Dusky stink bug

Insect

Dusky stink bug

Euschistus tristigmus (Say)

Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae

Distribution: Most fruit-growing states and provinces in eastern North America.

Photos

Along with catfacing, damage may appear as depressed, dimpled, corky or water-soaked areas on the fruit skin. Peter Shearer, Rutgers Univ.
D

Stink bug adults have a broad, flattened, shield-shaped body and a narrow head. The dusky stink bug is dark brown, with sharp shoulder projections (A).

Crops Affected: apples, cherries, peaches, pears, plums

Damage

Can cause fruit damage in all tree fruits under conditions that are not yet fully understood. Adult feeding during bloom and shuck split can cause the fruit to abort, and feeding later in the summer can cause a deep catfacing injury (B) such as that caused by tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris), or depressed, dimpled, corky or water-soaked areas on the skin (C, D). All tree fruits are attacked, especially peaches and apples. Other species of stink bugs are beneficial predators.

Management

Elimination of alternate host broadleaf weeds, especially legumes, in the orchard will contribute to management efforts. If control is needed, insecticides should be timed to kill immigrating adults as they appear in the orchards to prevent feeding damage and subsequent mating and egg laying.

Similar Species

The green stink bug [Acrosternum hilare (Say)] is uniformly grass-green. The brown stink bug [Euschistus servus (Say)] is brown to grayish-brown and slightly speckled. The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is usually brown with whitish antennal segments and darker bands on the membranous, overlapping portion of the hind wings. Patches of coppery or bluish metallic-colored punctures occur on the head and pronotum. Nymphal stages of the brown marmorated stink bug have white antennal segments and white bands on their tibia. Their bodies are reddish brown and have horn-like projections near the eyes.