Even This Late in the Season, Red Banded Stink Bugs Are Still A Problem

By Don Molino, The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network

With red-banded stink bugs once again attacking soybean fields around Louisiana, LSU Extension Service Pest Management Specialist Dr. Sebe Brown is recommending at least one sweep per week in each field.

“If you can afford looking at them twice a week I would definitely advise that as well,” says Brown. “Red-banded stink bugs are very strong flyers and they will colonize a soybean field very quickly.  For instance, if you scout on Monday and you’re finding two red-banded stink bugs per 25 sweeps that’s below threshold and you don’t want to spray. If you wait until the next Monday you may be at 8 or 9 per 25 sweeps and you’re already at two times threshold.  So if you can come in and scout maybe Thursday or Friday and just take a quick look to make sure the red-banded stink bug populations haven’t blown up on you, then that’s what I definitely recommend.”

Brown cautions growers not to get behind the red-banded stink bug because once growers get behind—as with any insect—it’s really hard to catch back up.

“Once they’ve exceeded threshold we play catch-up the entire season trying to get them under control,” said Brown.