Stink bugs attack tomatoes: How to protect fruit from pests

Gardeners are facing a late-season challenge as stink bugs, often called 'smrdljivi martini' in Croatia, begin to damage ripening tomatoes. These unwelcome pests are appearing on fruits just as harvests should be rewarding the season's efforts.

The feeding activity of adult stink bugs and their nymphs involves piercing the tomato skin with their mouthparts to extract plant juices. This can result in visible surface changes, such as pale, yellowish, or whitish spots. Internally, the tissue beneath the feeding site may become whitish and spongy. The extent of damage depends on the fruit's development stage, with ripe tomatoes often showing noticeable color changes.

While damaged tomatoes may not always need to be discarded, affected areas can be cut away if the rest of the fruit shows no signs of rot or other diseases. The most effective control method for home gardens involves daily inspection of plants, particularly the undersides of leaves, fruit clusters, and stems, where the bugs and their eggs often hide.

Manual removal of these pests and their egg clusters is recommended. Gardeners can pick them off by hand or gently shake them into a container of soapy water. Clearing away weeds and plant debris after harvest is also crucial, as these can provide hiding places for stink bugs to overwinter, reducing their presence in the following season.