Source: NCSU COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, 4/20/18

A recent NC State University graduate student, Arun Babu, has worked to generate new thresholds for stink bugs in corn. His work was supported by the growers of North Carolina through the NC Agricultural Foundation and the Corn Growers Association of North Carolina. Arun visited corn fields across eastern NC and tested how to more efficiently scout for stink bugs. He then applied our existing thresholds to his findings. Based on his findings, scouting should be more accurate and time-efficient.

To use these thresholds, sample at least 100 plants in the field. Sample at different locations in all fields and more plants in larger fields. Stink bugs tend to be more prevalent in field edges. Use this to your advantage by sampling edges first. If stink bugs are absent, they are unlikely to be in the middle of the field. Conversely, if numbers are high in edges, be sure to sample the field middle.

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