Disease guide

Typically, white to yellow irregular spots occur just below the epidermis of the fruit. These spots can be numerous if the level of insect feeding has been high. When the skin is peeled back, an area of white, glistening, spongy cells is apparent. When the fruit turns red these areas remain a light yellow. A puncture wound in the skin can generally be found in the middle of the affected areas.

When the stink bug feeds on the green fruit, it punctures the skin and secretes an enzyme that prevents the development of normal color in ripening fruit. The overwintering adults become active in the spring and fly into tomato fields from surrounding weeds. The edges of tomato fields nearest these weedy areas are often the most affected by the stink bug. All growth stages of the insect can cause this problem.

Generally, a good insect control program should help reduce losses from stink bug feeding.