Can someone help Identify this bug?It is all over my house!

ajdduke619 Scarsdale, United States Nov 15, 2011

This is my first post on the daves garden forums. Recentley this bug has been showing up more and more so my family and I are trying to identify it. Please help! Thanks.

Post #8890935

Quote

kwanjin (Zone 7a) Nov 15, 2011

It looks like one of the Stink Bugs. Perhaps, someone else can tell you which one.

Post #8890943

Quote

Flapdoodle Minot, ND Nov 15, 2011

Looks like a brown marmorated stink bug -
http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/brown-marmorated-stink-bug

Post #8891161

Quote

Zanithori Canberra, Australia Jan 12, 2012

I have them too and I am in Australia. They are all over my spinach. Do they damage the plants?

Post #8965538

Quote

nmcnear Novato, CA(Zone 10a) Jan 12, 2012

Most stink bugs are herbivores, so yes, it is likely that if they are all over your spinach they might be causing damage.

Post #8965645

Quote

themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) Jan 13, 2012

Here is a hint from Josh Byrnes on shield bugs in Aussie gardens

JOSH BYRNE: Gregory from New South Wales has got a problem with the dreaded Shield Bug also known as Stink Bug because when you disturb them, they put off that horrible odour. Now they're quite a decent sized bug - about the size of a thumbnail and they tend to cluster and they'll attack all types of plants including citrus. Now the best ways to control them is physical removal and then drowning. So either shake them off or, would you believe, get a vacuum and suck them up then take them out of that back and immerse them into a bucket of warm soapy water. That'll soon fix them up.

Post #8966262

Quote

cjca07 Brunswick, GA Jan 24, 2012

I, um, wouldn't recommend vacuuming your spinach, though.

An insecticidal soap would probably work - you can buy it (GardenSafe is one brand) or make your own from Ivory soap chips or Fels Naptha (my favorite) or Dr. Bronner's, 1 tsp. per quart of water. Use a spray botle or watering can to disperse the soap mixture. Re-apply the soap after it rains.

When you float the dirt off the spinach before you eat it, any remaining soap will also dissolve.

Post #8980951

Quote

themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) Jan 25, 2012

No, I wouldn't recommend vacuuming your spinach plants, but you could use a dustbuster to suck up the ones you shake them off the plant. And the dust buster works for sturdier plants like citrus.

Post #8981467

Quote

Please or sign up to post.

Back to Forum Homepage