Q: For several springs in a row, my kale looks beat up by orange and black insects. How can I get rid of them for this season?

A: It sounds like you have a population of harlequin bugs. These members of the stink bug family have the sucking mouthparts shared by all true bugs, used to feed on cell contents in the plant’s leaves. This creates pale spots called stippling, and eventually, as the damaged tissues die, dry, and crumble away, produces ragged holes in the leaves when the damage is extensive. Even though the holes can look like they were caused by a chewing insect (such as Cabbage White butterfly caterpillars, which also feed on kale), the stippling is an indicator of a sucking pest instead.

Harlequin bugs overwinter as adults, so they begin laying eggs for a new generation fairly early in the veggie gardening season. Among vegetables, they favor brassicas, which include kale, broccoli, cabbage, collards, and horseradish. Among decorative flowers, they really like the annual cleome, or spider flower.

These are colorful insects. The white barrel-shaped eggs have black bands, and the nymphs and adults have black, orange, and white markings.

To keep harlequin bugs off of vegetables, the simplest approach is to cover the plants immediately after planting. Row cover blocks pest access to the plants while also providing some frost protection, and insect mesh netting is a good row cover substitute for the warmer months to protect the plants while providing more airflow. You can also pluck off any bugs you find and toss them into a cup of soapy water, especially if it’s chilly in the morning, when they will be moving more slowly.

Learn more about management options and which food plants are most susceptible to this insect in our harlequin bug on vegetables web page.

Q: Should I still report sightings of spotted lanternfly?

A: Yes, the Maryland Department of Agriculture, which tracks spotted lanternflies, asks the public still submit reports when the insect is found in Maryland. A photo of the life stage seen is required, which helps them track the insect’s developmental pace and verifies that the insect was identified correctly.

Although this invasive insect is present essentially state-wide by now and has reached at least nine other states, data collection from community reporting is still valuable to monitoring agencies. Although you are welcome to send photos to HGIC for confirmation of the identity of spotted lanternflies, reports need to be made to the MDA directly (we can’t submit a report on your behalf). There is a link to the MDA online form on our spotted lanternfly in home gardens web page (go.umd.edu/SLF).

University of Maryland Extension’s Home and Garden Information Center offers free gardening and pest information at extension.umd.edu/hgic. Click “Ask Extension” to send questions and photos.