STINK BUGS AND
LEAF-FOOTED BUGS AND
SQUASH BUGS, OH MY!
by Marilyn Pease,
Master Gardener
Entomology Specialist
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May is when stink bugs
and leaf-footed bugs
begin to appear in our
vegetable gardens. These
are part of a large
group of “true bugs”
with shield-shaped
bodies and a multitude
of colors. The
leaf-footed bug often
will have “cowboy chaps”
on his last set of legs.
You need to act quickly
when they are first
observed. Both the adult
and juvenile forms suck
plant juices from all
parts of vegetables and
fruits. Their favorites
will often be our first
precious tomatoes of the
season. They also enjoy
beans, cabbage, corn,
okra, peas, and squash.
In short, they are
probably in no danger of
not getting their
recommended 5-8 servings
of veggies a day!
Leaf-footed bug
© Michael Redmer
 Hand
picking works if you
have only a few. Don’t
crush them as they
really do stink, and the
stink will stay with you
for a long time. Drop
them into soapy water.
Also, be warned, they
might try to taste you
with their
piercing-sucking mouth
parts; it’s more of a
poke than a bite. A good
blast of water will
knock them silly and
discourage their return.
However, a large
infestation will require
a pesticide. Always
consider what your own
personal threshold for
damage is and choose the
least toxic pesticide
(such as pyrethrum) to
match.
Squash bug
Photo by Whitney
Cranshaw
Professor/Extension
Specialist, Entomology
Colorado State
University |
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For future prevention,
encourage beneficial
tachinid flies and wasps
by not over-using
pesticides and planting
a good diversity of
plants. These insects
will parasitize true
bugs and help keep them
under control. You
should also practice
good fall weed clean up
so there will be fewer
over-wintering sites for
them. |
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