A previously-little-known stink bug has been infesting most of our homes lately, and almost everyone is clueless about these bugs or even about how to control them. The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), scientifically called the Halyomorpha halys, has been found in 49 countries and has been known as an agricultural pest in Eastern countries such as China and Japan. In America, it is commonly known to be an indoor pest and is abundant mostly during the warmer seasons.DamageThe BMSB can significantly destroy crops in the field. For example, it can distort the flesh of an apple or other citrus fruit, affecting its marketability and safety of consumption.
Most humans are afraid of insects, although we merely call them ‘pests.’ Unknowingly, these ‘pests’ do help us in some ways most people are probably not aware of. Listed below are some insects that are not your typical pests; in fact, you should welcome them into your garden.Ground beetle.
They might not look pleasant, but never underestimate what this bug can do! This large, long-legged bug likes to feed on insects that are harmful to vegetables. If you plan to plant potatoes, cabbage, and/or tomatoes, then, surround your crops with logs, rocks, and perennial ground covers to attract these protective creatures.
To many, Winter in Ohio is considered milder than the average winter temperatures in other states. A number of questions have been presented about the coming winter; people are wondering which pests will be bugging them as the cold approaches.In the summer, when temperatures are high, some insects may die because their cellular activity is moving so fast due to the heat. In the winter, insects seek shelter from the cold and produce compounds in their bodies. It is not the cold temperature, but the freezing or thawing processes that usually causes an insect to die.
As Halloween is approaching, you might notice the shelves of Target are like your house – seemingly stocked with spiders and spider webs. As the cold approaches, the spiders move in! Spiders stay near our homes because of the warm retreat they feel. Not only are they are getting ready for the winter ahead, but it’s also mating season!
Here are the 3 most common types of spiders you might see this fall:
Have you ever been awakened in the early morning or kept awake at night with a super loud and annoying “BUZZZZZ” sound happening right outside your window?
These pests noisy pests keeping you up are cicadas or Cicadoidea. They are known for their buzzing and clicking noises, which can be amplified by a mass of insects into an overpowering, “HUMMM.” This noise from a locust cloud can be heard up to a mile away! Unusual among insects, some varieties of cicadas disappear almost entirely for many years, only to appear again in force at a regular interval. In fact, there are 3,000 cicada species, but only some of these share the so-called 17-year cicada cycle. Other types of cicada are called annuals because they have multi-year life cycles, with some adults appearing every year! An example of this would be the Dog Day Cicada, which emerges each year during mid-summer as seen below:
