Tarnished Plant Bugs: Damage and Management

Fast-moving and shield-shaped, tarnished plant bugs sport mottled brown coloring. They feed on buds, fruit, and stems of many flowers, fruits, and vegetables, causing blackening, deformation, and catfaced scars on fruit.

Cultural Controls

• Clean up plant debris each fall to remove overwintering sites.
• Use floating row covers to exclude adults.
• Sticky traps can help monitor and reduce numbers.
• Soap sprays kill on contact.
• Encourage spined soldier bugs, natural predators.

Chemical Options

Carbaryl and malathion are effective against adults. Apply according to label directions.