What does the tree shield look like?
The green tree stink bug (Palomena prasina) is a true stink bug. This family unites bedbugs with a characteristic body structure. If you look at such an insect from above, you will notice a wide shield and pronotum on its back. These are two clearly distinguishable parts. It is thanks to the shield that this family got its name - shields.
Body size up to 3.5 mm. The body shape is oval, elongated. The oral apparatus has the appearance of a piercing-sucking proboscis. Designed for feeding with vegetable juices. There are two sensory antennae on the head for capturing odors.
Body color changes depending on the time of year. In spring and summer, when there is a lot of greenery around, the bug has a bright green color, and only at the end of its body are membranous brown wings visible. With the onset of autumn, when the leaves change color, the tree stink bug also changes its color to match its environment. The wood bug becomes dark brown in color.
Did you know? The tree shield insect rarely uses its wings. Flying for bedbugs requires a lot of energy. Since it is difficult for membranous wings to lift a rather heavy body into the air. The tree green stink bug flies only if there is easily accessible food ahead of it.
Wood stink bug. Summer coloring
The wood bug has changed its summer color to autumn
What does a wood bug look like and what does it eat (photo)
Externally, this pest looks like a small green bug. At different times of the year, insects can change their color: in warm weather they turn green, and in autumn they turn brown. This property helps the creature camouflage itself among grass or fallen leaves. In the photo you can see that the forest pest reaches up to 16 mm in length. Its body is flat, but quite wide, and folded wings can be seen on top of the body. Usually this parasite does not fly, but during an extreme situation it takes off, thanks to which this unexpected guest can appear in the apartment through the window.
Having discovered this type of insect in an apartment, many are interested not only in how to get rid of it, but also in what this tiny creature eats. Since the green pest lives in the forest, it feeds on plant sap. They lay eggs on the plant as a means of reproduction. Since this parasite does not feed in an apartment, most often it does not breed offspring in it. The parasite feeds exclusively on plants and therefore does not pose a threat to humans. Although these pests do not bite, everyone will need to get rid of them and remove them from their home.
Wood bug
The struggle for survival leads this parasite to carefully analyze the temperature and humidity of its surroundings. In cases of escape from an unfavorable place for existence, he may appear in the apartment. The question “where does the stink bug live” can be given a definite answer - in forests and bushes, where they find more pleasant conditions. If some incidents force them to fight for survival and look for a new habitat, the parasites begin migrating and may end up in an apartment nearby the incident.
The following incidents are considered to be the reasons why the shield bug begins to fight and migrate:
- Flood;
- Fire in the forest;
- Too high or low temperatures;
- The appearance of toxic fumes and other incidents.
Red wood bug
Today, the shield bug comes in many varieties, but not all of them are dangerous to humans. The red beetle has a distinctive black and red coloration and feeds on plant sap or carrion. The fight against this creature is relevant in the vegetable garden, but in the apartment the shield bug does not cause harm, and you can easily fight it.
Red wood bug
Among the pests that can be found in an apartment, the red stink bug is sometimes found. It has a characteristic color and looks unique. These parasites are equally not dangerous to humans, and you can quickly get rid of them.
Lifestyle
Bedbugs lay eggs twice during the summer season. One clutch contains about 100 eggs. The oviposition is light green in color and is located on the underside of the leaves. The eggs have a kind of lid that is held on by special teeth. This device helps mature larvae easily get out of the eggs. The ripening period for eggs reaches up to a month. But under favorable conditions this time is reduced to one week.
The hatched larvae are similar to adults except for their small size and lack of wings. Before becoming an adult insect, they experience 15 molts. If the larva cannot shed its shell, which has become too small for it, it dies. Shield bugs overwinter in fallen leaves. The bug spends the entire winter in a kind of stupor (anabiosis), fleeing from lack of warmth and lack of food. With the onset of the warm season, they come out of hibernation and begin to feed intensively. If there is not enough food in their natural habitats, they move to gardens, orchards, and agricultural land.
Wood bug and its oviposition
Tree green stink bug larva
Is a tree bug infestation real?
Air temperature and humidity are the main conditions for a comfortable life for insects. If any of these indicators changes sharply, this leads to the fact that bedbugs flee. Often a person’s home becomes a temporary shelter. Most often this happens in rural areas, less often in cities. The reasons for insect migration may be:
- forest fire;
- flood;
- sudden cold snap;
- exceptionally high temperatures;
- the presence of toxic fumes;
- other natural incidents.
Often, tree bugs are the culprits of poor harvests or spoiled crops - the damage caused by bedbugs can be seen in the photo. Therefore, garden owners often use insecticides to control various insects. As a result, they have no choice but to change their place of residence. However, a person’s apartment is not suitable for these purposes and can only be used by a bedbug as a temporary shelter.
If there is a fire, flood or other natural disaster nearby, it is likely that nearby living spaces will be subject to an infestation of insects, and not just bedbugs. But the bedbugs will be absolutely harmless. The only negative is the unpleasant odor they release when they are afraid. They cannot bite a person, except as a last resort. Therefore, if forest bugs appear in the apartment, then they need to be carefully taken outside and they will not return again.
The harmfulness of the green tree stink bug
The wood bug has a detrimental effect on the plants in which it settles. Small dark brown spots indicate that the bug has fed on the plant. But large trees and shrubs will not be so affected by the bug.
Often tree bugs leave the forest and move to nearby garden plots, where they feed intensively. The invasion of a large number of such insects can severely damage the crop. The bug especially loves to feed on raspberries. It leaves behind a trace of scent glands on the berries, which spoils the taste of the berries.
Sometimes, when there is a lack of food, the bug moves to agricultural crops (cereals) and feeds on them.
Very often, tree shield insects end up in apartments. They get in through open windows, vents, and doors. The stinkbug's mouthparts are not capable of biting through human skin, so you should not be afraid of these insects.
Review:
When there were forest fires in our region, these shield workers moved into apartments. At first I was scared when I saw so many insects in the house, then I read on the Internet that they do not harm humans. Every day I had to collect them with a vacuum cleaner and throw them out the window. The most unpleasant thing is the smell of bedbugs, which spreads throughout the apartment if you accidentally crush one! Then the bugs disappeared completely with the onset of cold weather.
Valeria, Khabarovsk
How to deal with tree stink bug in the house?
The best solution would be to throw the beetle out the window.
If there is a real horde of green shield bugs in your house, follow these recommendations:
- Find their wintering place. These can be cracks and holes, under baseboards, in mounds of old newspapers and magazines.
- Try to lure the green bug out of its hiding place. To do this, make it too warm in their hiding place (install a heater) and point a direct light source at them.
- Once you get them, don't kill them (the smell is disgusting). It is better to collect them in an airtight container and burn them.
How to poison an insect?
The question immediately arises: why complicate everything so much, to lure them out. If you can take an available insecticide, for example Dichlorvos, and poison the bugs. That's how it is, but you forget that you will never be able to get these insects out of their hiding places. This means that the smell from them will continue to bother you for a long time.
Also, the remains of insects are an attraction for new, similar shield insects.
How to get rid of it on the balcony?
For many, the balcony is a place where old books, newspapers and magazines are stored. And this is just a good wintering place for the green wood bug. Therefore, it is recommended to remove everything unnecessary from the balcony. And also, if possible, glaze it, and then not a single insect will remain with you for the winter.
Is it necessary to fight tree stink bug?
You should not fight tree stink bugs if there is no need. If these insects find themselves in your apartment, do not panic and poison them with chemical insecticides, as this can harm your health. It's better to just let the bedbugs outside.
It is worth fighting bedbugs only if they have abundantly populated your garden or vegetable plot. In this case, several treatments with a special insecticide will be sufficient. To combat bedbugs, contact pesticides are suitable.
How to get rid of wood bugs in an apartment, house and on the balcony?
To get rid of pests in your home, you don’t even need to fight them through disinfection. The purchase of special products is relevant, but only if there is a need to fight stink bugs regularly. Their appearance in housing is single, so it is enough to throw the stink bug outside or kill it. It does not reproduce in housing.
Wood bugs in the apartment - how to get rid of them?
To prevent the appearance of pests in the house and not to deal with them in the future, it is recommended to install anti-mosquito nets. Disinsection should also be carried out for preventive purposes and immediately when parasites are detected. You can use various dichlorvos and dusts yourself or call a professional company that will process and exterminate bedbugs professionally and with a guarantee.
Fighting woodworm without chemical pesticides
If, after all, stink bugs have attacked your area and you want to get rid of them, you can use a number of effective folk remedies. All of them are natural and do not pose a danger to humans and the environment.
Bedbugs are repelled by tincture of onion peel, wormwood, chamomile, and mustard solution. These products can be mixed, combined, and alternated. Treat plants with water infusion using a special sprayer. Repeat the treatment several times.
Collecting bugs from plants by hand is also effective. These insects are not agile enough to escape quickly.
In addition, bedbugs are repelled by the smell of spicy herbs, such as cumin, regan, basil, etc. An ornamental black cohosh plant (aka black cohosh) planted on the site will be a natural barrier against these insects.
Review:
I have had black cohosh growing on my property since time immemorial; my grandmother planted it. Bedbugs always avoid us. They eat from their neighbors, but don’t come to ours
Zinaida, Stavropol
Black cohosh is a natural insecticide that repels bedbugs
What is the harm of the wood bug?
This insect can hardly be called excessively dangerous to humans.
There are only two leading factors that can make him an unpleasant neighbor:
- the unpleasant smell of a bug can ruin the taste of any berry if it is not noticed when picking the fruit;
- the described type of bug can cause damage to agricultural crops;
- for a city apartment it is harmless and can only become a cause of disruption to the aesthetic image of the room.
Therefore, we can say that such a bug is as harmless as.
Features of the habitat of wood bugs
In winter, bedbugs burrow into fallen leaves and hibernate, and return to active activity in the spring. In summer, the insect can be seen on branches and leaves.
Despite the presence of wings, bedbugs rarely fly, only when they are sure that it is worth it. Their wingspan is small, and with a significant body weight, it does not provide the necessary lifting force.
People disliked tree bugs for two reasons. Firstly, these insects emit an unpleasant odor, and secondly, which is much more significant, they cause damage to useful crops.
Fortunately, they don't cause much damage. Only small dark spots on the leaves of bushes can indicate that a bug is hiding somewhere nearby and feeding on the juices of the plant.
Raspberries are far from the only food for this insect. Its jaws are quite adapted to feeding on the juices of fresh herbs, leaves and even wheat.
The wood bug is not averse to feasting on the remains of other insects, although it does not hunt them, but eats the remains of the carrion it finds.
Are tree bug bites dangerous?
Usually, bedbugs, apart from bedbugs, do not bite people even in special cases. But if they are in mortal danger, they can bite a person. In general, their jaw is not adapted for this: they have a proboscis, with which they bite through leaves or tree bark and feed on plant sap. However, other types of bedbugs that have chewing teeth are often confused with tree bugs because they feed on insects, especially spiders. These include predatory bugs that can bite humans.
The bites of other bedbugs, although painful, are harmless to humans. It’s another matter if they get on mucous membranes, for example, in the eyes. In these cases, the bite site may swell slightly and itch for some time. In other places, bites can be treated with ointment or alcohol - this will be enough. After some time they will go away on their own. However, even if a bug has bitten a person, this is not a reason to begin a thorough disinfestation.
The best way to get rid of insects in an apartment is to prevent them from appearing in the apartment. Cases of their invasion of houses in large numbers are extremely rare, and therefore usually single individuals enter homes - this can be seen in any photo.
Uninvited Aliens
The wood bug (also known as the stink bug) cannot cause any harm to humans. Moreover, he always tries to stay away from crowded places. Large-scale invasions of individuals of this species into human habitation have not been observed. Their natural habitat is shrubs, trees, fruits and cereals.
A representative of a species that accidentally flies into an apartment, the harm from which can only consist of an unpleasant odor, can easily be kicked out the door. The bite of such an insect does not threaten a person with anything. If trees or shrubs grow near the window of your home, then it is possible that several insects with a shield-shaped back will appear as a guest. In this case, an ordinary mosquito net will be an effective salvation.
Those that feed exclusively on his blood and the causative agents of infectious diseases cause great trouble to humans.
The well-known green insect with a pronounced odor - the wood bug - is a frequent visitor not only to garden plots, but also to residential premises. Most people associate the word “bug” with bed bugs, which live in pillows, sofas and clothing.
These insects cause discomfort to humans and can bite. However, their cousins, wood bugs, are harmless in this sense but can still cause some damage to houseplants. Their natural habitat is nature. Residential apartments are not of particular interest to these insects, and are perceived by them as transit points.
Is it worth poisoning bedbugs with insecticides?
People often mistakenly believe that wood bugs can infest the house and cause harm to the family. Therefore, they buy insecticides for flying insects and begin to carry out repeated pest control. In the case of tree bugs, such measures are not required at all. Firstly, insecticides are harmful not only to insects, but also to people and pets. Secondly, there is no point in pest control when they are not needed. Even if you just take the insects outside, they will not come back, especially if you take preventive measures.
It makes some sense to use aerosols only in one case - if bedbugs appear constantly in the apartment.
For example, there is a large tree growing under the window or a large vegetable garden nearby. Insects especially love juicy raspberries, so where they grow, residents often suffer from their constant penetration. In such cases, you need to treat the windows and doors, or even better, install mosquito nets.
Description of the appearance of a wood bug
In this picture you can see the stink bug as it is most often found in the natural environment. Its light green color allows it to blend in with the leaves.
As the color of the leaves changes, the color of the bug also changes. In the autumn, when the foliage turns yellow and darkens, this insect also acquires a brown tint.
The bug got its name “scutellum” due to the protrusions on the sides of the pronotum, reminiscent of a shield. Such projections are found in all representatives of this family. The bug is characterized by a large oval body; a chitinous cover protects the insect. In the back, folded wings can be seen from under the shield.
During the warm summer, bedbugs have time to lay eggs twice. Light green balls in which the embryos are hidden can be seen on the back of the leaves. If you look closely at them, you can see tiny teeth along the edges that hold the “lid” in place - a tiny device that helps the larva hatch from the egg.
The larvae are very similar in appearance to grown insects. They can be distinguished from individuals that have reached sexual maturity only by the absence of wings. To grow to their normal size of 12–15 mm, the larvae must survive 5 molts. This period is the most dangerous in the life of an insect. A significant part of bedbugs die during molting, unable to get out of the chitinous shell that has become small.
What to do if there are bedbugs in the house
When bedbugs enter a home, most people feel fear and disgust, as fear of insects is one of the most common. However, forest bugs cannot cause direct harm to humans, and therefore do not require radical measures. They are simply looking for favorable living conditions and accidentally wandered into someone else's territory. Usually no more than five or ten individuals are observed, most often one or two bugs fly into the window.
Once they have been discovered, they must be carefully taken outside and released. To protect yourself from further invasions, it is best to install mosquito nets on all windows. This way they will no longer enter the house and disturb the peace of the residents. Doors should be tightly locked and not left open: this will help protect your home not only from bedbugs, but also from other insects. You can buy mosquito nets in large supermarkets or specialty stores.
