We have this big explosion of Alder Bugs every year. They have even got into our house. They die off after about a month but they are munching on my Brugs! I caught one in action! I'm kinda ticked right now, because there are so many of them. Anyone know what works for them?
Karrie
ALDER BUGS??????
Karrie, I just learned something new by your posting. I went to look Alder bugs up and their the same as Lace bug/flies....Here's an article about them and then it gives you the ingredients to watch for when trying to find something that kills them. It's under the control part. Good luck hon.
Julie
http://ag.udel.edu/extension/information/hyg/hyg-21.htm
I wish there were a real photo of that bug - because that black & white doesn't look like the same thing. These are brown with red on them. they are about 1/4" long or slightling longer, and kinda fat.
Here - I took a picture of them (sorry - they are mating here). Maybe they aren't even called Alder Bugs - Russ told me that's what they are but has now said he could be wrong.
Karrie lol...this may be a good site for pics....I had those on mine this afternoon...I flicked it off LOL! I didn't know the darned things eat brug leaves too. Check this site out.
http://www.entomology.umn.edu/cues/IPM-trees/hostplantold.htm
So it's another type of aphid? I sprayed Melathion on them this afternoon. Hopefully that will keep them at Bay. I'm getting ready to fix dinner and then take off for a couple of hours and when I get back I'll do some more research.
That's what I'm reading too. Looks as though there are many types of aphids even the flying type. Wow, learn something new everyday.
I hope so too Karrie. I use the Ortho Advanced Rose & Flower solution and spray mine. It's supposed to get a large variety of bugs that brugs attract. So far, I've not seen anything munching yet. It's rain resistant too. That's why I like it and it also fertilizes them all at once. Last 30 days :)
Julie
Julie,
I've looked at that and thought about getting it. But I am really liking those Bayer products - so not sure yet what I will get. When I get back tonight, or maybe tomorrow, I'll email that pic to the Washington State University extension here in Spokane and see if they can identify it. I'm sure they can as they are everywhere here, and here every single spring.
Karrie
Karrie, those are Box Elder Bugs. Kind of hard to get rid of. We have them by the thousands in the late fall. Enough to drive a guy to drink.
This message was edited May 2, 2005 10:03 PM
Same here Brugie. They even swarm on warm spring days like lady bugs do.
So thick on the sun warmed side of the barn I can hardly get the door open without getting a face full.. ugh
B U T , I have never seen one chewing on any flowers including brugs .
Thank Goodness !
we get them only in the Spring/early Summer, and when I was moving my Brugs today, I saw one chomping on my Super Nova - and it got ate bad overnight. I thought they were Box Alder Bugs - but since there is uncertainty in this, I am still going to write my local extension office. I will have to reboot first, however, because I can tell by looking at the tool bar down below than something is wrong, and earlier something was wrong as well. I'll run a spyware program first. I will let them know I found them chewing on my brugs. You DO KNOW that that icky leaf sucker is dead now, I hope. Anything messes with my babies and they don't live long. I've already treated them with malathion, but will ask the extension office if something else is necessary.
Weird that you guys out east get them in the Fall and we get them in the Spring. Isn't that strange?
The Midwest has always had tons of them. I have never seen damage on my brugs from them though and in the fall they are covered with them. I've bought some Talstar granules to see if they will cut down the population.
Karrie, I am visiting my Dad who is a retired biologist (if they ever retire) and had him come in and look at your pic. I thought it was a box elder bug (we hare the not so proud owners of a mature box elder tree) but he confirmed it.
Maybe these are mutants - because they were eating on the leaves - I saw it happening. They really liked that Super Nova - munched that one pretty good. Thankfully the population is already starting to die off - seeing less and less everyday now. They never bothered me much before until I saw them doing damage.
When googling, I didn't get very much info at all when typing in Alder Bug. According to this canadian web site they are called "Box Elder Bugs" - maybe that's why. But I found alot of info googling by typing in "Insects + Identification".
Here is one site:
http://www.pestcontrolcanada.com/INSECTS/box_elder_bugs.htm
and another:
http://www.unexco.com/boxelder.html
The pictured bugs are Box Elder Bugs not alder bugs
Right - I figured that out - I just thought they were called Alder Bugs, because of Alder trees.
Ya know - I don't know of any Box Elder Trees in our neighborhood.
I only saw two today - so I am guessing they are finally done. Hate them nasty pesky bugs.
They will come back in the fall. I'm sure they are down there next to the foundation starting their family and will all come back to haunt you this fall.
We never get them in the fall for some reason - that is why I thought it was strange when you said that's when you get yours. WEIRD. We are going to spray along the foundation and hope we get the nymphs.