Today I present to you the bug of the moment, the bug that everyone is talking about: the stink bug. Our state has been bombarded with them. There are over 200 species of them, but this particular one has come over from Asia in the mid 90's. He is destroying the fruit crops. There is almost nothing he won't eat, and he sucks peaches and apples dry. In Maryland, a 72 year old peach farmer has to cut down all 128 of his peach trees, after a lifetime of perfecting them. After this bug stuffs himself, he looks for a warm house to spend the winter. His defense is putting out a really bad smell. He is sturdy and can withstand pesticides, and has no natural enemies. He also reproduces four times a year. Oh, he also flies! He is also called the shield bug, because see how he has a big shield on him? And nothing can penetrate it!
"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him."
2 Samuel 22:31
32 comments:
This is not a desirable bug,that is certain.I would rather have the shield of God for my protection.
Yep, I go along with Ruth on this one. Those bugs need a natural enemy to cut them down some.
Ugh---I've never seen them before... But--I've heard of them. Do you have to upset them or step on them in order for them to stink---or do they just stink period????? Yuk... Hope you don't get any in your home.
Hugs,
Betsy
Don't think I've ever heard of those bugs up here. Will have to google to learn more about them. Just sick to my stomach that the beautiful peach orchard had to be sacrificed for this bug. Sounds like a plague - ugghhhhh!
Oh how horrible! Raid won't kill them? I feel so sorry for that farmer. That is just devastating. I hope you don't get too many of them in your home! YUCK! I few years back earwigs were everywhere out side and some even managed to get in. I have to say Ginny those things just give me the creeps and to think that on top of everything the stink bug ...well....stinks!
Blessings, Joanne
Ick on the bug! I grew gourds one year and had this kind of bug problem on the gourds. Had to get Seven Dust and sprinkle on my plants. I think that is why I do not try to grow pumpkins for this reason. Its one time I did not mind using chemicals.
Last year I had a dreadful time with earwigs. How on earth were they getting in the house? This year not a problem.
What a destructive bug ... we have an overflow of Asian beetles here.
Oh my goodness! I feel so sorry for that old farmer. To think all his life's work ruined by a stinky bug! We've had some oak borers (bugs) get into a couple of our oak trees and kill them. These were the majestic, huge oaks that have lived for years and years. Felled also by a blasted bug! Well, it took more than one I'm sure. I'm with Ruth, I'll take God's shield...couldn't do with out it!
Talk about armor..he sure can kick all of his feet up! You know..I had know idea there were that many species- nor did I realize they were that destructive!! Good grief, when I hear about stuff like that and the honey bee it makes me sad. I read there was a fellow in Florida who lost 400 hives at once! A guy I know over here had a big orchard of limes.. use to sell them to the hotels. Well, suddenly they got a virus and he was just wiped out! They do have scientists working on the honey bees (saw a video), so it may be promising. I wish they didn't have to use pesticides. Seems like everything we do like that necessitates another remedy..why the verse is true. His ways are just beyond us.
Oh, the AC is pretty good actually. I think my son just made a hole in his wall for the tube and guess he dry walled around it so it looks neat. My husband decided to run ours out the window? It also has a dehumidifier as well which you might not need. At least it comes in handy for really hot or humid nights!
I wonder if this little guy came from Borneo. We used to have this real stinky bug which aptly known as foul fart bug.
I post two comments because I didn't want to mix the good smelling chocolate dessert with the bug.
That evening, I ate far too much than I should. I don't normally eat out, and when I do, I make myself a pig.
In Singapore, they have chocolate buffet, and even have chocolate steaks. I watched on TV, haven't tried it myself.
We have them terribly bad here. I've sucked up thousands in my vacuum. And this year is no different :-(
It really is hard to love all of God's creatures!! I heard about this infestation in Roanoke earlier in the year. Don't know if they are still a problem or have moved on.
Best,
Bonnie
Hi, Jenny! Visiting from Bonnie's and have enjoyed browsing through your photos. That bug is NOT a good guy!! But, your photos are wonderful. I'll be visiting again. blessings ~ tanna
and they do stink like crazy when a person stomps on them, which is what i do when i find one, AFTER i take his photo. i did not realize they did that much damage, seems the plagues are here all over the country, this is just one more.
I remember you identified this bug for me recently. When I took the picture I didn't think/know what damage this little insect could wreak! My heart goes out to he farmer who's had to cut down so many fruit trees.
aiksss!!! I am scared of these feeler aliens! 200 species? gosh... i will faint.. hahahaa...
I have heard about these little critters before and they stink! I've heard they are extremely hard to get rid of too.
I'm not sure if they are here or not - probably - we have lots and lots of bugs here!
Have a good weekend.
Sandie
I don't think I have ever seen one of those....and I don't want too....
Sometimes globalization creates these sorts of problems. It may be stinky - and a pest - but I think it's beautiful.
I've seen and heard of stink-bugs all my life, but never seen one pictured more beautifully than in your header. We're getting entirely too many bugs from foreign lands that were never intended to be here. I hear at the water cooler that the government has been experimenting with some of these bugs. Could that be true? Irregardless of gossip - God would heal our land if we got serious and followed His guidelines as given in 2 Chronicles 7:14.
Hi Ginny, So sorry your area has to put up with that kind of infestation! Ick! Have a super nice day today and a wonderful weekend!
Ive seen them but not in a long time.I think though that stinky things sometimes make us appreciate good things.
I came over from Bonnie's blog. My mouth dropped when I saw that stink bug. We just traveled back to Florida and stayed in a motel in Georgia. I saw one of these bugs crawling on the wall near the door and I "got it". Had no clue what it was.
Great pictures, Ginny. I had not heard of these...I mean the new ones. Seems like farmers are always fighting something.
Sometimes I wonder why God created mosquitoes, stink bugs and the like? Please don't send them to California. We got enough bugs here already. We call the liberal politicians!
how horrible that an entire orchard has to be cut down because of such an ugly bug. And they are ugly with a capital U :)
Yuck....total yuck.....okay...I'm really grateful we don't have them here (yet)
I just wrote a post about bugs, featuring the shield bug which is one of my favourites! I have never noticed any smell coming from them and have handled them a lot. I had no idea that they are seen as a pest, and im so surprised that everyone here seems to hate them! I think they are beautiful, God is so great!
Aqeela xx
Oh, here is my post where i mentioned them:
http://aqeelas-house.blogspot.com/2011/10/bugs.html
That must be awful with such an invasion of them. I found one of these indoors last summer but managed to get it out "quietly".
We've had a few of these too, but I don't think we've had as many as most. Ick!!
Thanks for all this info, Ginny. You are full of so much information. I would love to get together with you and Phil sometime. Something tells me you and Gary would be back and forth with your wealth of information...
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