Organic Gardening - How to Control Stink Bugs on Tomatoes

The stink bug is a common pest with tomato plants and other plants in the garden. I North America alone there are 250 species and worldwide there have been over 4,700 species described in almost 900 genera. They live throughout the world in our fields, meadows and yards and can be controlled by a few different methods in organic gardening.

It is the member of the bug family pentatomidae and easily recognize with having a shield like body. There life cycle like all hemipterans undergo simple metamorphosis with three stages that are the egg, nymph and adult. Eggs are laid in groups on plant stems and the underside of leaves. The nymph look very similar to the adult but have a rounder rather than shield shape body. The nymphs go through 5 instars before becoming an adult and this all happens in a 4 - 5 week period. A major problem in gardens is that the adult stink bug will overwinter in the garden under debris, boards, logs or even leaf litter. There are some species that the nymph will do the same.

A stink bugs diet in a garden can be devastating. They use there piercing mouth part to suck sap from the leaves, stems and fruit of plants and can cause injury to them. The stink bug actually begins it's life as a herbivores and then becomes a predator. As a predator it will overpower caterpillars and beetle larva and keep pest insects in check.

The defense system against other predators is it's smell. They expel a foul smelling compound from there thoracic gland when threatened. This smell sends a chemical message to other stink bugs that there is danger in the area and it can also suppress the attack of harmful microorganisms. This scent also plays a role in the attraction of mates.

There are organic methods to aid in the control of the stink bug. These methods include companion planting, trap planting, washing and spraying.

Companion planting is one of the best methods to prevent the stink bug from getting into your garden. This is simply done by planting herbs and other natural deterrent plants with your crop that will repel stink bugs, like marigolds, chrysanthemums, garlic, lavender, mints and thyme.

Another method that will keep the stink bug off your plants and deter them from your garden is to simply wash the plants with straight water daily for about a week.

There are sprays that can also be made by mixing either vegetable oil, olive oil or even lavender oil with 1/2 water and spray your tomatoes.

Trap planting is a method that attracts the stink bug to a location away from your garden. The stink bugs is know to like the color yellow. Crops other that your common crops you plant in your garden like sunflowers, buckwheat, triticale, sorghum and millet are plants that will attract the stink bug to a location that you can deal with them.

Fall cleanup of the garden is very important in pest control in an organic garden. Leaving debris in the garden give them the perfect environment to overwinter.

A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening. Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment.

John Yazo

http://www.organicheirloomgardening.com

Allentown, Stink Bugs, and Pest Control Tips

Allentown, famous for hiding the Liberty Bell from the British, was also immortalized in a song by Billy Joel. It is the third most populous city in the state of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are first and second) and is the county seat of Lehigh County. Wildwater Kingdom, a water theme park is located just outside of the city and many people enjoy going out for an evening of listening to the Allentown Symphony Orchestra.

Located on the Lehigh River, Allentown has cool dry falls, cold and changeable winters and hot, muggy summers. Winter months will push in the mice as they search for food and warmth while the hot and muggy summer months can bring in the ants and other pests searching for water sources and good nesting places. While ants are certainly a pain in the pantry, they are not nearly as problematic as the rodents who have to constantly chew and gnaw to keep their teeth from growing too long and will leave their nasty droppings everywhere they roam. Rodents carry ticks, fleas and other germ carrying pests along with them.

A Unique Pest for Allentown?

Around 2001, the first officially reported case of the brown marmorated stink bug appeared in Allentown. It was still being described as mostly a household/ornamental plant pest in late 2008 and early 2009, but worries are that it will turn into a major agricultural pest. They are quite nasty and they stink.

Pest control tips

Allentown residents can follow these small tips to prevent pest infestations:

- Make sure food and water sources are inaccessible to pests.

- When bringing in paper bags or boxes from the grocery stores check them for pests.

- Do not allow wood to be stacked near your home.

- Clean up clutter and debris in your yard.

- Be vigilant of bugs or rodents in and around your home.

Alex G. Rogers is a freelance writer that publishes articles for a variety of publications. The topics that Alex Rogers frequently write about include health care, gardening, pest control, and home improvement. He is a normal contributor to a site about Pest Control and you can read more about Allentown Pest Control and terminix pest control there.

Stink Bug Control

Stink bugs are attracted to light and they will find their ways in to your home during long summer nights when veranda, porch and decks lights are on and once doors are being constantly opened and closed they will make their way into your home.

Places like houses, barns, basements and so forth provide much needed warmth and shelter from things such as rain, cold and other harsh elements that can greatly affect stink bugs. Stink bugs will go to great lengthens to get out of cold and harsh weather and they will work very hard to get in to your house. They will work their way in and around window and door frames, they will crawl up to the attic or space vent, under roofs and under roof shingles or they will try to sneak into the garage or basement. Once they are inside your home they go into hibernation mode and they will go into state of suspended animation and wait for winter to pass.

This is not always the case though and once inside your home they may be attracted to the warmth and they may not go into hibernation mode and they will not go into a state of animation. They will become and remain very active through out winter. Try not to touch them, disturb them, mishandle them or threat or annoy them in way because they will produce or release a very nasty smell and there are some species that inflict a very small but pin like bite.

If you would like to learn more on how to get rid of stink bugs please visit Stink Bugs.

Stink Bug Control - Why Not?

They say that there is nothing that you can do about them, and it stinks. I am talking about Stink Bugs of course. We are reading in PA, stories that say Stink Bugs are here to stay, and that you just have to get used to it.

Now I ask the question, why not pest control for Stink Bugs? I have to admit that they a big of a challenge for us pest control professionals, but so are Bed Bugs and Roaches. Are we sure when we say that "There is nothing that you can do about them", that we are not simply making an excuse? In any event, there is a way to control them, and some times it takes a serious effort and intense inspections.

Stink Bug control involves more than just a little spraying here and there. As professionals, it is our duty to find the infestations, access points, and make recommendations to seal areas that the stinkers are using to enter the structure. It may be a lot of work, but with some good team effort, Stink Bugs can be controlled.

Years ago, I heard the same sad story about Boxelder Beetles. I am referring to the statement that they cannot be controlled. After learning about them in 1991, I know exactly how to control them. But it took time to understand their habits, and learn exactly where to look for them, and how to use their instincts against them. It is no different for Stink Bug control...even though they are new to areas such as Pennsylvania, we need to study them and use their habits to our advantage when controlling them.

"Okay, so how do you control them?", you ask. I knew you would ask. In one word, I will answer--powerspray! The national companies who say that there is nothing that you can do about them are not willing to powerspray, so they simply shy away.

Powerspraying is equivalent to painting the home with a product that lasts for a few months and stops them before they enter--keeping them "Dying at the door". Sometimes it can take a full year of powerspraying to keep them out. And the most important treatment will be in the fall. Why? Because that is when Stink Bugs "overwinter". This means "spend the winter in your walls"! If you can stop them from entering in the first place, you won't have them dropping in on you in the middle of the winter. Don't be discouraged, call a pest professional who is willing to powerspray, and soon, you will notice a big difference, and you will be able to blow the stink off!

If you want to know how to get rid of stink bugs, you may find our stin bug control package here: http://www.dominionpestcontrol.com/products/pest-packages/stink-bug-control-package4/

Stink Bug Control Secrets

Stink Bug Control: Home Entry Points

No matter how new your home is, no home is air tight. There are always some openings, cracks or holes which may be on the ceiling, in the basement or cracks on the wall. Stink bugs are probably the most persistent insect one can encounter and once they find an entrance to your house they will not keep coming unless it is sealed up. Do not be fooled by their shape or size, they can maneuver their way into the tiniest of gaps! Once they are inside your home they tend to find great hiding places. For instance if your house has a false bottom or cupboards that do not go all way to the wall they will hide in between the wall and cupboard. So here you will not be able to see them and those are difficult areas to reach and treat.

1) Main Points of Entry

These bugs will gather on the two sides of your home that receive the most direct sunlight. During the winter, they may hibernate here; during the warmer months they will exploit points of entry on this part of your house. Stink bugs actually like to enter your home from the top down, however if they find openings on the lower part of your house they will not discriminate. The following are the most vulnerable points of entry:

Torn Window/Door Screens

Ducts

Pipes

Drainage Systems

Chimney

Lose Shingles/Siding

Window/Door Frames

2) Secondary Points of Entry

So Stink bugs have entered your home, you hear them in the walls or the attic, but how are they getting into your living area?

Light fixtures

Air Vents

Attic Vent

Crawl Space

Cracks in ceiling

For more information on control methods please visit:

Stink Bug Control