How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

DESCRIPTION OF THE PESTS

The most common stink bug in almonds is the green soldier bug. Adult green soldier bugs are bright green with the entire lateral margin lined in yellow or orange. Green soldier bug nymphs are a mixture of green, black, and orange. The redshouldered stink bug and green plant bug are smaller in size and less common. The redshouldered stink bug is somewhat triangular in shape and about 0.33 inch in length. It is predominantly green with a narrow red band across the shoulder; sometimes the band is absent. There is also a brown-colored phase, usually found in overwintering bugs. The green plant bug is dull to bright green and slightly larger (0.4–0.6 inch in length).

Stink bugs often develop in weeds or field crops and migrate into almonds during spring as weed or crop hosts dry up. The exception is the green soldier bug, which overwinters within the orchard. Eggs of these stink bugs are laid in clusters, are barrel shaped, and have concentric dark rings at the top. In almonds they are often found on the hulls of the nuts. Immature stages resemble the adults, but are smaller, rounder, and shinier because they lack wings. They exhibit a wide range of color markings that can be different from the adult.

Do not confuse pest stink bugs with the rough stink bug, Brochymena quadripustulata, a predator that is speckled white and gray and can also be found in almonds. Nymphs of Brochymena are colored red, white, and blue.

DAMAGE

Stink bug damage to almonds is usually caused by the green soldier bug. For decades this bug never reached pest status because broad-spectrum dormant insecticide treatments prevented it from overwintering in almonds. More recently there have been increasing numbers of reports of stink bug damage, especially in the lower San Joaquin Valley in orchards where organophosphate, carbamate, or pyrethroid insecticides have not been used for 3 to 4 years.

Damage by stink bugs usually occurs from May through July when the bugs insert their strawlike mouthparts through the hull and into the kernel. This damage is almost identical to damage caused by leaffooted plant bugs but occurs later in the season and does not result in nut abortion. Instead, damaged nuts can be recognized by strands of ooze, called gummosis, that exude from the puncture site. Kernels of damaged nuts either become wrinkled and misshapen, or if already hardened before damaged, will contain a black spot at the puncture site.

MANAGEMENT

Monitor from May through July for gummosis on the surface of almond hulls. If found, cut a cross section through the damaged area to distinguish bug damage from physiological problems by the presence of a puncture mark on the kernel. Because stink bugs are not highly mobile, it is common to find damage in clusters, often with the bug or an egg mass still present in the vicinity.

There are currently no treatment thresholds for stink bugs. Base the decision to treat on the amount of damage and orchard history. Generally speaking, one dormant (green soldier) or inseason broad-spectrum insecticide (all species) for any pest about every 3 years is sufficient to prevent economic damage. Where only reduced-risk products have been used and damage levels for stink bug become unacceptable, consider making an inseason treatment with one of the products listed below.

Common name		Amount to use	R.E.I.+	P.H.I.+
(trade name)			(hours)	(days)
The following materials are listed in order of usefulness in an IPM program, taking into account efficacy and impact on natural enemies and honey bees. When choosing a pesticide, also consider information relating to environmental impact. Not all registered pesticides are listed. Always read label of product being used.
A.	BIFENTHRIN*
	(Brigade) WSB	8–32 oz	12	7
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3
	COMMENTS: Do not repeat an application in less than 15 days. Will cause secondary pest outbreaks, especially spider mites, if used before hullsplit.
B.	LAMBDA CYHALOTHRIN*
	(Warrior with Zeon)	1.28–2.56 fl oz	24	14
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3
	COMMENTS: Will cause secondary pest outbreaks, especially spider mites, if used before hullsplit.
C.	CHLORPYRIFOS*
	(Lorsban) 4E	2 qt	24	14
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 1B
	COMMENTS: Do not apply more than 3 foliar applications/season. Do not allow livestock to graze in treated orchards. Avoid drift and tailwater runoff into surface waters.
+	Restricted entry interval (R.E.I.) is the number of hours (unless otherwise noted) from treatment until the treated area can be safely entered without protective clothing. Preharvest interval (P.H.I.) is the number of days from treatment to harvest. In some cases the REI exceeds the PHI. The longer of these two intervals is the minimum time that must elapse before harvest may occur.
*	Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use.
1	Rotate chemicals with a different mode-of-action Group number, and do not use products with the same mode-of-action Group number more than twice per season to help prevent the development of resistance. For example, the organophosphates have a Group number of 1B; chemicals with a 1B Group number should be alternated with chemicals that have a Group number other than 1B. Mode of action Group numbers are assigned by IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee). For additional information, see their Web site at http://www.irac-online.org/.

PUBLICATION

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Almond
UC ANR Publication 3431
Insects and Mites
F. G. Zalom, Entomology, UC Davis
C. Pickel, UC IPM Program, UC Cooperative Extension, Sutter/Yuba counties
W. J. Bentley, UC IPM Program, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
D. R. Haviland, UC IPM Program, UC Cooperative Extension, Kern County
R. A. Van Steenwyk, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley
Acknowledgment for contributions to Insects and Mites:
R. E. Rice, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
L. C. Hendricks, UC Cooperative Extension, Merced County
R. L. Coviello, UC Cooperative Extension, Fresno County
M. W. Freeman, UC Cooperative Extension, Fresno County

Top of page