Chalky spot damage caused by the stink bugs Dolycoris baccarum (L.) and Piezodorus lituratus (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a serious problem for red lentil production in Southeast Anatolia, Turkey. This study aimed to determine spraying time against stink bugs, based on lentil developmental stages and evaluate potential agronomic methods (early vs. timely harvest and traditional harvest with sickle bar mower vs. combine harvester) to reduce chalky spot. Field trials were carried out during 2011–2012 in three provinces of Southeast Anatolia (Diyarbakir, Mardin and Sanliurfa).

Chalky spot damage was initiated at the R6 stage (full seed, seed on nodes 10-13 fill the pod cavities) when the stink bug nymphs started to be observed and the plant had soft immature seeds that were more susceptible to feeding by stink bugs. In early harvested lentil fields, the percentage of chalky spot damage was 0.60 and 0.20 in Diyarbakir and Sanliurfa provinces, respectively. It was lower than that of timely harvest. On the other hand, damaged seed percentage significantly reduced by changing the harvesting from traditional to combine harvesting and damage ratio was 0.90 and 0.00 in Diyarbakir and Mardin provinces, respectively. We conclude that the management to protect lentil crops from stink bug infestations should be initiated at the R6 growth stage, and that crops should be harvested a week earlier using combine harvester to reduce stink bug density and chalky spot damage.