Killing Stink Bugs

  Hello Gardeners, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow. Tony Melton says the best way to kill stink bugs is with two bricks. And truly, there are no pesticides for homeowners that do a good job controlling these piercing and sucking insects. They have a distinctive shield shape and come in a variety of colors. When your okra pods curl and when your tomatoes have hard white spots under the skin, those defects are the results of stink bug feeding. Scouting the garden frequently in the cooler mornings lets you spot these insects before they warm up and are highly mobile. The nymphs or immatures tend to cluster which makes them easy prey. I often clap my hands together hard and grind them slightly around the part of the plant where the insects are feeding. Wearing gloves makes it easier as their chitin shells are sharp.