Stink Bugs and Cypress

Stink Bugs

• Stink bugs are considered damaging pests to more than 52 species of plants, including cypress trees and many other native and ornamental trees. Numerous species of stink bug could be infesting your cypress tree, but all stink bugs are characterized by their shield-shaped bodies. Stink bugs can be any color from green to yellow and orange as well as brown and black; they usually measure between 1/2 and 3/4 inch in size.
  
  

Damage

• Stink bugs primarily inflict feeding damage on host plants. Both nymphs and adult stink bugs feed on plant tissue, leaving a "stippled" pattern on leaves that is sometimes accompanied by areas of necrotic tissue on the leaves. Stink bugs are also known to transmit certain diseases such as yeast spot and others to host plants. Even if the stink bugs are not inflicting any direct feeding damage to your cypress or transmitting any diseases to it, stink bugs emit a foul, offensive odor when threatened, so they can be a nuisance if nothing else.
  
  

Natural and Preventive Control Methods

• Despite the offensive odor they are capable of transmitting, stink bugs still have natural predators in the wild, including several species of bird. Taking steps to not disturb these natural predators can therefore be an effective way to keep stink bug populations under control. Small populations of stink bugs will not cause serious damage to your cypress tree and thus should be tolerated if possible. Slightly larger stink bug populations can be dislodged from the tree by hand into a container of soapy water.
  
  

Chemical Controls

• Insecticides are generally only marginally effective at controlling stink bug infestations. Many of the insecticides recommended for stink bug control are broad spectrum insecticides that can kill beneficial garden insects such as bees and ladybugs. Pesticides with active ingredients such as deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, sumithrin or tralomethrin can be effective at stink bug control. Be sure to only purchase an insecticide that is safe for use on cypress trees and to meticulously follow the manufacturer's application instructions printed on the insecticide.