LifestyleAmerican shield bug: The new garden menace threatening your blooms

American shield bug: The new garden menace threatening your blooms

When we dedicate much time and energy to maintaining our garden, we expect to be rewarded with beautiful flowers and lush vegetation. Unfortunately, these dreams can suddenly be shattered by the appearance of pests, including the American shield bug.

The Western conifer seed bug is wreaking havoc in our gardens.
The Western conifer seed bug is wreaking havoc in our gardens.
Images source: © Adobe Stock

17 August 2024 18:08

Insects in the garden can be beneficial and extremely harmful. Although the American shield bug hadn't drawn much attention until recently, many people have encountered it at least once.

Here's how to recognise it

The American shield bug, classified among true bugs, is characterised by an elongated and oval body with a rusty hue, reaching up to 0.6 inches in length. In a threatening situation, the American shield bug can emit a strong, irritating odour. If this substance gets on fruits, it can cause them to lose their taste, affecting preserve quality.

The American shield bug feeds on raspberries among others

Once it attacks plants, knowing where to look for it is essential. This pest particularly favours peonies, hydrangeas, sowthistle, and dandelions. The American shield bug also readily feeds on fruits such as raspberries, blackberries, and rhubarb.

Using its mouthparts, it sucks water and juices from plants, causing them to yellow, wilt, and in the case of fruits, lose their flesh. Unfortunately, dedicated chemical agents for its control have yet to be developed, so gardeners must use treatments intended for similar pests.

Removing weeds and carefully collecting insects from the leaves immediately after spotting them can prevent plant damage.

Related content
© Daily Wrap
·

Downloading, reproduction, storage, or any other use of content available on this website—regardless of its nature and form of expression (in particular, but not limited to verbal, verbal-musical, musical, audiovisual, audio, textual, graphic, and the data and information contained therein, databases and the data contained therein) and its form (e.g., literary, journalistic, scientific, cartographic, computer programs, visual arts, photographic)—requires prior and explicit consent from Wirtualna Polska Media Spółka Akcyjna, headquartered in Warsaw, the owner of this website, regardless of the method of exploration and the technique used (manual or automated, including the use of machine learning or artificial intelligence programs). The above restriction does not apply solely to facilitate their search by internet search engines and uses within contractual relations or permitted use as specified by applicable law.Detailed information regarding this notice can be found  here.