How can some stinkbugs benefit crops by eating caterpillars?

While many stink bugs are known as agricultural pests that damage crops, some species within the family Pentatomidae act as beneficial predators that help control insect populations.1

These predatory stink bugs benefit crops by feeding on caterpillars and other larvae that would otherwise consume or damage plant foliage. When capturing prey, these insects use their feeding stylets to pierce the victim and inject a salivary secretion that paralyzes the prey quickly.12

Because a single predatory stink bug can destroy more than 200 caterpillars during its lifetime, they are valuable assets in biological control programs, helping to manage injurious insects without the exclusive reliance on chemical pesticides. By reducing the number of leaf-eating larvae in a field, these insects protect the health and yield of various garden crops.231