Stink Bug Eating Japanese Beetle
You’re site is terrific – I use it all the time. I’m always looking for ways to rid my yard of Japanese Beetles, so I thought that was wonderful: it looks like a Podisus (?) feasting on the beetle. Do they actually kill their prey or scavenge? I’ve never seen dead japanese beetles laying around like this except where I did the handiwork! It’s from Fort Wayne, Indiana. Thanks much!
Adam
Hi Adam,
You have correctly identified your Spined Soldier Bug, a Predatory Stink Bug in the genus Podisus. Predatory Stink Bugs are true predators, and not scavengers. They need a liquid diet, so they only suck the fluids from the prey, leaving behind a drained dry husk. Gardeners plagued by invasive exotic Japanese Beetles would probably love to be able to purchase Spined Soldier Bugs, and we read on BugGuide that: “P. maculiventris is sold as a biological pest control, and appears to be the most common species in the southeastern United States.”
Homeowners should be aware there is a brand new EPA registered product on the market for protecting gardens from Japanese Beetles, Emerald Ash Borer and as other invasive insects. It just became available in August 2010. The high concentrate, imidicloprid product is called, Optrol. It is the only retail product available that is labeled at the highest rate which is needed for efficacy when treating for these pests. Optrol is a soil drench product which will protect gardens and trees for 12 months and is being sold at independent garden centers and other small retailers through independent representatives. You may be interested to know that Optrol was researched and tested by Purdue University, Michigan State University and Ohio State University (among others) before launch of this product. Find out more here: http://plantcarescience.com/