Home Horticulture: Speaking of stink bugs...

Often it can be difficult to differentiate between beneficial insects and pests in the garden. One common case of mistaken identities is between stink bug pests and their beneficial relatives. While the spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris, is related to stink bugs, contrary to popular belief they are actually different critters entirely. P. maculiventris looks very similar to Euschistus servus, the brown stink bug, but has more acute spines on the edge of the pronotum (think shoulders). There are at least 10 different species of stink bugs that may be found feeding on a variety of plants in a NJ garden but E. servus and Acrosternum hilare, the green stink bug, are the most common. In recent years the invasive species Halyomorpha halys, also known as the brown marmorated stink bug, has become a major agricultural pest and household nuisance and is making its way into many NJ gardens. To add to the confusion, there are some species of stink bugs (such as Perillus bioculatus, the two-spotted stink bug) that are predators of other pest insects. Still confounded by the subject? Take a look at the Rutgers Fact Sheets below for further clarification.

Rutgers Fact Sheet on Beneficial Insects of the Home Garden

Rutgers Fact Sheet on Stink Bugs

Rutgers Fact Sheet on the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug