FRUIT DAMAGE BY STINK BUGS (HEMIPTERA, PENTATOMIDAE) IN BUSH-TYPE TOMATOES

Adult stink bugs were introduced onto caged, bush-type tomatoes to est ablish the amount of fruit damage resulting from different durations o f infestation (up to 20 d), densities (1, 3, 5, and 10 bugs per 2 m of row), species (Euschistus conspersus Uhler and Chlorochroa uhleri (St al)) and reduced fruit abundance (75, 50, and 0% reduction). Factors t hat significantly influenced the percentage of tomato fruit damaged we re stink bug density and reduced fruit density at constant stink bug d ensities. Stink bug density affected the number of damaged areas per f ruit in 1 of the 2 years of the study. Stink bug species and the numbe r of days of stink bug infestation did not affect the percentage of da maged fruit or the number of damaged areas per fruit. Implications for stink bug management in tomatoes grown in California are discussed.