Kudzu bugs are most noticeable at two times of the year: early spring when they emerge from winter hibernation and fall when they congregate on sunny spots to warm themselves. They are attracted to light-colored surfaces, especially white house siding, white cars, and even white shirts. During their winter inactivity period, you might see groups of them in cracks of house siding, spaces around windows, or even in crevices of trees. Kudzu bugs are often considered nuisance pests, similar to boxelder bugs or ladybugs.
4 Ways to Get Rid of Kudzu Bugs
Manual Removal
If kudzu bugs do get inside your home, they should be vacuumed up with a hose attachment and disposed of while still in the vacuum bag. The bag can be submerged in hot, soapy water or placed in a freezer to kill the bugs. Avoid crushing them, as they can stain surfaces and leave an unpleasant smell.
Spray the Adult Insects
A variety of household spray pesticides will kill kudzu bugs, but these products can be hard to use since the bugs often congregate high on exterior walls. If you do spray for the bugs, use a pyrethrin-based pesticide, such as permethrin, bifenthrin, or lambda-cyhalothrin (chemicals that end in “-thrin” are pyrethrin-based products). When using these products outdoors, be careful about allowing the pesticide to drift in the wind, and take care when spraying overhead not to allow the pesticide to drip into your eyes or onto your skin. When using pyrethrin-based products, be careful not to use them in a manner that allows for run-off into storm drains. These chemicals are toxic to fish and other aquatic life, though relatively safe for humans and other animals.
Spray the Nymphs
While spraying for adult insects normally takes place in the fall when the adults are seeking hiding places for the coming winter, some evidence suggests that it is more effective to spray the vulnerable plants earlier in the year to target the just-hatched nymphs as they feed. This method is more often used in commercial agriculture to protect soybeans and other crops, but homeowners may also find it effective to use bifenthrin to spray vulnerable plants, such as wisteria and green beans, just as the nymphs are hatching. The nymphs are tiny, fuzzy-looking insects, yellow in color, that cluster on leaves and stems. Thorough spraying of vulnerable plants as each generation of nymphs is emerging often reduces the later adult populations that can invade homes. Homeowner spraying is not very effective, though, unless nearby commercial soybean fields are similarly treated.
Call an Exterminator
A professional exterminator may be the best option if you have trouble controlling the bugs yourself. Professionals will have the tools and pesticides necessary to spray your home’s exterior all the way to the roofline. Be aware, though, that several weekly treatments may be necessary to fully control the bugs when they are active in the fall.
What Causes Kudzu Bugs?
Kudzu bugs are more likely to be found in regions where their favorite foods are available: kudzu vine and various legume plants. Regions where soybeans are grown commercially are especially vulnerable to kudzu bugs.
How to Prevent Kudzu Bugs
Kudzu bugs are likely to congregate wherever they find food sources. Eliminating invasive kudzu vine from nearby areas may help reduce populations of kudzu bugs. The insects also like to feed on wisteria vine, as well as legumes such as peas and beans. Avoiding these plants in your landscape may help reduce local populations. To prevent the bugs from getting indoors, carefully seal all gaps in the exterior of your home, around windows and doors, around vents and pipe openings, and at the foundation.
