Kudzu Bugs - Frequently Asked Questions Answered

Area residents are seeing swarms of small, green-brown bugs clustering on trees, porches and the sides of buildings.  Many people have never seen these insects before and have lots of questions.  I’ll answer some of the most common frequently asked questions below. 

Where did kudzu bugs come from and when?

Kudzu bugs are a new pest in the US, they were accidentally introduced to Georgia in the fall of 2009.  Kudzu bugs are native to China and India, the homeland of the kudzu vine on which they traditionally feed.  These bugs are very mobile and by 2010, they had spread throughout Georgia, into South Carolina, Alabama and North Carolina.  Now kudzu bugs have been recorded in most counties across the state.

What do they eat?  Will they harm my plants?

Kudzu bugs feed on kudzu as well as wisteria, soybeans and other members of the legume (bean and pea) family.  While kudzu bugs have been found congregating on a variety of plants (including apple, pecan and fig trees), at this point we don’t expect them to feed in damaging amounts on non-leguminous plants. 

Where are all of the bugs I’m seeing now coming from and why?

In Onslow County, local farmers have been controlling kudzu bugs in the soybean fields throughout the summer.  Of course, they are also in the woods in the kudzu and wisteria patches.  Now, the kudzu bugs are moving out of the soybean fields and woodlands and searching for places to overwinter.  Often, they are attracted to light-colored surfaces but they will also congregate on brick or dark colored siding. 

How much longer will this movement last?

Kudzu bugs are expected to keep migrating for at least another two to three weeks.  As temperatures continue to drop, their activity will lessen. 

Should homeowners spray to control kudzu bugs?

Spraying with chemicals is not recommended since it is likely to provide only partial control.  Spraying insects currently gathered on surfaces is effective in the short-term but it will not prevent kudzu bugs from quickly re-infesting the site.  Preventive sprays are not recommended because it is difficult to determine where the insects will gather and these chemicals aren’t durable enough to provide protection throughout the rest of the migration season. 

What steps should homeowners take?

For longer term control, focus on physically excluding the bugs by sealing gaps and openings (like those around utility lines and making sure that weather stripping around doors and windows is secure).  Avoid crushing kudzu bugs that do make it indoors because they emit an unpleasant stinkbug odor.  Vacuum up invading kudzu bugs and quickly dispose of the vacuum contents outside. 

What will happen next season?

Expect to see kudzu bugs swarming for a short period in the spring before they move back into the soybean fields and kudzu patches.  This is a nuisance but not a major concern for most homeowners.  For gardeners, kudzu bugs may swarm on trees and shrubs but should not cause a problem for most plants.  However, ornamental wisteria, beans and peas may need protection throughout the growing season. 

Will the kudzu bugs always be this bad?

Some entomologists think the high populations we are seeing right now is a result of the “colonization effect” and that populations may stabilize at a lower level once the kudzu bugs have been here a while.

For more information about kudzu bugs, check out the following link:
http://insects.ncsu.edu/Urban/kudzubug.htm