Brown marmorated stink bugs increasing in grapes

Questions about this information? Contact us.

Updated from an original article written by Mark Longstroth.

Be on the lookout for brown marmorated stink bugs in vineyards, especially as annual crops begin to dry down before harvest.

BMSB on Concord
Brown marmorated stink bug on Concord grapes. All photos by Keith Mason, MSU.

We are catching more brown marmorated stink bugs in traps and seeing more scouting vineyards. So far, we have seen no signs of feeding. Growers and scouts should be looking for this pest and checking berries for puncture wounds with discoloration, or berries that are shriveled until harvest.

Damage to berries can result in botrytis and sour rot infections that spread in damaged wine grape clusters. You can expect brown marmorated stink bug numbers in vineyards to increase as the annual crops and vegetation they are feeding on now dries down.

Brown marmorated stink bugs overwinter as adults. These adults will move to perennial fruits (both cultivated and wild) and continue to feed as long as possible before seeking shelter for the winter.

The pictures accompanying this article were taken early September 2017 and show brown marmorated stink bug adults and nymphs, adults feeding and feeding injury in grapes. Insecticides with good contact activity and short pre-harvest intervals are the best option if control is needed.

For more information, visit the Michigan State University Brown Marmorated Stink Bug website.

BMSB nymph on concord

Brown marmorated stink bug nymph on Concord.

BMSB feeding Aurore

Brown marmorated stink bug feeding on Aurore grape berry.

BMSB shriveled berry Aurore

Brown marmorated stink bugs shriveled this Aurore berry.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Did you find this article useful?

You Might Also Be Interested In

Tag List
  • agriculture,
  • brown marmorated stink bug,
  • fruit & nuts,
  • grapes,
  • integrated pest management,
  • invasive species,
  • msu extension

Events

News

Resources

Michigan State University
  • Spartans Will.
  • © Michigan State University

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential.

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707.

We comply with the Federal Trade Commission 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).