Kudzu Bug

UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences entomologists provide an update on the new invasive pest (the bean plataspid) and its move across Georgia.

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Kudzu Bug Arrives in Georgia
Dan Suiter
Descriptive Text

The scene opens to a kudzu bug on a window pane. The camera is moving closer in on the bug.

The scene changes to several kudzu bugs on a piece of light-blue fabric.

The scene moves to a close up of a soybean plants. The scene changes to field of soybeans.

The scene changes to a red screen with white words stating the common names of kudzu bugs.

The scene moves to a map of Georgia showing where and when kudzu bugs have been found.

The scene changes to another map of Georgia -- the counties in Georgia are shown in different colors. The map slowly changes to a close-up of the southern counties of Georgia.

A scene changes to graphic of 5 southern states, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

The scene returns to three kudzu bugs on the window pane; then goes to a photo of a downspout attached to a house.

The scene changes to a close-up of a lady bug on a green leaf.

The scene moves to a kudzu patch that is growing in the trees. The patch is starting to turn brown.

The scene goes to a lab where a female, in a light-blue sweater, is looking through a microscope. The scene moves to a different lab where a male is looking through a microscope.

The scene returns to the field of soybeans.

The scene changes to a kudzu patch where a male, with a butterfly net, is using catching kudzu bugs.

The scene moves to a kudzu bug walking on a man's hand and fingers.

The scene returns to a male looking into a microscope.

The scene changes to a lab where several large petri dishes, with kudzu leaves in them, are lined up on a table. A male is holding a dish. The scene continues to the male lining a large petri dish with a kudzu leaf. He trims the leaf.

The scene moves to a male with a mustache looking for kudzu bugs on a kudzu leaves.

The scene changes to a kudzu bug on the siding of a house.

The scene moves to a large combine harvesting in a peanut field. The scene slowly changes to a close up of the roots and peanuts being harvested.

The scene changes to the underside of a soybean leaf that has several kudzu bugs on it. A dime is being held next to a bug to show its size. The scene moves to show a field of soybean plants.

The scene moves to show a close up of a light-brown kudzu bug on a leaf. The kudzu bug has many dark brown spots on it.

The scene changes to a soybean field that is ready for harvesting. The scene moves to a close up of a group of brown soybean pods.

Credits roll.

For more information, call your UGA Extension Office at 1-800-275-8421

© 2011 University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Category:

Education

Tags:

• kudzu
• bug
• bean
• plataspid
• lablab
• globular stink
• insect
• soybean
• Wayne Gardner
• Dan Suiter
• Phillip Roberts
• John All

[kirabook]

Just had a bunch of these arrive and land all over our house today...

[XNobleActualX]

Not a bug in conyers :) woot woot

[kw041]

I'm an arborist, and the only thing I have found that is fairly effective at killing these guys is bifenthrin, which is not a product that is available to homeowners. It works very well as a contact pesticide, killing 80-90% at my home. But the residual is not very good, so after it wears off a new swarm moves back into my yard a week or two later. I have no idea if anything you can find at a lowe's or home depot would be effective.

[kw041]

These are a big problem at my home in atlanta. To answer a couple of your questions about potential predators of these insects. It is very unlikely that there are any effective predators of this insect in the area for 2 reasons,1) if you have experience them, you know the horrendous smell they have when you touch them, which, by design, deters predators. And 2) they are a new species and have exploded in population, which wouldn't have happen to begin with were there any natural predators.

[GermanOperaSinger]

2 years since this species was first introduced to the continental US and it's spread like wildfire. They're everywhere in GA. I can't even walk outside anymore without these insects flying into my eyes, mouth, nose, etc.

[Trossarello]

They are all over up here in Jasper, GA (Pickens County)

[Twostones00]

Any birds like to eat these pests?

[Driftergreg]

Just noticed these guys this year, but they came hard. Literally EVERYWHERE. Always on my shirt or jeans everytime im outside, any city im in.

[GOP4USA]

And have gathered all over my down spout. I've used Neem oil with little success and have switched to Bayer Rose and Flower insect Killer with mixed results. Your thoughts?

[GOP4USA]

I can report that they have invaded lilburn, ga. I have the all over my yard. They eat holes in my morning glories, wisteria