Insects found in one sample of 10 sweeps. Photo by S. Biles

Stink Bug numbers really went up in the past week with some fields having over 100 bugs per 100 sweeps. Most of the stink bugs we are finding in soybeans are red banded stink bugs and this is a worst case since this bug is much more damaging than the other stink bugs.

(Photo by: M. O. Way)

The economic threshold for most stink bugs is 36 per 100 sweeps, but for the red banded stink bug, the published threshold is 16 per 100 sweeps and I would probably treat around 12 per 100 sweeps.

Something about this bug feeding makes it cause more yield and quality loss than the other species of stink bugs.

The results of an insecticide control trial from 2023 is below. Control of stink bugs can be achieved by applying Acephate or pyrethroid insecticides at the maximum rate of the label.  Imidacloprid is not a recommended insecticide for stink bug control.

For more information about insect management in soybeans follow this link to “Managing Soybean Insects in Texas.”