Kudzu Bug Facts & Information

What Orkin Does

Homeowners who experience kudzu bugs should contact an exterminator who can advise them on possible preventatives such as sealing openings and pesticide applications to surfaces, crevice and wall voids.

Appearance

Kudzu bugs are a type of insect known as a true bug because of their semimembranous wing type and piercing sucking mouth parts.

• Length: They are approximately 4 to 6 mm long as adults

• Color: They are a mottled green and brown color.

• Mouth: Many people mistake them for beetles, but they can easily be differentiated by their beaklike piercing sucking mouthparts. Beetles all have chewing mouthparts.

Diet

Kudzu bugs get their name from the fact they are known to feed on kudzu. They use their piercing mouthparts to suck juices from the plant. Unfortunately they also feed on other plants, including crops such as soybeans, which results in them being considered an agricultural pest.

Geographic Range

Kudzu bugs are a recent addition to the U.S. list of invasive species. They were first sighted in Georgia in 2009 and are suspected to originate from Asia. Currently they have spread through several southeastern states, including North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

Reproduction

Kudzu bug females typically lay their eggs on the underside of the host plants. Nymphs hatch and begin feeding on the plants. Eventually they mature into adults, reproduce and start the life cycle anew.