|
Wed, Aug 15, 12 at 14:30
| Suddenly, we are completely infested with thousands of these all over the garden and yard. Never saw an infestation this widespread of anything before. Seems to have happened within the last 2-3 weeks.
Any ideas what they are? One pic attached, and another pic of several of them together at different stages is at this link: http://i50.tinypic.com/2u4qwat.jpg |
Here is a link that might be useful: http://i50.tinypic.com/2u4qwat.jpg
Follow-Up Postings:
|
| Good ol' boxelder bug. Unfortunately insecticides are pretty useless unless you get them with a direct hit, as they are sucking insects and don't get enough poison into their systems. A direct hit with horticultural soaps will do just as much good with less environmental impact. hortster |
|
| That's a nymph (youngster) box elder bug |
|
- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Thu, Aug 16, 12 at 8:24
| though they mass in hordes.. i have never seen any damage related to them ... i fact .... mowing the lawn yesterday .... i also saw them en mass ... i have never done anything about them ... if they are in personal areas [lol ... the deck/porch .. not the real personal areas..] .. sweep or vacuum them.. otherwise ignore them ... ken |
|
| In this area they seem to congregate more heavily in the general vicinity of boxelder (only a few around here) and especially goldenrain tree (many around here). Removal of either will lessen their density, but they are indigenous and will always be a PITA. hortster |
|
| The nymphs are very susceptible to a quick spray of insecticidal soap. If I had thousands of them in my yard and around my home, I'd mix a small amount of product in my little pump sprayer and do some spot spraying of the hoards now...before they reach the adult stage and are breeding like crazy. |
|
- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Thu, Aug 16, 12 at 15:58
| speaking of which.. they have no decorum.. just doing the nasty anywhere they please.. whats that all about.. and to top it all off .. they face opposite directs.. most likely ... waaaayyy more info than you wanted.. lol ... ken |
Here is a link that might be useful: link
|
| Thanks guys! Definitely box elder bugs! Good to know they are reletively harmless, we have some organic spray with a "patented" blend of thyme oil, rosemary oil, peppermint oil and so forth, also I think it is a soap as well, which says it will control and repel box elders. I read something about diatomaceous earth also helping. When they are so numerous, I've read about them possibly rarely damaging some fruits, and invading homes, so hopefully we can at least repel and control the population explosion that seems to be happening. No box elder trees around here that I know of. |
|
| Please don't overdo it! Don't spray anything all over the garden when all you need to do is reduce the numbers of these nymphs. And diatomaceous earth is so deadly to a wide variety of arthropods, beneficials included. Truly, get after them ASAP with an insecticidal soap sprayed ON the nymphs. They evolve from this fragile stage to an adult quickly. |
|
| As a rule there is no reason to spray any kind of poison, organic, of low toxicity, or what not, to control these buggers since they are of little nuisance outside of your house. In your house may be different. |
Here is a link that might be useful: About Boxelder bugs
|
| It only makes common sense to evaluate the population first....then make a decision about what to do. |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Garden Clinic Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.