What do kudzu bugs eat

The best method to bug-proofing your house against kudzu bugs lies in eliminating any small crevices, holes or inviting spots where it might like to lodge. The best time to prepare for keeping kudzu bigs out is in the summer, when they will be busy eating plants and not swarming houses as much. There are available pesticides that you can purchase to get rid of kudzu bugs but those typically require frequent re-application. So, what happens if kudzu bugs do invade or get inside your home anyway?

How should you deal with a tiny bug that you cannot or at least should not squish? But there is a way to suck them up and trap them, while keeping them whole. Take a stocking or pantyhose leg and place it in your vacuum tube hose and then secure the other end to the lip of the tube with a rubber band. This way you can suck up the bugs and catch them before they reach the motor of the vacuum.

Once caught place the bugs in hot, soapy water. Eradicating the kudzu bug on structures can be frustrating for homeowners and pest management professionals alike. Their numbers alone, combined with nearby sources of re-infestation — i. Ultimately, you must eliminate or remove kudzu via herbicide in order to get rid of the pests.

Unfortunately, many of the protected places they also seek are cracks, crevices, and voids around homes and other buildings. Research has found that they prefer light colors on houses, particularly white.

Kudzu bugs are often observed around window trim, doorframes, gutters, and sunlit areas that are often brightly colored Figure 4.

During the spring, kudzu bugs become active again and move from their sheltered areas to search for suitable host plants for feeding and reproduction. They are often observed aggregating on numerous kinds of plants during the spring while waiting for their preferred hosts to leaf-out. Large numbers of kudzu bugs are a nuisance in and around structures.

Their body secretions produce a foul odor and can stain fabrics and wall coverings. Directly handling kudzu bugs can cause staining of the skin and even blistering and moderate discomfort in some sensitive individuals. In the fall, large numbers of kudzu bugs will move from kudzu and other plants to find sheltered locations for overwintering.

Cutting back kudzu patches or even other plants such as wisteria that can be removed before the fall should help reduce kudzu bugs around the home. Kudzu bugs are good fliers, so they may move to a house or structure from plants outside of the property area.

Sealing as many cracks and crevices as possible on structures will help prevent kudzu bugs from entering structures. Screens will also help prevent kudzu bug entry.

It is important to make sure soffit vents and peak vents on homes have good screening in addition to window and door screening. Large numbers of kudzu bugs found indoors should be vacuumed, not sprayed. Avoid crushing them to prevent their body secretions from staining fabrics or wall coverings. If possible, use a shop vacuum rather than a conventional vacuum. Kudzu bug odor may linger in a conventional vacuum. A shop vacuum with some soapy water 1 to 2 tablespoons of dish soap per gallon of water in the canister will kill the bugs.

After use, the soapy water should be discarded. If a regular vacuum with a bag is used, discard the bag after vacuuming. Most insecticides available to homeowners will kill kudzu bugs. If you are spraying vegetation, make sure you use a product that is labeled for treating plants. If you spray your home, make sure you use a product that is labeled for structural use.

Spray outdoor surfaces where kudzu bugs are likely to land, or directly spray bugs on your house before they move into recessed areas. The mass sightings of the adults is the most disturbing sign for homeowners. If large numbers are disturbed, they can produce a strong odor. Host plants also may show sign of damage as the bugs feed. Kudzu bugs have become another overwintering pest alongside boxelder bugs , stink bugs and multicolored Asian lady beetles. Having potentially thousands of bugs crawling throughout the home is a traumatic experience for homeowners.

The bugs also have an alarming chemical defense. When disturbed they release an unpleasant smell. One bug is slightly smelly but it can be quite pungent when large numbers release the chemical.

Kudzu bugs are a type of insect known as a true bug because of their semimembranous wing type and piercing sucking mouth parts. Mouth : Many people mistake them for beetles, but they can easily be differentiated by their beaklike piercing sucking mouthparts. Beetles all have chewing mouthparts.

Kudzu bugs get their name from the fact they are known to feed on kudzu. They use their piercing mouthparts to suck juices from the plant. Unfortunately they also feed on other plants, including crops such as soybeans, which results in them being considered an agricultural pest.