I just read this:

If only a few plants are affected, it is most effective to hand pick and destroy squash bugs and eggs. Another option is to place boards or shingles on the ground next to the plants. At night the squash bugs will aggregate under the boards and can then be destroyed each morning.

Not sure if the board idea will work with containers, but I think it's worth a try.

Stink or leaf footed bugs are tough to deal with. Sevin is one of the few things I know of that are actually highly effective against them. As far as toxicity, you'll have to make the call. Just be aware that it cannot be applied up to the day of harvesting (3 days pre-harvest interval for the dust, if I recall correctly).

As far as other suggestions go, some use diatomaceous earth dusted on the soil surface and the plants (for your safety it is a -must- that you wear eye and mouth/nose protection while applying).

Since you've already got them anyway, another one may be to grow some ornamental millet elsewhere on your property away from the tomatoes. I've had stink and leaf-footed bugs for years, but they always stay on the clumps of millet in the ornamental beds (the seed heads will always just be covered in the nasty things), and they just don't bother the tomatoes one bit. Purple Majesty is a particularly lovely variety.

I had completely forgotten about SurroundWP until today when I was reading over on the vegetable forum.

If you do a google search, you'll see that stink bugs are one of the pests it is reputed to suppress (I've never used it myself).

Here's a link on its use for apples that is rather interesting:

insect IPM in apples

Here is a link that might be useful: Surround thread in vegetable forum

Thanks! I'll have to read up on Surround. Last evening I was startled to find these same bugs on my plums!

Do you suppose our extremely dry conditions are responsible for this?

Do you suppose our extremely dry conditions are responsible for this?

I don't think so -- folks in Florida also have problems with stink and leaf-footed bugs and it's plenty humid there.