The garden bug is one of the species of bugs native to Central Europe, which can be found more and more frequently in Germany. It has a very specific way of life and can also occasionally be observed in houses. Responsible for this are specific conditions.

The garden bug smells unpleasant, but poses no danger

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Are garden bugs dangerous?
  3. Fight?
  4. Prevent and deter
  5. Characteristics
  6. detect bugs
  7. lifestyle and development
  8. distribution
  9. frequently asked Questions

    10. the essentials in brief

    • Garden bugs don't bite; their secretion is also non-poisonous, but it stinks very badly
    • Control only makes sense if the garden bugs are really a plague
    • Contact insecticides are used to combat them, but these are also harmful to humans and pets
    • You can drive away the garden bugs with strong-smelling substances such as mint or garlic

    Are garden bugs dangerous?

    If you spot garden bugs, there is no need to worry. The insects are not poisonous and cannot sting or bite with their proboscis. They don't go to stocks, nor are they known to be pests. Only their defense secretion can become a nuisance. The animals secrete this when they feel threatened. The substance is not dangerous or harmful to humans or pets.

    Fight gray garden bug?

    In most cases, combating garden bugs does not make sense because the animals do not pose any danger. Contact insecticides are used to combat plagues, which effectively kill the insects. However, these agents are not harmless because they can damage health and have negative effects on the environment.

    The garden bug is anything but dangerous. Fighting is only useful and recommended in extreme emergencies.

    pyrethroids

    Means with this synthetic insecticide are preferably used to eliminate all kinds of bugs. The main active ingredients are based on the natural insecticide pyrethrum, which is obtained from Tanacetum species.

    This is how the remedy works:

    • effect: causes spastic paralysis in pests, which ends fatally
    • side effect: does not act selectively, but also kill beneficial insects
    • advantage: has deterrent effect on bees outdoors

    diatomaceous earth

    The chalky powder consists of fossil remains of diatoms and is used to combat insects. Diatomaceous earth contains alumina, iron oxide and silicon dioxide. In combination, the components ensure that the protective layer of the insect shell is destroyed when touched. As a result, the bugs dehydrate and die.

    sticky traps

    The insects are attracted by sweet scents and stick to the tape. This method entails a lengthy and agonizing death and should rather be avoided.

    What to do in case of a plague?

    The garden bug is reluctant to be seen in the apartment

    Instead of killing bugs, use repellents. There are some substances that bugs don't like at all. You can drive away the insects effectively with home-made solutions.

    tips

    Make sure the garden has a high level of moisture, because the garden bug loves drought and heat. Mulch your plants regularly.

    garlic

    Spray a solution of 500 milliliters of water and four teaspoons of garlic powder in the bugs' whereabouts. They are deterred by the intense smell and look for another place of retreat.

    mint

    Alternatively, you can mix half a liter of water with about ten drops of mint oil and spray this solution into the hiding places. Mint has an effect similar to garlic and does not poison the insects. Instead of mint oil, you can use fresh peppermint or catnip leaves.

    fly screen

    To prevent bugs from getting into your home, you should provide windows and doors with fly screens. Make sure that all gaps and cracks are closed.

    tips

    Birds and toads are natural enemies of bugs. Create a diverse habitat in which these animals thrive.

    Characteristics

    Behind the garden bug hides the gray garden bug (Rhaphigaster nebulosa), which is sometimes also called the common garden bug or gray field bug. The species belongs to the stink bug family. The insects are characterized by a clumsy physique and have a conspicuous pronotum.

    Typical for stink bugs:

    • shield body
    • five-point antennae
    • well developed wings

    detect bugs

    The garden bug can be recognized by its gray base color, which has dirty yellow to brown nuances. Irregularly distributed point pits can be seen on the body. The front wings are often covered by a dark brown mottled membrane. The lateral edge of the abdomen, on which a black and yellow pattern is pilloried, is striking. The tentacles are also ringed in black and yellow, with the third and fifth segment always appearing yellow. Garden bugs have a proboscis.

    The gray garden bug has a beautiful grey-black pattern

    digression

    Bloodsucking bugs

    Of the almost 900 species of bugs known in Germany, only five species are bloodsuckers. They prey on the blood of birds and bats, but can also sting humans.

    One of these species is Psallus varians, which multiplies in midsummer and exhibits rather unnatural behavior, especially in atypical weather conditions. In 2016, there were numerous reports of bites caused by this bug. The bite caused an allergic reaction in the form of mild inflammation.

    stink bugs

    While many stink bugs are strikingly colorful, there are a few species that are similar to the garden bug. Many species change color depending on the season so they are better protected from natural predators. The bugs live in similar habitats as most species feed on plant saps.

    coloring size habitat
    forest warden brown with black dots 10 to 13 millimeters forests, clearings
    stripe bug red and black striped 8 to 12 millimeters open to partially shaded areas
    Common stink bug green with dark dots 12 to 13.5 millimeters deciduous trees, herbaceous layer

    name confusion

    Occasionally, all bugs that appear in the garden are referred to as garden bugs. Many of them, such as the cabbage bug, shrew bug or berry bug, are dreaded plant pests and should not be confused with the gray garden bug. If you find bugs on your crops, you should first identify the species and then decide on possible control measures.

    lifestyle and development

    The garden bug is diurnal and tied to warm temperatures. It prefers to overwinter on facades overgrown with ivy. Cracks or crevices are also often visited, so that the bugs often get lost in houses and apartments. Like all stink bugs, the garden bug develops only one generation per year.

    From egg to bug

    In late spring, the females lay their eggs. They glue these in discs or strips to various parts of the plant. The hatched larvae are different colored and do not yet have wings. They go through several stages between which they molt. Short stub wings are recognizable from the third instar.

    behavior

    Larvae and adult bugs exhibit similar behavior. To ward off enemies, the animals secrete a stinking secretion. Insects are not good at flying. Loud buzzing sounds can be heard during their clumsy flight.

    food

    Garden bugs live on various deciduous trees and feed on plant sap. Leaves and fruit are also on their menu. To get the liquid, they use their long proboscis. They occasionally use this to suck out dead insects.

    The gray garden bug is a herbivore

    hibernate

    In winter, garden bugs form aggregations in their hibernation quarters to keep each other warm. They utilize various crevices and cavities that provide sheltered conditions. These can be cracks in walls or bark scales on plane trees. Garden houses or nesting boxes also serve as winter quarters.

    distribution

    The gray garden bug is the only species of the genus Rhaphigaster in Central Europe, although it is more common in the south than in the north. Since the year 2000, the species has spread rapidly in Germany and is now also found on the north German coast. Garden bugs are more common in cities than in the countryside. This is due to the increased warming of urban areas, which favors the spread of the species.

    In the flat

    When winter is imminent, garden bugs start looking for winter quarters. Attracted by light sources and heat, the insects get lost in apartments and houses. They get into the rooms through open windows and doors, where they do not cause any damage. A plate of fruit on the living room table magically attracts the bugs. They suck the juice from peaches, pears or apples and leave spoiled fruit behind.

    On the house wall

    In some years, garden bugs can be observed en masse on house walls. Such mass accumulations are particularly common in warm years, since the animals can reproduce well under these optimal conditions. The warmth-loving insects settle on the sunny side of house facades and can inadvertently invade the apartments. As soon as the sun disappears and the temperatures drop again, the bugs are gone too.

    frequently asked Questions

    Do garden bugs stink?

    Many stink bugs have stink glands that allow them to secrete a foul odor. Some of the substances are toxic and can stun attackers or prey. Garden bugs also have stinky glands, which are located on the underside of their chests. Even the nymphs use the glands to ward off enemies.

    Do bugs indicate an unhygienic apartment?

    If you find garden bugs in your home, there is no need to worry. The stink bugs have no interest in human food or wet niches. They are only looking for a suitable winter quarters and retreat to warm niches.

    Can garden bugs bite?

    Even if the insects are unsettling with their long proboscis, the animals cannot pierce human skin. They use their mouthparts to pierce the outer skin of leaves or fruit. They also occasionally suck out dead insects.

    When are garden bugs active?

    The insects come out of their winter quarters as soon as the thermometer rises above ten degrees Celsius. They usually start looking for food in early March. If the winter is particularly mild or ends early, the insects can also be observed earlier.

Category:

Animals in the garden