POW had a stall at the Hobson Bay Eco-Expo on Saturday. A number of people asked the question “How can I control Harlequin or Stink bugs?”. The Harlequin bug is a garden pest that attacks a wide range of crop and ornamental plants, such as cotton, pome fruits, stone fruits, fig, grape, kurrajong, strawberry, vegetables, wisteria, dahlia and violet. When they are present in large numbers their feeding makes growing tips wilt or spoils fruit. Sometimes the bugs swarm on tree stumps and fences, and they may come into sheds and houses in large numbers. They are sometimes referred to as ‘Stink Beetles’ due to the odour they give of when disturbed.
Suggested natural solutions are:
From Gardening Australia: mix of water with a few drops of dish liquid & either garlic oil or minced garlic. Shake really well & spray them till saturated & they will drop off plants fences etc.
Ensure that you do not have areas of overgrown weeds or really long grass as this is where they love to inhabit. They don’t like regularly turned soil areas.