The kudzu bug is another invasive insect from Asia that has
the potential to become a serious crop pest.
It was first found in the Atlanta, GA, area in 2009, and has now spread
into six states: Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, North Carolina, and
Virginia. It is not a stinkbug but is
related to them and looks similar to our native stinkbugs but bulkier. The hind end of the bug is squared off giving
it a boxy appearance.
The kudzu bug does feed on kudzu and its feeding appears to
have an ill effect on kudzu, making it a beneficial insect. However, it does feed on other legumes such
as wisteria, soybeans and potentially other leguminous crops. It has been shown to reduce soybean yields as
much as 47% in Georgia by sucking plant sap from the leaf veins with its beak. There is a close association of the bug
with kudzu, but it can reproduce on wisteria as well. The question is how much of a problem will the kudzu bug be without the presence of kudzu. New
Jersey does have a few sites infested with kudzu, but the state has a lot of wisteria.
One thing is certain, the kudzu bug population can spread
rapidly. The adults are strong fliers
and are attracted to white objects, including homes and vehicles. According to a fact sheet from North Carolina
the kudzu bug can hitch-hike on vehicles, probably enhancing its ability to
move about. Given its range expansion so
far, it is likely that we’ll be finding our first bugs in another year or
two. Like the brown marmorated
stinkbug, the kudzu bug also overwinters in homes.
Most likely we will be having more information to share in
another year. For more detailed
information on this potential pest go to http://ipm.ncsu.edu/cotton/insectcorner/PDF/Kudzu%20Bug%20Handout_Field%20Crops.Final.pdf
Joe Ingerson-Mahar
