Kudzu beetles are a type of bug and are often referred to as true bugs because they possess semi-membranous wings and piercing-sucking mouthparts. Many people confuse them with conventional beetles, but they can be differentiated from them due to their beaklike sucking mouthparts, while conventional beetles have chewing mouthparts. They are also called as lablab bugs, globular stink bugs, or bean plataspidae. They were first found in Georgia, and then they were observed to move to the surrounding lands.
They lay their eggs on the underside of host plants, and they then convert into adults while going through the nymph stage in between.
What is Kudzu beetle Spray?
Kudzu beetles are relatively a newcomer in the family of beetles. They were first found at the place of Kudzu, the United States, and for this reason, they are named as Kudzu Beetles. They feed on to Kudzu plants, soybeans, and other bean plants. They are 4 – 6 mm long and found in the shape of oblong or trapezoidal. They are wider on the bottom side of their body than on the top.
When crushed, they release a foul smell that is nauseated and also secretes caustic, which can irritate the skin. They can also cause huge damage to crops. They also emit pheromones that attract other Kudzu beetles.
They are often confused with ordinary beetles, and one can differentiate both of these by the short wings of the Kudzu beetles.
Kudzu beetle Spray Lifecycle
The lifecycle of the Kudzu Beetle is called bivoltine, primarily in the USA. This means that they give birth to two generations in a year.
Their lifecycle consists of three stages, and they go through an incomplete metamorphosis after being hatched.
● EGGS
Female bugs lay their eggs onto Kudzu leaves, soybeans, and wisteria. These eggs hatch in a pattern of two rows with 15 eggs in each row. Underneath the eggs, there are capsules of endosymbiotic bacteria, which should be consumed by the bugs after hatching.
● NYMPHS
There are five more stages in the nymph stage for a Kudzu beetle. Nymphs have a hairy appearance, and they can vary in color. It took about 6 to 8 weeks for a nymph to convert itself into an adult.
● ADULT
During the season of late fall and upcoming winter months, the adult Kudzu beetles can overwinter in homes, leaf litter, attics, or under tree barks. They resume their feeding and reproduction when the winter season passes.
Kudzu beetle Spray Bite
Although Kudzu beetles are not harmful in the sense of biting, their secret caustic and contact to such secretion can cause welts on the skin. Besides, the beetle is not just harmful and restricted to homes or confined spaces but can also cause extensive damage to crops and fields. They cause million-dollar crop loss every year and are now becoming an issue for homes, offices, etc. as they also reside indoors.
Kudzu beetle Spray Swarming
Swarming is a phenomenon of splitting a single colony of beetles into two or more distinct colonies. It usually occurs during the spring season and is two to three weeks long, and sometimes it can happen throughout the spring season.
Seeking a safe space for upcoming winters, Kudzu bugs are expected to swarm and accumulate during the spring and fall season. They will use homes as their nests for the purpose. They are very annoying about swarming different objects.
Kudzu beetle Spray Identification
They can be identified by some of the following features.
● Kudzu beetles are 4-6mm long.
● They are oblong or trapezoidal, i.e., they do not have a regular rectangular structure.
● They are somewhat similar to brown ladybugs.
● When they are crushed, they release a foul odor. For this reason, they are also called stink bugs.
● They are olive green in color and have brown speckles.
● They are much wider than being longer. Their scutellum is broader at the bottom than at the top.
● The antennae of the stink bugs are comparatively shorter than other bugs.
Kudzu beetle Spray Trap
If you see them invading your house, you can use Cypermethrin. Cypermethrin is an excellent repellent and can keep the Kudzu beetles away from your place for several weeks. Retreatment may be needed as per their activity. If their invasion is limited to your home, then treatment is needed three to four times a month, but if they are in an expanded area like yards, then you will need to treat anytime between March and November.
