and a strong ecosystem are your best long-term defenses. With these steps, you can enjoy healthy, undamaged tomatoes all season long.