Bug bug berry: what it looks like and what harm does a “fragrant” lover of berries
The berry stink bug has long earned an offensive nickname - "stink". The reason for this was its ability to release an odorous enzyme in case of danger. However, an unpleasant smell is not the only reason not to like this insect: it is a parasite and destroys fruit and vegetable crops growing in household plots.
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Berry shield (Dolycoris baccarum): bug description
Berry bug or stink bug is a representative of the stink bug family, uniting about 4 thousand varieties of insects. All of them have the ability to exude a stench, so other insects try to bypass them.
The appearance of the berry bug
Reproduction and development
Diet and lifestyle
Berry shield insects feed on the juices of fruits and shoots of plants. They pierce them with sharp proboscises and suck out the liquid. Despite the name, they also eat the juice of vegetable crops: peppers or tomatoes. Insects do not tend to show themselves: they prefer to quietly sit on the bushes and suck out the juice of plants.
Berry bug habitat
Pests live in almost all regions with any climatic conditions. Most often they are found in gardens, on raspberry and currant bushes. They also live in meadows, woodlands, deciduous and coniferous trees, shrubs and grasses.
What harm can a berry bug cause
The parasite causes significant damage to agricultural crops. With the help of a piercing-sucking mouth apparatus, it pierces the stems of plants and injects a dangerous poison, as a result of which the fruits are deformed, the shoots and leaves dry out and curl.
The berry bug can leave traces of its vital activity on the fruits without even piercing them - such berries and fruits cannot be eaten because of the unpleasant odor.
Why are shield bugs dangerous for humans and how they penetrate the apartment
The structure of the beetle's mouth apparatus does not allow it to bite, it is adapted only for sucking. Bedbugs do not weave cobwebs and do not carry infectious diseases, so they do not pose any danger to humans.
It happens that "stinkers" get into a human dwelling, but this happens quite by accident.
For example, a shield bug can fly into a house with a gust of wind; the person himself brings it into the house on clothes, shoes, or along with a berry. In addition, the insect can make its way into the house instinctively, feeling the heat.
How to get rid of stink bugs in the house and in the garden
As mentioned above, the berry bug can ruin crops. Several methods have been developed to control these pests.
Chemical methods
It is advisable to use chemical compounds only when the threshold of harmfulness is exceeded, that is, there are too many parasites on the site. It should be understood that any chemicals, even those belonging to the less toxic group, are dangerous to humans, as they remain in the soil and on plants.
The following methods showed the greatest effectiveness.
Biological methods of struggle
Also on the site you can plant black cohosh and cimicifuga plants. They have a sharp, specific smell that repels bedbugs.
Folk methods of struggle
Folk methods of struggle are also safe for humans and animals, in addition, they are prepared from components that are always in the house and are inexpensive. However, such methods are effective only when the number of insects is small.
The most effective folk recipes against berry bugs.
| Mustard | 100 gr. mustard powder is stirred into 500 ml. warm water until completely dissolved. The resulting mixture is diluted with water to obtain a volume of 10 liters. and with the help of a spray gun, infected cultures are treated. |
| odorous herbs | Prepare a decoction of herbs with a pungent odor. For example, wild rosemary, wormwood, chamomile. The resulting liquid is poured into a container with a spray bottle and the plants are treated. |
| Laundry soap | A piece of ordinary laundry soap is rubbed on a grater and scattered over the area so that it does not fall on the leaves of plants. Then the soap shavings are poured with warm water and covered with gauze. To escape from the pungent smell, the bugs will crawl out to the surface of the matter, where they are caught by hand. |
| Lukovaâ Husk | 200 gr. onion peel pour 10 liters. water and leave to infuse for 4-5 days. The liquid should be completely saturated with juice and acquire a light yellow tint. After this, the solution should be filtered, poured into a spray bottle and sprayed on the plants. Processing should be carried out twice a day, every 5 days. |
Prevention of the appearance of insects
Berries in small numbers are not capable of causing serious harm to the crop, so there is no need to fight them in this case. However, at any moment their number may begin to increase and then problems cannot be avoided.
- To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to plant plants with a pungent odor on the site, for example, wormwood.
- You should also remove the fallen leaves in a timely manner - the bugs hibernate in the fallen leaves, and if they are removed, then they will have nowhere to hide, therefore, they will not be next season.