Northern Nevada backyards and gardens: Invasion of Leaffooted bugs

Just lately we took a visit to Flathead Lake, Montana to go to associates. Whereas there, we skilled an inflow of huge (virtually 3/4-inch) nasty-looking bugs that descended upon us, actually, each afternoon. There have been dozens on the deck, the railings, and every other floor out there.

Though they regarded lifeless within the morning, they weren’t. As quickly because the day warmed, these massive critters had been once more crawling throughout the whole lot and flying at our heads. At first, I feared they had been blood-sucking conenoses (sure, there actually are such issues), which might unfold illness. After extra analysis, I used to be relieved to search out they had been merely leaffooted bugs, additionally known as the Western conifer seed bug.

Most years the populations of leaffooted bugs are negligible, however this 12 months, a minimum of in Montana, there was a heavy outbreak, in all probability as a result of delicate winter. Leaffooted bugs get their title from the leaf-like flaps on their hind legs. They’ve piercing-sucking mouthparts that stretch half the size of their our bodies. The Montana model feeds on the seeds of varied conifer timber.

These in different elements of the West additionally eat fruits, greens, leaves and different plant elements. To insert their mouthpart right into a seed, they excrete a digestive enzyme, which liquefies a part of the seed right into a pulp permitting them to suck out that materials.

All these grownup bugs are actually in search of a heat overwintering web site the place they may change into semidormant, rising once more within the spring. At the moment of 12 months, they’re interested in the heat of the deck, railings, tables and even the edges of vehicles. They could invade houses looking for a heat spot. We stored discovering them in our RV all the best way house.

When excessive inhabitants outbreaks are observed within the fall, one approach to scale back future populations is to take away overwintering websites similar to woodpiles.

One other technique is to mow or eradicate weed hosts, which provide meals throughout winter and spring. A further manner is to hand-pick (yuck!) and crush the bugs, or to brush them off crops and different surfaces into soapy water. Put on gloves as a result of these pests are associated to stink bugs and also you don’t need their scent in your arms. Pesticides usually are not labeled for leaffooted bug management.

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— JoAnne Skelly is Affiliate Professor & Extension Educator, Emerita, College of Nevada Cooperative Extension. She might be reached at skellyj@unr.edu.