Is the garden bug a dreaded pest?

Is the garden bug a dreaded pest?

the essentials in brief

  • Garden bugs don't bite; Its secretion is also non-toxic, but it smells very bad
  • Control only makes sense if the garden bugs are really a nuisance
  • Contact insecticides are used to combat this, but these are also harmful to humans and pets
  • You can drive away garden bugs with strong-smelling substances such as mint or garlic

Are garden bugs dangerous?

If you spot garden bugs there is nothing to worry about. The insects are not poisonous and can neither sting nor bite with their proboscis. They do not run out of supplies and are also not known to be pests. Only their defensive secretion can become a nuisance. The animals secrete this when they feel threatened. The substance is neither dangerous nor harmful to humans or pets.

also read

  • The gray garden bug: pest or beneficial insect?
  • Fire beetle - dangerous pest or useful?
  • Walnut fly - a portrait of the pest

Fight gray garden bugs?

Fighting garden bugs does not make sense in most cases, as the animals do not pose a threat. Contact insecticides, which kill the insects effectively, are used to combat pests. However, these agents are not safe because they can be harmful to health and have negative effects on the environment.

The garden bug is anything but dangerous. Fighting it is only sensible and advisable in an extreme emergency.

Pyrethroids

Means with this synthetic insecticide are preferably used to get rid of bedbugs of all kinds. The main active ingredients are based on the natural insecticide pyrethrum, which is obtained from Tanacetum species.

This is how the remedy works:

  • Effect : causes spastic paralysis in pests, which ends fatally
  • Side effect : does not act selectively, but also kills beneficial insects
  • Advantage : has a disgusting effect on bees in the wild

Diatomaceous earth

The chalk-like powder consists of fossil remains of diatoms and is used to combat insects. Diatomaceous earth contains clay, iron oxide, and silicon dioxide. In combination, the components ensure that the protective layer of the insect shell is destroyed when touched. As a result, the bedbugs dehydrate and die.

Glue traps

The insects are attracted by sweet fragrances and stick to the tape. This method results in lengthy and excruciating death and should be avoided.

What to do in the event of a plague?

garden bug

Instead of killing the bedbugs, you should use disgusting substances. There are some substances that the bugs don't like at all. You can effectively drive away the insects with self-made solutions.

Tips

Pay attention to high humidity in the garden, because the garden bug loves drought and heat. Mulch your plants regularly.

garlic

Spray a solution of 500 milliliters of water and four teaspoons of garlic powder into the bugs' whereabouts. You are put off by the intense smell and look for another place of retreat.

mint

Alternatively, you can mix half a liter of water with about ten drops of mint oil and spray this solution into the hiding places. Mint has a similar effect to garlic and does not poison the insects. Instead of mint oil, you can also use fresh peppermint or catnip leaves.

Fly screens

To prevent the bugs from getting into your apartment in the first place, you should equip windows and doors with fly screens. Make sure that all cracks and crevices are closed.

Tips

Birds and toads are natural enemies of bed bugs. Create a diverse habitat in which these animals feel comfortable.

Characteristics

Behind the garden bug hides the gray garden bug (Rhaphigaster nebulosa), which is sometimes referred to as the common garden bug or the gray field bug. The species belongs to the stink bug family. The insects are characterized by a plump build and a conspicuous pronotum.

Typical for stink bugs:

  • shield-shaped body
  • five-part antennae
  • well developed wings

Detect bugs

The garden bug can be recognized by its gray base color, which has dirty yellow to brown nuances. Irregularly distributed point pits can be seen on the body. Often the forewings are covered by a dark brown spotted membrane. The side edge of the abdomen, on which a black and yellow pattern is denounced, is striking. The antennae are also ringed black and yellow, with the third and fifth links always appearing yellow. Garden bugs have a proboscis.

garden bug

Digression

Blood-sucking bedbugs

Of the total of almost 900 types of bugs known in Germany, only five types can be considered as bloodsuckers. They target the blood of birds and bats, but they can also sting humans.

One of these species is Psallus varians, which multiplies in midsummer and shows rather unnatural behavior, especially in atypical weather conditions. In 2016 there were numerous reports of bites caused by this bug. The bite caused an allergic reaction in the form of mild inflammation.

Stink bugs

While many stink bugs are strikingly colorful, there are some species that are similar to the garden bug. Many species change their coloration depending on the season so that they are better protected from natural predators. The bedbugs live in similar habitats, as most species feed on plant sap.

coloringsizehabitat
Forest Guardianbrown with black dots10 to 13 millimetersForests, clearings
Strip bugred-black striped8 to 12 millimetersopen to partially shaded areas
Common stink buggreen with dark spots12 to 13.5 millimetersDeciduous trees, herb layer

Confusion of names

Occasionally, all of the bedbugs that appear in the garden are referred to as garden bugs. Many of them such as cabbage bug, pointed bug or berry bug are dreaded plant pests and should not be confused with the gray garden bug. If you find bedbugs on your crops, you should first identify the species and then decide on possible control measures.

Way of life and development

The garden bug is diurnal and tied to warm temperatures. It prefers to overwinter on facades overgrown with ivy. Often cracks or crevices are found so that the bugs often get lost in houses and apartments. Like all stink bugs, the garden bug only develops one generation per year.

From egg to bug

The females lay their eggs in late spring. You glue these in slices or strips to different parts of the plant. The hatched larvae are colored differently and do not yet have wings. They go through several stages between which they molt. From the third stage onwards, short stub wings can be seen.

behavior

Larvae and adult bedbugs show similar behavior. To ward off enemies, the animals secrete a stinking secretion. The insects are not very good at flying. Loud buzzing sounds can be heard during their sluggish flight.

food

Garden bugs live on various deciduous trees and feed on sap. Leaves or fruit are also on their menu. They use their long proboscis to get to the liquid. With this they occasionally suck out dead insects.

garden bug

Overwinter

In winter, garden bugs form aggregations in their wintering quarters to warm each other. They use various crevices and cavities that provide sheltered conditions. These could be cracks in walls or bark scales from plane trees. Garden houses or nesting boxes also serve as winter quarters.

distribution

The gray garden bug is the only species of the genus Rhaphigaster to be found in Central Europe, although it is more common in the south than in the north. Since 2000, the species has spread widely in Germany and is now also found on the north German coast. The garden bug is more common in cities than in the surrounding areas. This is due to the increased warming of the urban areas, which promotes the spread of the species.

In the flat

When winter is just around the corner, garden bugs start looking for winter quarters. Lured by light sources and heat, the insects get lost in apartments and houses. They get into the rooms through open windows and doors, where they cause no damage. A fruit plate on the living room table is a magical attraction for the bugs. They suck the juice from peaches, pears or apples and leave spoiled fruits behind.

On the house wall

In some years garden bugs can be seen en masse on house walls. Such mass gatherings are particularly common in warm years, as the animals can reproduce well under these optimal conditions. The heat-loving insects settle on the sunny side of house facades and can accidentally penetrate the apartments. As soon as the sun disappears and the temperatures drop again, the bugs are gone too.

frequently asked Questions

Do garden bugs stink?

Many stink bugs have stink glands that allow them to give off a foul odor. Some of the substances are toxic and can stun attackers or prey. Garden bugs also have such stink glands, which are located on the underside of the breast. Even the nymphs use the glands to ward off enemies.

Do bed bugs indicate an unsanitary apartment?

If you find garden bugs in your home, then there is nothing to worry about. The stink bugs have no interest in human food or damp niches. You are just looking for suitable winter quarters and retreat to warm niches.

Can garden bugs bite?

Even if the insects with their long proboscis seem unsettling, the animals cannot sting through human skin. They use their mouthparts to pierce the outer skin of leaves or fruits. Occasionally, they also suck up dead insects.

When are garden bugs active?

The insects leave their winter quarters as soon as the thermometer rises above ten degrees Celsius. They usually start looking for food in early March. If the winter is particularly mild or ends early, the insects can be observed earlier.