Monthly Tip

Stink bug's eggs are white in barrel-shaped cylinders with concentric circles ending in a bull’s eye. You might find them on the underside of leaves or in plain sight on fruits and vegetables in your garden. Soon they will hatch, shapeshifting in appearance five times before becoming shield-shaped adults either in brown or green color. Called stink bugs because they excrete a smelly fluid when disturbed. These insects feed on a variety of fruits, nuts, and vegetables such as tomatoes, squash, and beans, leaving blemishes and dark pinpricks in their wake. The best way to control them is to handpick eggs and bugs off plants and get rid of weeds where they may live. It’s not helpful to use insecticides because by the time you notice damage, the stink bugs will likely be gone already.

More information: UC Pest Note on Stink Bugs