Java
Full Member
Posts: 39
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2016 8:51 pm
Location: Zone 7a. Central NJ

bugs

Hi,
can any one find out what this bug is?

looks like stink bugs but smaller. They were sizing up my tomatoes.

I did spray neem oil but what else can I do?

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TomatoNut95
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 2069
Joined: Sun May 26, 2019 11:11 am
Location: Texas Zone 8

Looks like a stink bug to me.

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applestar
Mod
Posts: 30514
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)

I was going to say they look like Brown Marmorated Stinkbugs — harlequin striped legs and body edge — and then realized you are in NJ. Yep, Brown Marmorated is the primary species here. They are on tomatoes — they pierce the fruit and suck juice out, leaving white-light colored circle and dried out punky/corky sub-skin area that diminishes eating quality when ripe. Also, they/hole can introduce anthracnose, etc. and the fruit will spoil Faster.

Best to walk around with a deli pint cup /beverage cup/bowl of soapy Water and drop them in every time you go out in the garden. — they are typically slow and stupid in the morning, but be more flighty in the afternoon — My preferred method. 2nd choice is to snatch , drop, and stomp. :twisted: (you do have to get inured to them scrabbling in your palm, and to be sure to fling them to the ground while still disoriented, or they WILL fly off on you. Be quick or they might stink in your palm :evil: )



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