How to Control Stink Bugs on Apples

Examine the area for stink bugs. Other common pests will also devour apples, so before beginning any method of control, verify that you do have a stink bug problem. Examine all of the plants near the apple tree, especially weeds, and look along the base of each plant. Stink bugs often collect in these areas.

Remove all weeds from the area. Stink bugs favor dried weeds, so by eliminating them from the immediate and surrounding area, you can reduce or even eliminate their numbers. Wear gardening gloves and remove the weeds from their roots to prevent them from immediately growing back.

Apply a pesticide to the apple tree. If stink bugs still linger despite your efforts to remove their host plants, a pesticide can both repel and kill the pests. Choose from among many different types of pesticide, sold under various trade names, and apply it using a garden sprayer. Useful pesticides include Fenpropathrin, once every 14 days; Dimethoate, once every 28 days; and Endosulfan, once every 30 days.

Examine your tree and the surrounding area each day for new signs of stink bugs. If all bugs disappear, cease using pesticides. If stink bugs remain, switch to a different pesticide. In some cases, certain varieties of stinkbugs may prove resistant to certain pesticides, particularly Endosulfan.