Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds

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Summary

• Worldwide distribution. Tropical, sub-tropical and temperate countries. On brassicas, capsicum, cucumber and other cucurbits, and legumes, including yard long beans. It is also a pest of tomato. Many other plants, including weeds.
• A stink bug (15 mm), when disturbed they smell! Nymphs back becoming spotted in rows, and increasingly green. Adults fully green.
• The bugs suck sap from flower buds, fruits and seeds of many vegetables, food legumes (yard-long beans), fruits (tomatoes), and weeds. The bugs are strong flyers.
• Natural enemies: few; possibly natural enemies.
• Cultural control: avoid planting near older infected crops; weed; use trap crops, e.g., rattle pod, Crotalaria.
• Chemical control: PDPs: derris, pyrethrum, chilli, possibly neem; alternatively, use synthetic pyrethroids, but these are likely to kill natural enemies (mostly ants).