Knowledgebase
What are these inse ts? #875947
Asked July 04, 2024, 4:29 PM EDT
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
Stink bugs have piercing-sucking mouthparts that they use to puncture the skin of the fruit and suck out the juices. Damage in caneberries can include sunken areas on the berries, or distorted and shrivelled fruit. Once they puncture the fruit to feed, rot organisms can enter and cause fruit rot.
It sounds like the bugs have moved on, but if they return, you can try to vacuum them up or blow them off the plant (light blast from a leaf blower). Remove any weeds or other host plants that they are congregating on. They have a lot of natural predators, so avoid using broad spectrum pesticides if possible. For a list of pesticides registered for use, refer to: https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/small-fruit/blackberry-raspberry/blackberry-raspberry-stink-bug.