Beneficial Stink Bugs in Crops

Beneficial Stink Bugs in Crops

Podisus maculiventris, better known as the spined soldier bug (Figure 1), is a close relative of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB, Figure 2). However, the spined soldier bug is not only deemed nonthreatening to crops, gardens, and ornamentals, but is beneficial to their health. It is important to identify which type of stink bugs you are dealing with before you move forward with pest management.

Brown marmorated stink bugs pose a threat to agronomic crops especially corn and soybeans. Their quick reproduction habits and knack for hiding can be a dangerous combination for this invasive species. They feed directly on leaves and fruits and can kill small seedlings as well. Regular field scouting is the best practice for managing this pest. Control can be achieved by eliminating weed host plants that inhabit BMSB. These insects are drawn to living on mullein, mustard, and dock. They can also be accustomed to milkweed, plantain and select types of thistles.

The spined soldier bug is a beneficial insect that can be extremely helpful in consuming other unwanted pests in the field including select caterpillars and beetles. They can live on almost any field crop or in any garden setting. Females lay over 25 loose egg masses. If you come across spined soldier bugs in your fields, it is best to leave them be and let them proceed with their natural, biological control. In some cases, spined soldier bug nymphs can be purchased and released into the field for pest management.

How do we tell them apart? The brown marmorated stink bugs have a brownish grey body. Adults are approximately 17mm long and have rounded edges around their bodies and backside. Their backs are spotted and their heads are rounded as well. The spined soldier bug has distinct sharp shoulders and backs that protrude into points. Adults are about 13mm in length and have smaller heads than the BMSB. Spined soldier bugs also have a dark line on their forewings.

This article appears in September 2023, Volume 14, Issue 6 of the Agronomy News.

Agronomy News, September 2023, Vol. 14, Issue 6

Agronomy News is a statewide newsletter for farmers, consultants, researchers, and educators interested in grain and row crop forage production systems. This newsletter is published once a month during the growing season and will include topics pertinent to agronomic crop production. Subscribers will receive an email with the latest edition.

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