Unwelcome Guests: Managing Kudzu Bugs in Your Florida Home

Unwelcome Guests: Managing Kudzu Bugs in Your Florida Home

The kudzu bug, an invasive pest, has been a significant concern in soybean cultivation in the southeastern United States since 2009, particularly in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama. Beyond its impact on agriculture, the kudzu bug proves to be a nuisance to homeowners and outdoor enthusiasts during both early spring and fall. In the winter months, the kudzu bug becomes inactive and actively seeks overwintering sites in the fall.

Credit: Worrel Diedrick, Florida A&M University.

If you observed a substantial number of small, greenish, round, flattened insects on the exterior walls of your home, there is a likelihood that you, like many others in your community, were visited by the kudzu bug. This relatively new invasive insect from Asia has become an unexpected guest for numerous residents and business owners, as it landed on homes and other structures in search of suitable overwintering sites.

Fortunately, the overwintering flights of the kudzu bug are relatively brief, lasting only a few days in the fall. However, if your residence becomes one of their chosen landing sites and they manage to infiltrate by crawling into cracks and crevices, the issue may escalate to the interior of your dwelling, posing a more significant problem than their presence on the exterior.

Kudzu Bug Habitat

Outdoors, kudzu bugs tend to congregate in gaps under the bark of trees, gaps under the siding of homes, and higher elevations such as fascia boards and gutters on the edges of homes. They are attracted to light-colored surfaces, with a particular fondness for white. Kudzu bugs will congregate on white siding, white cars, or white attire. In early fall, they often gather on light-colored exterior walls before moving into gaps and cracks, seeking shelter and warmth for overwintering.

To mitigate the possibility of infestation, the most effective preventive measure is to seal all openings where kudzu bugs could potentially enter your dwelling using caulk. While insecticides might be considered for control, it’s crucial to note that this option is challenging to time accurately and often proves mostly ineffective in addressing the problem.

For the more information specific to kudzu bug in Florida, consult your extension office.

Supporting information for this article can also be found by clicking the link below.

The Kudzu Bug – UF/IFAS Pest Alert (ufl.edu)

Kudzu Bugs – Will They Overwinter in Your Neighborhood? – UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center

Soybeans: A Surprise Vegetable

Soybeans: A Surprise Vegetable

Vegetable Soybean Pods Image Credit Ann Blount, NFREC, UF IFAS Extension

Vegetable Soybean Pods
Image Credit Ann Blount, NFREC, UF IFAS Extension

I am sure you are familiar with soybeans, but probably not in the way we’ll describe it.  If you frequently visit health food stores, or the health food section of your supermarket, you’re bound to have seen this vegetable in its dried form.  It’s a substitute for meat in many dishes, and it’s used to enhance the nutritional value of numerous foods.

Surprising as it may seem, the soybean is a nutritious and versatile green vegetable.  While we’re all fairly familiar with the many uses of dried soybeans, most of us haven’t had much exposure to fresh soybeans.  My information was provided by retired Extension Vegetable Specialist Jim Stephens.

There are two main types of soybeans.  The one cultivated most frequently is the agronomic or field soybean.  It represents 99 percent of all soybeans grown in our country.  The second type, which we’re emphasizing, is the vegetable soybean, which is grown for fresh or green mature consumption. The vegetable type is about one-and-a-half to three times larger seeded than the field type.

While few Americans think of soybeans as a vegetable, it has been used as a vegetable in Asia for over 1,000 years.  The varieties suitable as a vegetable are different from those used as a field crop.  Major vegetable varieties are “Verde”, “Disoy”, “Bansei”, “Gaint Green”, Fuji”, and “Seminole”.

Aside from their good taste and high yield, green soybeans have excellent nutritional value.  Fresh soybeans are very high in vitamin c, and they’re also high in protein, containing about three times the protein of milk and about half that of red meat.  Fresh soybeans are relatively high in calories, because of their seven percent fat content.  Fortunately, this is good quality vegetable fat.  Soybeans also contain sizeable amounts of other vitamins and minerals.

As with most fresh vegetables, soybeans should be eaten as soon after harvest as possible.  Eating quality and nutrition value begin to decrease within several hours after the beans are picked.

You’ll have an easier time removing the seeds if you place the unshelled beans in boiling water for about three minutes.  This will soften the pods, and allow the tender beans to be split out by hand.  As a garden-fresh vegetable, soybeans can be prepared like any other fresh shelled beans.  Soybean seeds also make excellent bean sprouts.

For more information on edible soybeans contact your county extension office or www.http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu  and see Vegetable Gardening in Florida by James M. Stephens, Vegetable Production Handbook for Florida, Vegetable Gardening Guide or IFAS Publication SP 103/VH 021: Florida Vegetable Garden Guide.