Brown and One-spotted stink bugs are the most common stink bugs found attacking popcorn. These insects are 1/2-inch long, shield shaped insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts. The upper side of the body ranges from light to very dark brown. The underside varies from light yellow to green. Eggs are laid on a variety of plants. Nymphs feed on plant sap and reach the adult stage in about 30 to 40 days.

Damage

    Stink bug feeding causes three types of damage. They may kill small seedlings, produce stunted plants, or cause "suckering" (the production of tillers from the base of damaged plants). Frequently a series of plants along a row may exhibit a progression of these symptoms, giving a stair step appearance (dead seedlings, stunted plants, and tillering).
There is usually a row of oval holes with yellow borders across the unwrapped leaves of damaged plants. This row results from the single feeding puncture that penetrates the wrapped leaves. A slimy, decaying area may be found in the stalk where the stink bug has fed. This probably results from activity of the insects digestive juices.
The most dramatic symptom is tillering of damaged plants. Tillering usually first appears about 10 days after the damage was caused. A shoot begins to grow from the base of the plant and may become as large as the original plant. Damaged plants may develop misshapen ears in place of the tassel.

Recommendations

    Stunted plants usually recover, but yields from stunted plants are reduced by about 60%. Capture, Mustang, or Lorsban applied at cutworm rates, or Warrior at 3.2 to 3.84 fl oz per acre should provide adequate control.