Bugs, grubs and slugs Bugs, and

How to control these small nuisances in home and garden

BY SARAH COLBURN | STAFF WRITER

As boxelder bugs emerge from hiding in the toasty warm walls of homes across Minnesota, homeowners are reminded that spring brings with it the emergence of not only boxelders, but other life including June bugs, slugs and the ever-invasive Japanese beetle.

The number of flying nuisances and wriggly, creepy crawlies will determine the type of treatment needed, if any, according to Katie Drewitz, local Extension educator in Stearns, Benton and Morrison counties.

While boxelder bugs make their presence most known this time of year, the boxelders crawling out of hiding and stretching their wings haven’t been laying eggs in your walls – they’ve been hibernating in balls or clusters since last year.

The best defense against these pests this time of year, according to Drewitz, is a vacuum!

“As the temperatures warm, the insects in the outer layers become active first and then emerge into the living quarters of the home, explaining why they do not all become active at the same time,” she said. “Since these insects are emerging from hidden sites, it is not practical to treat them to prevent their emergence.”

Though boxelders feed on the sap of their host plants including boxelder, maple and ash trees, their work doesn’t often impact the health of the plant.

The number of boxelder bugs in Central Minnesota last year was significantly higher, because of the dry July weather which was ideal to their lifecycle.

To minimize the problem in the future, it’s important to in-

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from page 17 spect the outside of the home during the summer and seal any spaces or gaps that could be allowing the insects inside. An insecticide can be applied around the perimeter of the home in the fall, if necessary, as the insects try to get in.

Japanese beetles

While boxelder bugs are annoying, Japanese Beetles with their distinct metallic green head and thorax and copper brown wing covers, are destructive.

The beetles, Drewitz said, have been in the state since 1968 but are becoming more prevalent. They’re not only easy to spot because they range in size from 1/3 to 1/2 inch; the skeleton plant carcasses they leave behind are distinct. The beetles feed on more than

300 different species of plants including turf, fruits and vegetables, trees and shrubs, flowers and field crops. While healthy and mature plants may survive the beetles feasting, young or unhealthy trees and most fruits, vegetables and herbs that suffer significant damage may not survive.

For valuable plants, exclusion netting can help. As the beetles feed on a plant, they release a hormone that attracts more beetles, Drewitz said. Hand-picking beetles can help reduce the overall number.

Drewitz advises against using commercial “traps” sold

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