How To Get Rid of Kudzu Bug

Kudzu bugs first appeared in Northeast Georgia during the fall of 2009. It invaded residences to overwinter. After that, the bug spread hastily to several countries and states. Their primary host is the kudzu plant. However, they also occur in wisteria and soybean. Experts believe that kudzu bugs will continue to thrive for as long as kudzu plants exist. 

Both nymphs and adult kudzu bugs have sucking-piercing mouthparts. While they’re not part of the stink bug clan, they are still known to emit foul odors when crushed or disturbed. They also have a bivoltine life cycle — with two generations occurring yearly. 

If you want to control kudzu bugs, the first step is to get to know them. You can manage this olive-green-coloured pest when you know where they thrive, how they grow from nymphs to adult kudzu bug populations, and if they’re immune to herbicide and pesticides. 

What Are Kudzu Bugs?

The kudzu bug belongs to the Plataspidae bug family, bearing the scientific name Megacopta cribraria. This invasive bug specie is also known as the globular stinky bug, lablab bug, and bean plataspids. It is from Asia, which explains why it only reached the western hemisphere in early 2009. 

Kudzu bugs feed on legume hosts and kudzu patches in spring. They shift to soybean plants from July to August, specifically feeding on its foliage and stems. It can also have a significant impact on different crop yields. These invasive species continue feeding and laying eggs on the kudzu plant through fall. They also do this on late-planted soybeans and a few other hosts. 

When the host plants start declining along with day length and temperatures, these bugs move to sheltered areas to let the winter pass. You’ll find them in leaf litters and under rocks and barks during this time. You can also see them in soybean fields and kudzu patch edges in residential areas. This is where the target invades homes like another nuisance pest known as the Asian lady beetle. 

These bugs congregate on fascia boards, sidings, and other light surfaces. After that, they’ll move through penetrations, around windows and doors, into gaps, and under sidings. The kudzu bugs that are overwintered in homes often stay within home interiors instead of migrating outside to look for food sources. They can also deposit their eggs on siding materials, vinyl, bricks, and other non-plant surfaces when they’re outdoors. 

What Attracts Kudzu Bugs to Your Home?

The globular stink bug can swarm and fly, especially during the start of spring and fall when they reemerge from dormancy. These adult kudzu bugs will be searching for a food source like the kudzu plant. This nuisance pest will also swarm houses and fill them with an unpleasant odor. They do this when looking for areas to bed down in winter. As such, it’s normal to see them invade any crack or crevice they see. 

They also love outdoor crevices and cracks as they leave stains and odors indoors. They are highly attracted to light surfaces, most especially white ones. You can frequently see them in wide house sidings, white cars, and white shirts. Though they only reproduce on legumes, it’s common to find them swarming all vegetation types. 

How To Identify/Appearance

It’s genuinely a traumatic situation when you have an overwhelming population of kudzu bugs crawling through your home. These kudzu bug nymphs have a daunting chemical defence to release unpleasant odors when disturbed or triggered. While a single bug will only release a slightly smelly scent, the smell could be overpowering when a large number simultaneously releases the same chemicals. 

These insects are trudge bugs because they have sucking and piercing mouthparts and semimembranous wings. Adult kudzu bugs measure about four to six millimetres long. They are also mottled green or brown. While most people often mistake them for common beetles, you can easily differentiate them with their piercing, beak-like sucking mouthparts. 

If you suspect patches of kudzu invading your property or soybean fields, it’s time for a pest management professional to deal with the problem. You can use a vacuum cleaner to scrape them off any white-coloured surface, but only the pros know how to deal with them expertly.

Life Cycle and Habitat

Female kudzu bugs lay eggs on the host plant’s underside. The nymphs hatch and eventually start feeding on different plants. They mature, reproduce, and begin another new lifecycle.

Life Cycle Stages

Kudzu bugs are known as hemimetabolous. This explains why their life cycle is through incomplete metamorphosis. They start as eggs before developing into nymphs and adults. They also complete at least one to two generations in a year. These invasive insects lay eggs on wisteria, soybeans, and kudzu leaves. 

They’re so strategic that they go as far as placing these eggs, 15 on each side. Underneath the eggs are endosymbiotic bacteria capsules. Once hatched, these bugs need to consume these capsules to digest their host plant.

These bugs also have five nymphal phases. These nymphs vary in colour and show a hairy appearance. They are also in light brown, olive green, or pale orange. Six weeks after hatching, these nymphs develop and grow into adults. 

Late instar nymphs and adults become a nuisance in winter and fall. They overwinter inside your homes, especially in the attic. They also overwinter under tree barks and leaf litter. After winter or fall, they resume reproducing. 

Diet

Kudzu bugs acquired their name from where they love to feed — kudzu leaves. They suck the plant’s juices with their piercing mouthparts. Apart from kudzu plants, they also feed on other crops like soybeans. This is the reason why experts also label them as agricultural pests. 

What Damage Do They Do?

These garden pests tap through plant veins to access the phloem. They use their sucking piercing mouthparts to do this to their preferred host plant. Some of the known hosts of this invasive pest are soybean crops and legume hosts. They cause injury to these plants by taking away all their moisture and nutrients. Plant tissue removal results in biomass loss. 

Apart from that, sooty mould might also appear on the leaves due to the sugary excretion of the insect pest. Consequently, this leads to a reduction in photosynthesis output. These adult pests feed on soybeans, and other legume hosts feed on the vascular fluids found on the former’s nodes, petioles, and stems. On top of all these, these pests also leave a stinky smell. 

If you’re facing an issue with kudzu bug infestation, you can reach out to the expert exterminators of PestGuide. They can remedy your problem instantly. 

What Are the Prominent Signs of a Kudzu Bug Infestation?

Figuring out the signs of kudzu bug infestation isn’t rocket science. Once you see adult kudzu bugs in wall voids and other home areas, you’re most likely dealing with an infestation. Note that they’ll produce a strong odor when you disturb a large group of these insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts. If you see host bean plants showing visible damage, it’s most likely because kudzu bugs feed on them. 

If their presence has become annoying or overwhelming, you need to consider using effective insecticides or potent insecticide spray seriously. It’s also best that an expert deals with them right away. For urgent help, you can always get in touch with PestGuide. They can tackle your problem with ease.

Kudzu Bug Treatment: How You Can Do It

At the onset, kudzu bugs appear to be good Samaritans offering homeowners a hand in getting rid of kudzu. Unfortunately, this is not their only food source. These pests also consider legumes and soybeans as their favourite food. This is why they’re a concern for most gardeners and farmers. If these pests are shaking up your home and plants, don’t fret. Some ways can help you manage them effectively. A few of them are as follows: 

• Step 1: Never let them in. You have to seal access points like doors, windows, and foundations. These pests love to hide between cracks and crevices, so you might as well seal these parts. 
• Step 2: Check before you enter your home. You need to keep them out, so double-check if you bring them inside your property. 
• Step 3: Keep screens in good condition. These insects can quickly enter through small holes, so ensure that your door screens are new and in good condition. Once they get inside, they can hide within the walls of houses, silently establishing themselves in a new environment. 
• Step 4: Never smash them. These insects will give off an offensive odor when squashed. If you don’t want to add insult to injury, suck them using your vacuum instead. 
• Step 5: Be careful with insecticides. Kudzu bugs stay in places where they have access to their favourite food. They also love light-coloured or white houses. If you show them these, expect them within your property. However, you can ward them by using insecticides. You must be careful with these sprays as they might contaminate the water. 
• Step 6: Call the experts. If you can’t deal with the problem yourself, it’s time to get help from the pros. Call PestGuide immediately and watch how we keep these bugs away. 

Step 7: Observe diligence. Expect kudzu bugs to be flying around your property until the middle of November. This only means that the infestations could be worse. As a homeowner, you must observe the necessary precautions to keep these pests off your property.