This here is a bounty of Stinkbug babies. Don’t be deceived by the cute-factor in the photo. Stinkbugs are a tremendous problem to any garden, specifically an organic garden. Without the use of harsh pesticides they are drawn to the garden in plague-like droves.
photo: © Marisa Calderon/Lady Greenthumbs
The presence of stinkbugs in North America is a somewhat new-school issue. It is said that they came over in shipping containers from China and were first spotted stateside in 1998 in Allentown PA. They belong to the Pentatomidae family and are often confused with my other garden pest, the Squash Bug.
These bad boys have scent glands located on the dorsal surface of the abdomen and the underside of the thorax. A stinkbug that is threatened will release a variety of chemicals that “stink” as a form of self-defense. Insect mace!
I’m a vegan and I find it so difficult to kill these guys. But then again, I’m also an organic gardener and I’ve got to prioritize. In recent years I’ve called in Mother Nature’s army to take care of this issue. Some species of spiders and praying mantises will go to town on stinkbugs, leaving me out of the “elimination” scenario. BAM!