How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs in Gardens

Stink Bug Management and Control

• 1

  Maintain your garden to avoid infestation by stink bugs and other pests. Keeping your garden free of weeds and debris gives insect pests fewer places to live, breed and hide.

• 2

  Identify your insect pests. Stink bugs can be identified by their shield-like shape and the telltale odor they give off when disturbed. Different stink bug species have wildly varying colors and patterns, which is why identification is important. A few species -- most notably the two-spotted and rough stink bug -- are actually beneficial to gardens. Others, like the consperse, harlequin and marmorated stink bugs, can be quite distructive to fruit and vegetable crops.

• 3

  Search your plants for stink bugs and remove them by hand. Stink bugs are fairly large and easy to spot, so hand-picking and destroying them is usually easier and more efficient than pesticides.

• 4

  Find stink bug eggs and destroy them. The eggs appear as clusters of barrel-shaped masses clinging to plant leaves.

• 5

  Encourage predators like birds, parasitic wasps and lacewings, which prey on stinkbugs and other insect pests. This can be accomplished by planting insectary plants in and around your garden.

• 6

  Use garlic-based substances as a repellent.