posted 5 hours ago
I have a major infestation of Harlequin bugs. My current strategy is to kill them by hand, and or put them into a bucket of soapy water. I know I'm killing lots of bugs, but continue to find new infested plants. I don't spray anything organic or other. I strongly believe in letting nature keep the balance. That being said from my understanding Harlequin bugs as adults have no natural predators. I have thought about mixing a strong soapy water with the Dr. Bronner's Castile soap in a spray bottle to kill adults when I see them. I would only spray it directly on the bug, but you know some of the soapy water is going to end up in the soil. I have thought about placing something under where I spray to catch the extra, but even then some is bound to end up in the soil.
My ultimate strategy is to encourage nature to build the best soil full of life I can, so I don't want to do anything to kill, or damage the soil.
I know a lot of people cover the crops that attract these kinds of bugs, but I plant polyculture style, and have a little of everything in all beds, so this is kind of difficult.
The question is what is the lesser of the two evils so to speak?
What do you think? What have you done to combat stink bugs?
Thanks
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” — Abraham Lincoln