Insecticides for Spraying Turnip Greens for Stinkbugs

Stinkbugs and Turnips

• Named for their disgusting smell when disturbed, stinkbugs are found all over the world and feed on a wide variety of plants. In particular, the Murgantia histrionica (or harlequin bug) and Nezara viridula (or southern green stink bug) are known to attack turnips. They damage the greens of the turnip by sucking on their veins, slowly destroying the plant by removing its much-needed nutrients.

Indentifying an Infestation on Your Turnips

• Before applying any sort of control, you must first confirm that it is a stinkbug on your turnips so that you don't use the wrong insecticide and harm your plants. The harlequin bug is black with orange-red spots around its body and is around 9mm (3/8 in.) long. The southern green stink bug is slightly longer, around 12mm to 15 mm (around ½ to ¾ inch), and it varies in color from light green to dull brown. Both types of stinkbugs plant their eggs in large clusters. If you discover any of these on the turnip greens, it is necessary to apply some sort of control.

Controlling for Minor Infestations on Your Turnips

• If the infestation is minor, there are some things you can do before having to resort to insecticides. Insecticides can be harmful to the environment and unjustifiable in a minor infestation. Before spraying, consider simply hand-picking the bugs off. By removing them from your crops, they will be unable to damage your turnip greens. Another method is to spray the leaves with an insecticidal soap. This is safer than using a chemical insecticide because the turnips will not be exposed to a harmful chemical and will be completely edible for human consumption.

Using Spray Insecticides

• If a major infestation occurs, chemical sprays may be the only way to rid your turnips of stinkbugs. To be the most effective, spray insecticides at the stinkbugs' different feeding areas. Underneath the leaves and below the tops of the plants' canopies will provide the best results. The best insecticides to use against stinkbugs are diazinon, dimethoate, cyfluthrin and endosulfan. Use these sprays as early as possible in the infestation.